Step into a cool redwood canyon where banana slugs cruise the mossy understory and every trail name tells a story about some of the humans who were here before. Join Docent Naturalists Catherine Xun, Susan Dunn, and Jianfei Hu to discover how loggers, squatters, and settlers transformed this landscape. On this moderately-paced hike with nearly 1,000-feet of elevation gain, you'll descend the Grabtown Gulch Trail, climb the Borden Hatch Mill and Bald Knob trails, and traverse the Irish Ridge Trail to the Elbow Tree. This is a less frequented, very peaceful part of the preserve, so get ready for a fun exploration. Bring a snack; hiking poles recommended for steep sections. (Note: You'll meet at the main parking area of El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve and carpool/caravan on a five mile/12-minute-long drive to the trailhead; participants must stay for the duration of the hike.) Reservations are required and will be accepted on or after July 17 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) and close July 30 at 2:00 p.m.
Meet at the El Corte de Madera Parking Area located on the west side of Highway 35 (Skyline Boulevard), about one mile south of the Caltrans Skeggs Point parking area and 2.7 miles north of the intersection of Highway 35 and Highway 84.