I sometimes consider looking for old trails or semi-trails hiked before serious trailwork began some years ago on Mount Sutro.
One was where I’d climb up from Crestmont rather steeply in one instance, being obliged to sometimes hold onto tree branches while slipping and sliding on damp eucalyptus leaves. Now I’m not sure exactly where this one was. It seems to have disappeared … or I was mistaken as to its location.
A fellow hiker mentioned a rough trail leading to the right from the Inner Greenbelt trailhead at Belgrave which eventually connects with the recently renovated Lower Historic Trail.
I’d noticed this unmarked trail from the Inner Greenbelt Trail but never explored it; instead always climbed the ziggy IG all the way up. So thought I’d check it out in its entirety. Climbed all the way up steep Stanyan to Belgrave for the IG trailhead (first pic: upper Stanyan sidewalk steps).
Like the way this "secret" trail winds around a respectful distance above the Stanyan houses instead of alongside their backyard fences. I’d like to see it opened up as another main trail as it does connect the Lower Historic with the Inner Greenbelt Trail. Through the trees one can look across to Tank Hill and below to Stanyan homes and other houses in the 'hood.
Coming out onto the Lower Historic Trail, continued up to Medical Center Way (second pic: Edgewood Trail from Lower Historic Trail; third pic: Lower Historic Trail from Edgewood Trail).
Remember seeing abandoned homeless encampments and opened cans of catfood for feeding feral cats in the immediate Inner Greenbelt Trail area on previous visits. Once saw an older woman sitting on a log feeding some.
And once I lost a faint trail down from the Aldea residences that led me only into thick ivy as I slowly made my way down with an eye out for the Inner Greenbelt Trail (rather than climb back up). Not sure now exactly where this was either.
These days you can’t get “lost” up here if you try since so many attractive trail markers have been added. I keep discovering new ones.
Missed the recent grand opening of the Aldea Community Center so this was a must-visit. The Center itself wasn’t open but I climbed the steps to the upper deck and peeked inside: absolutely gorgeous place! The restroom was unlocked –- nice to be able to splash some cool water on your face on a scorcher like today with the fog only coming in way off in the distance to the north.
Directly across the street from the Center is the trailhead for the East Ridge Trail that will take you up to the summit.
From the summit headed down the South Ridge Trail. What’s with all the squishy mud around here?
Soon noticed a trail marker for Christopher St. One stretch of the minor trail down to this Forest Knolls ‘hood street could use a stairway as it’s quite steep here.
On Christopher, continued past the dead-end sign on Crestmont and down the superlong green-twisty Oakhurst stairway to Warren, down to Garden for the Environment, then across Seventh Ave. where there’s a bus stop for the #44 and #43.
One was where I’d climb up from Crestmont rather steeply in one instance, being obliged to sometimes hold onto tree branches while slipping and sliding on damp eucalyptus leaves. Now I’m not sure exactly where this one was. It seems to have disappeared … or I was mistaken as to its location.
A fellow hiker mentioned a rough trail leading to the right from the Inner Greenbelt trailhead at Belgrave which eventually connects with the recently renovated Lower Historic Trail.
I’d noticed this unmarked trail from the Inner Greenbelt Trail but never explored it; instead always climbed the ziggy IG all the way up. So thought I’d check it out in its entirety. Climbed all the way up steep Stanyan to Belgrave for the IG trailhead (first pic: upper Stanyan sidewalk steps).
Like the way this "secret" trail winds around a respectful distance above the Stanyan houses instead of alongside their backyard fences. I’d like to see it opened up as another main trail as it does connect the Lower Historic with the Inner Greenbelt Trail. Through the trees one can look across to Tank Hill and below to Stanyan homes and other houses in the 'hood.
Coming out onto the Lower Historic Trail, continued up to Medical Center Way (second pic: Edgewood Trail from Lower Historic Trail; third pic: Lower Historic Trail from Edgewood Trail).
Remember seeing abandoned homeless encampments and opened cans of catfood for feeding feral cats in the immediate Inner Greenbelt Trail area on previous visits. Once saw an older woman sitting on a log feeding some.
And once I lost a faint trail down from the Aldea residences that led me only into thick ivy as I slowly made my way down with an eye out for the Inner Greenbelt Trail (rather than climb back up). Not sure now exactly where this was either.
These days you can’t get “lost” up here if you try since so many attractive trail markers have been added. I keep discovering new ones.
Missed the recent grand opening of the Aldea Community Center so this was a must-visit. The Center itself wasn’t open but I climbed the steps to the upper deck and peeked inside: absolutely gorgeous place! The restroom was unlocked –- nice to be able to splash some cool water on your face on a scorcher like today with the fog only coming in way off in the distance to the north.
Directly across the street from the Center is the trailhead for the East Ridge Trail that will take you up to the summit.
From the summit headed down the South Ridge Trail. What’s with all the squishy mud around here?
Soon noticed a trail marker for Christopher St. One stretch of the minor trail down to this Forest Knolls ‘hood street could use a stairway as it’s quite steep here.
On Christopher, continued past the dead-end sign on Crestmont and down the superlong green-twisty Oakhurst stairway to Warren, down to Garden for the Environment, then across Seventh Ave. where there’s a bus stop for the #44 and #43.
Sidewalk steps on upper Stanyan
Edgewood Trail from Lower Historic Trail
Lower Historic Trail from Edgewood Trail
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