Ranch Lake Trail
As we enter mid-Fall, want to get up some last pictures of trips made during the Summer 2021. This set of photos were late-June when extended family camped at Sanburn Co. Park near Saratoga. Not far from Mt. Madonna and nestled in the beginnings of the Santa Cruz Mts., Sanburn is an old farmstead with a ton of Redwood (Pacific cyprus) trees and over 30 campsites along Aubry Creek. Local streams are seasonal, but along the ridgeline there were a couple ponds we tried to visit with the children.
On the second day we took northern trail up to Ranch Lake. The pictures of the Lake were taken, unfortunately, in years blessed with much more rainfall. Yet, hopes were high, and in 90-degree weather we secretly wished some swimming could be had at the top. The trail was surprisingly steep for a mile-and-half jot (including length of Reservoir), so it got tough on the kids as the noontime temps rose. Nonetheless, with much encouragement, we made it up as an entire group. With us were the two cousins and Uncle John while my wife and Auntie Rosemary stayed with the babies.
Upon arriving to the Ridge, the Lake was somewhat disappointing given the extremely low water levels. But, we’ve seen this throughout the reservoirs and lakes this year in California, even near the snow line. We definitely can’t take another year of drought! Ranch Lake or ‘pond’ was likewise full algae, and one of the first objects we encountered were signs warning against wading and swimming. Despite the posted danger, my inclination was to jump in under the growing heat, but caution had the upperhand given the recent death of a family along the Merced River who may have ingested part of an algae bloom. So, plan to invest in a pH test kit in case we have doubts on future journeys. Anyway, the top was beautiful and we enjoyed a picnic there.
What surprised me the most was the pond’s south end which was dammed, turning a stream branching off nearby Lyndon Canyon Creek, into a water reserve. The Reservoir has since been upgraded, but originally belonged to homesteaders downhill. I’ve always imagined farming (not ranching) poor in our local hills, but evidently early settlers along today’s Skyline Ridge did so (in what is today Sanburn’s grassy knoll) in addition to cattle. Nonetheless, as hard as we searched, all the surrounding waterways were dry as a bone, and I suppose it normal during the Summer months, even in this otherwise forested leeward locale.
However, mid-summer months have their charm, and here we found hillsides colored with purple, pink, and white pea flowers. There was scattered lupin as well– a little late in the year. And, despite the algae blooms– prospering in the basically warmer and still waters of the pond– we watched a lot of ducks swim as well as could see several schools of fish in the water. Definitely need a pH kit for next year. Meanwhile, I am reminded how Europeans might dump loads of barley along pond edges which release a natural peroxide in water that keeps small bodies of water pure. Anyway, the thought stuck, and upon our return home I bought several algae abatement treatments for our own local swim hole on Alameda Creek.
This year, due to the birth of our infant, Benjamin P., we tried staying closer to home with camping rather than an out-of-state trip or any more ambitious camping in the Sierra. We mostly stayed along the coast, did a lot of overnights in Monterey, and kept to the Bay Area (even the Benicia Reserve that overlooks Crockett and Martinez). What’s nice about Sanburn and areas thereabouts is the generally wetter climate and clusters of Redwoods, which tend to offset the heat. Sanburn is a bit of a steep hillside park, but if travelling lite, its terrain is really easy-going. We’ll likely be back since my brother loved it, but as the kids get older hopefully more of circuit along with Mt Madonna, Lexington Res., and San Lorenzo River preserves– deeper into the Santa Cruz Mts. The nice thing about the Bay Area is the abundance of hiking preserves.
Bunny Trails 
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