Lower La Honda Preserve Hike, April 4, 2018

Ginger and Connie went on a Mid-Peninsula Open Space District sponsored hike in La Honda Creek Preserve called "Explorer Hike: Ranch Rambles." There was a snack stop at the turn around point on the Harrington Creek bridge, then Ginger and Connie had a late lunch at Alice's Restaurant, followed by a stop at Robert's Market in Woodside.

Here is the official description of the hike:

Explore the newly opened Harrington Creek Trail with docents Lynn Jackson, Dennis Smith, Mary Brunkhorst, and Kate Gudmundson. You'll experience a working cattle ranch while hiking through open grasslands to the lovely riparian area around Harrington Creek. There will be stops to enjoy beautiful views, observe flora and fauna, and learn a bit about area history.

All photos copyright Ginger Wolnik unless noted

Calflora wildflower reference


signs in the parking lot


sign by the entrance


Ginger by the trail gate


closeup of the gate


pond by farm buildings


Bird's foot trefoil? Lotus corniculatus (non-native)


fresh cow patty


wood rat nest


lichens hanging from tree


rolling landscape with Pacific Madrone Arbutus menziesii


Pacific Madrone in full bloom Arbutus menziesii


Douglas iris Iris douglasiana


closeup of Douglas iris Iris douglasiana


tiny, white clover (non-native)


California Tea Rupertia physodes


closeup of California Tea Rupertia physodes


Pacific Trillium Trillium ovatum


Starry false lily of the valley Maianthemum stellatum


California Buttercup Ranunculus californicus


California Buttercup Ranunculus californicus


closeup of California Buttercup Ranunculus californicus


another closeup of California Buttercup Ranunculus californicus


Hooker's Fairybells Prosartes hookeri


Striped Coral Root Corallorhiza striata


mushroom caps


California Strawberry Fragaria vesca


hikers descending toward the creek


going through the gate at Harrington Creek


Kate holds the gate


Milk Maids along Harrington Creek


closeup of Milk Maids Cardamine californica


California Blackberry Rubus ursinus


Narrow-Leaved Flax Linum bienne (non-native)


Blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium bellum


cattle grazing


telephoto of cow


another cow grazing


Pineapple Weed Matricaria discoidea


cow skull by old dairy farm


diary farm building preserved for bats


telephoto of Western Bluebird


English Plantain Plantago lanceolata not native


Scarlet Pimpernel Lysimachia arvensis (non-native)


closeup of Scarlet Pimpernel Lysimachia arvensis (non-native)

End of Hike Photos



Ginger and Connie at Alice's Restaurant


cat photo in Alice's Restaurant

The End!