Cold Canyon – Lake Berryessa

Tuesday, April 19, 2011  

 

DIFFICULTY:  Strenuous & Challenging -  While the distance is a mere 5 miles, the 1500 foot elevation gain, the “monster” and “endless” stairs, the need to scramble over  rocks and boulders while traversing the ridge and a “boulder hop” across a wide creek, warrants the rating of “Strenuous”.    

 
ELEVATION GAIN:  Approximately 1500 feet  -   This includes a 1200 foot gain to the summit as well as another 300 foot gain after traversing a saddle.  Highest altitude is slightly over 1500 feet.  

 
HIKE DISTANCE:   5.1 mile loop.  

GENERAL LOCATION:   Lake Berryessa area, about 10 miles west of Winters, which is west of Davis.

 
DESCRIPTION:   Offering adventurous hikers spectacular views of Lake Berryessa from the solitude of a ridgeline trail, this informative and physically demanding hike is hard to surpass. 

The prehike was difficult and challenging – but most importantly – FUN.  We started out the morning walking along a seasonal canyon stream (Cold Creek) on a self – guided interpretive trail (32 well defined markers identifying various fauna and flora and points of interest along the creek) that culminated at an abandoned homestead site.  

Then we tightened our laces as we ascended both “monster” and “endless” stairs.  The best way to describe the “monster” stairs is “endless”.  The best way to describe the “endless” stairs is “monster”.   So we had a series of both “endless monster” stairs and “monster endless” stairs.  WOW!  See picture below.  The Hiking Guide warned us that stairs are the preferred means of “elevation assist” in the Cold Canyon Reserve.  They didn’t deceive us.  Per the guide, you traverse approximately 180 stairs over a ½ mile stretch, but we didn’t stop to count them, only to catch our breathe.     

Atop the stairs we began to cross the 1.5 mile ridge line trail that directs you over both boulders and summits – not around them.  No point in going around things when you can go over them.  The guide uses terms such as traversing “boulder patches” and “rock jumbles”.  The reward was spectacular views of Lake Berryessa and Cold Creek Canyon.  We even spotted turkey vultures perched down below us.   

As we began our descent we were pleasantly surprised by the trail makeup.  Expecting a very steep descent over endless boulders, we found a more recently constructed wide dirt trail with a very gradual grade over a series of switchbacks.  The descent was quite easy and relaxing.

AND NOW THE GOOD NEWS!    After talking to other hikers we passed on the trail, they recommended doing the hike in the opposite counterclockwise direction, taking advantage of the gradual grade to ascend the summit and the monster and endless stairs to descend.  And that is how we will do this hike on hike day.   

LUNCH:   Bring your lunch.  The lunch break is planned for mid hike with a terrific view of Lake Berryessa.

TRAVEL TIME / DISTANCE / PARKING:   Travel time is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.  We will travel approximately 70 miles from Lincoln.  The gas reimbursement is $12.  THERE IS NO FEE FOR PARKING.

DINNER PLANS: None.   We should return to Lincoln between 3 and 5 PM.   This hike can be quite slow, depending on the hikers and their dexterity with “boulder patches and rock jumbles”.

HIKE LEADER / SWEEP:   Dennis Ratay / Margaret Ratay  

 
SPECIAL NOTES:

           FACILITIES AVAILABLE:   None -  We will stop in Winters prior to arriving at the trailhead.   

          PREPARATIONS FOR HIKE:  

1) IF YOU HAVE ANY HEALTH ISSUES, PLEASE CONSIDER YOUR CONDITION BEFORE HIKING.

2)  Bring a copy of your ID (driver's license), health card, and an emergency contact name and phone number with you on the hike.

3)  Always bring 2 pairs of shoes, along with a plastic bag to store your muddy/dusty hiking boots after the hike.  DO NOT get your driver's car dirty by wearing your dirty boots on the drive home.

4)  Bring lunch, water, warm and layered clothing and a jacket for potentially windy weather along the ridge.  Trekking poles are a must for this hike.

          RISKS:   Plenty of boulders to traverse.  We need to take our time and be sure-footed.   They can be quite slippery if wet.  Some portions of the trails are quite narrow.   Poison Oak is plentiful – but cut back from the trail.   

         QUESTIONS:   Call Dennis Ratay at 543-9935.

 MEETING TIME:  8:00 am at Orchard Creek parking lot by the mailbox  -- We will leave at 8:15 am.

 RAIN CANCELS HIKE

 Pictures from the prehike

Driving directions to Cold Canyon - Lake Berryessa

1 hour 40 mins  --  70 miles

 

 

From Orchard Creek Ln

 

1. Head north on Orchard Creek Ln toward Del Webb Blvd

0.1 mi

 

 

 

 

2. Turn left at Del Webb Blvd

0.8 mi

 

 

 

 

3. Turn right at E Joiner Pkwy

0.3 mi

 

 

 

 

4. Turn left at Sterling Pkwy

0.3 mi

 

 

 

 

5. Turn left at CA-65 S

8.2 mi

 

 

 

 

6. Take exit 306B to merge onto I-80 W toward Sacramento

34.6 mi

 

 

 

 

7. Take exit 70 to merge onto CA-113 N toward Woodland

2.9 mi

 

 

 

 

8. Take exit 29 for Covell Blvd toward Rd 31

0.3 mi

 

 

 

 

9. Turn left at W Covell Blvd / Co Rd 31 and follow through

Winters to trailhead.  Road name will change to Co Rd 32,

Russell Blvd and CA-128, but no turns are required.

21.5 mi

 

 

 

 

10.  After Winters (where we will stop for a comfort station break),

you will begin to parallel Putah Creek on your left.  Eventually you

will cross Putah Creek via a main bridge.  The parking lot is the dirt

lot on the right 0.2 miles after the bridge.   If you reach Monticello

Dam, you have gone about 0.3 miles too far.