Visit to the Doan Ranch, Part 2

Continuing the Doan Ranch tour, from Part 1, at the start of the yellow trail, just past the purple trail.

From the yellow trail, you can barely see the purple trail descending below the hill.

View of the valley between the two ridges to the southwest.

The yellow trail runs level along the hillside.

The hillsides are striped with cattle trails.

The yellow trail meets the blue trail up ahead.

This is a view looking back downhill along the blue trail.

The blue trail climbs uphill. To the left is a steep brush-covered hill. To the right is a deep, densely wooded ravine.

Farther up the hill, looking back, you can make out the blue trail descending downhill. You can see Gilroy in the distance.

The trail runs through a dense, shady forest.

Steep ravine next to the trail.

Equestrian entering the shady forest.

Hikers in the forest next to a small creek.

This is a closed trail, which branches off the blue trail.

After emerging from the dense shade of the forest, ahead is the orange trail, which branches off to the left. The blue trail continues up the hill to the right.

This is the start of the orange trail, which ascends the hill to the left on a 20-30% grade.

Between the orange and blue trails is this reed-rimmed farm pond.

This is a view looking down from midway up the orange trail, looking at the trail junction with the blue trail. That's Sam and Elaine taking the blue trail.

This is a view from higher up on the orange trail of the pond and the blue trail.

The orange trails levels off on top of the hill. To the southwest, you can see the blue trail ascending the side of the valley. Gilroy is in the distance.

Mt. Loma Prieta and Mt. Umuhum are in the distance beyond the ridge to the northwest.

Here is a view looking northwest to the start of the purple trail's descent.

This is a view from the orange trail looking east along the hills.

The orange trail runs level along the hilltops as it approaches the purple.

Ahead is the junction of the orange trail and the purple trail. I turn right to follow the purple trail back downhill.

Just past the farm pond is the start of the green trail. I take this trail.

There is a deeply-eroded gully along this trail.

Here is the green trail heading uphill to a saddle.

This is looking back downhill along the green trail.

The green trail meets a junction with an unmarked trail and continues downhill. I followed it partway and saw a view of the farm pond and the start of the orange trail. I turned back around.

Mistakenly thinking this was the blue trail, I followed this unmarked trail uphill from the green trail. It turned out it led back to the green-purple trail junction, but it had some nice views.

This trail led to a ridgetop covered with rocks and scattered oak trees.

View looking northwest.

Below is the purple trail turning from left to right and the green trail descending to the lower right.

Heading down the purple trail again, I came to the start of the blue trail.

I took the blue trail uphill. It passed this rock wall.

This is a view looking downhill along the blue trail at the rock wall.

I turned around and went back downhill to the purple trail and out to the parking area at the end of the day.

It will take several years before Doan Ranch can be opened to the public on a permanent basis. Facilities for visitors have to be designed and built. Environmental impact reports and permits need to be filed and approved. Trails may have to be re-aligned or new trails built, as some of the ranch roads are too steep. In the meantime, the ranch will be open in the future on special days like this one. There should be another opening in the spring of 2009. Because the cattle have cut the grass short, spring should bring a luxuriant carpet of new grass and hopefully fields of wildflowers.