It’s steepish now, but they’ve finally hacked through to Portola from the “North Trail," what I've been calling this tangly trail in the northernmost part of Glen Canyon. It’s long been a favorite “secret trail” of mine. Well not anymore.
It’s now been extended past the north corner of the school playing field’s chainlink fence, and you can actually exit onto Portola OR the dead-ends of Amethyst and Turquoise from the north Canyon. Pix 1 thru 5.
The south end of Glenview in the Midtown Terrace neighborhood (Twin Peaks west) is directly across the street from the end of this trail (pic 6). Nearby is a hiking trail constructed a few years ago that climbs alongside Twin Peaks Blvd. But so far there’s no skyway across busy, two-way Portola over to Twin Peaks Park’s south side.
A very short trail already existed from Portola to the dead-ends of Amethyst and Turquoise. Used to sometimes take this years ago, but back then didn’t enter the Canyon directly. I’d head south on Turquoise a few blocks (past Quartz) until I reached the down-stairway into the Canyon.
So did this one twice within an hour or so. Google Maps shows this old Amethyst-out-to-Portola trail. It’s next to the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts at 555 Portola. The north trail is not yet shown on Google Maps past the Turquoise Way trailhead.
Continued past the playing field gate on this north trail. When I reached the part that'd ended earlier due to seemingly impenetrable tangles at the north edge of the chainlink fence, was surprised to see that it now continued uphill as a very noticeable new trail.
Naturally had to follow it all the way, thinking I’d probably reach a dead-end as before. To my amazement was able to keep going until I‘d reached the top, with its view south and two ways to continue: the upper part out to Portola and the lower to the dead-ends of Amethyst and Turquoise.
No doubt there soon will be some steps to help one up the extended trail’s steep part. Right now it’s a bit of a scramble but doable: 7 thru 10.
Glorious view of the whole Canyon from north to south from the top of the trail. The slopes are still green too. Pic 11.
Started uphill from the Glen Park BART station for this hike, but partway up was able this time to take the #52 from Sussex & Diamond in the Glen Park 'hood to Duncan and Diamond Heights Blvd. From here headed west a few blocks to Cameo where the Coralino stairway starts down (130 steps to Amber): 12, 13, 14.
West a few blocks to another stairway descending from Amber to Turquoise. It crosses Turquoise and continues down, part steps (65), part walkway; the lower part ends at a park trail: 15 thru 19.
So below Diamond Heights stilthouses, the northernmost trail down has been extended and cleared, now with a footbridge over Islais Creek and a few new steps onto the trailhead for this old favorite trail of mine. Pix 20, 21. Lots of damselflies around.
First noticed, happily, was that several of the fat treelimbs that cross the trail are still here. Hopefully they'll remain unmolested. Please leave ‘em there, those of you who wish to overly “tame” this park. Pic 22.
A lot of clearing has been accomplished since my last visit; the blackberry bushes have been cut way back so the trail’s wider now. Pix 23, 24. Hope there’ll still be a decent amount of berries for foraging this coming season. Also hope the wildlife hasn’t been disturbed too much … that they’ll still have sufficient space to live and hide from hiking humans.
From Portola, continued south on Turquoise back to where I’d descended into the park a short time earlier.
This time continued south slightly above (25 thru 28), butterflies included, and down to the main Canyon floor trail via another improved-upon trailhead.
... To be continued next post ...
It’s now been extended past the north corner of the school playing field’s chainlink fence, and you can actually exit onto Portola OR the dead-ends of Amethyst and Turquoise from the north Canyon. Pix 1 thru 5.
The south end of Glenview in the Midtown Terrace neighborhood (Twin Peaks west) is directly across the street from the end of this trail (pic 6). Nearby is a hiking trail constructed a few years ago that climbs alongside Twin Peaks Blvd. But so far there’s no skyway across busy, two-way Portola over to Twin Peaks Park’s south side.
A very short trail already existed from Portola to the dead-ends of Amethyst and Turquoise. Used to sometimes take this years ago, but back then didn’t enter the Canyon directly. I’d head south on Turquoise a few blocks (past Quartz) until I reached the down-stairway into the Canyon.
So did this one twice within an hour or so. Google Maps shows this old Amethyst-out-to-Portola trail. It’s next to the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts at 555 Portola. The north trail is not yet shown on Google Maps past the Turquoise Way trailhead.
Continued past the playing field gate on this north trail. When I reached the part that'd ended earlier due to seemingly impenetrable tangles at the north edge of the chainlink fence, was surprised to see that it now continued uphill as a very noticeable new trail.
Naturally had to follow it all the way, thinking I’d probably reach a dead-end as before. To my amazement was able to keep going until I‘d reached the top, with its view south and two ways to continue: the upper part out to Portola and the lower to the dead-ends of Amethyst and Turquoise.
No doubt there soon will be some steps to help one up the extended trail’s steep part. Right now it’s a bit of a scramble but doable: 7 thru 10.
Glorious view of the whole Canyon from north to south from the top of the trail. The slopes are still green too. Pic 11.
Started uphill from the Glen Park BART station for this hike, but partway up was able this time to take the #52 from Sussex & Diamond in the Glen Park 'hood to Duncan and Diamond Heights Blvd. From here headed west a few blocks to Cameo where the Coralino stairway starts down (130 steps to Amber): 12, 13, 14.
West a few blocks to another stairway descending from Amber to Turquoise. It crosses Turquoise and continues down, part steps (65), part walkway; the lower part ends at a park trail: 15 thru 19.
So below Diamond Heights stilthouses, the northernmost trail down has been extended and cleared, now with a footbridge over Islais Creek and a few new steps onto the trailhead for this old favorite trail of mine. Pix 20, 21. Lots of damselflies around.
First noticed, happily, was that several of the fat treelimbs that cross the trail are still here. Hopefully they'll remain unmolested. Please leave ‘em there, those of you who wish to overly “tame” this park. Pic 22.
A lot of clearing has been accomplished since my last visit; the blackberry bushes have been cut way back so the trail’s wider now. Pix 23, 24. Hope there’ll still be a decent amount of berries for foraging this coming season. Also hope the wildlife hasn’t been disturbed too much … that they’ll still have sufficient space to live and hide from hiking humans.
From Portola, continued south on Turquoise back to where I’d descended into the park a short time earlier.
This time continued south slightly above (25 thru 28), butterflies included, and down to the main Canyon floor trail via another improved-upon trailhead.
... To be continued next post ...
1. Left to Amethyst & Turquoise; right into the Canyon
2. Northernmost trail now runs thru to Portola
3. Out to Amethyst & Turquoise dead-ends
4. Short older trail into Diamond Heights from Portola
5. Canyon, Amethyst & Turquoise out to Portola
6. Glenview & Portola
7. Continuing past the north edge of the chainlink fence
8. Climbing...
9. Looks like it's gonna run through
10. Top of the trail
11. View south
12. Top of Coralino, Cameo near Duncan
13. 130 steps down to Amber
14. Right turn below
15. Down from Amber
16. Down to Turquoise
17. Turquoise down into the Canyon
18. Concrete ends, trails begin
19. Diamond Heights into Glen Canyon
20. Trailhead for northernmost trail
21. Crossing the new footbridge across Islais Creek and up a few steps
22. A few treelimbs still cross the north trail
23. The north trail's wider now
24. Continuing past the gate
25. Down from Turquoise below Diamond Heights homes
26. Trail just above the Canyon floor
27. Down to the left
28. Down to the main Canyon floor trail
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