The Lyons Ranch TrailLength 3.5 mi · Climbing 550 ftCalifornia > Redwood National and State Parks > Redwood National Park
The Lyons Ranch Trail has some nice vistas of the Redwood Creek watershed Background
From Highway 101, Bald Hills Road climbs mostly through redwoods as far as the Dolason Prairie Trailhead, 11 miles from Highway 101. Soon after this trailhead the pavement becomes intermittent, then ends completely, and the road emerges onto a large hilltop prairie with increasingly broad vistas. Bumping over the ridgetop with a cloud of dust behind you, you'll wind your way up a knoll and, 17 miles from Highway 101, arrive at the Lyons Ranch Historic Site trailhead. The Lyons Ranch area is strikingly different from the rest of Redwood National Park. A former cattle and sheep ranch, the area is dominated by grassy prairies with sweeping views of the Redwood Creek watershed. There are sparse oak groves but no redwoods. In contrast with the lushness of the park's lower elevations, Lyons Ranch has an arid, windswept feel. It also seems very remote. The Lyons Ranch Trail is a dirt road that leads to "Home Place", the site of the original Lyons house, which today contains only a barn and two bunkhouses. The views along the way are by far the best in the park, but the rest of the trail isn't really as scenic as the park's other, more easily-accessible trails. Also, the trek would be more enjoyable if the park would open Ranch Road so that a loop hike was possible (as recommended by Jerry and Gisela Rohde in their Short Hikes book). |
|
Click map to resize; click again to show all roads and trails |
Hike description
Two roads branch off from the trailhead. Straight ahead, the Lyons Ranch Trail proceeds along the ridge, while to your left, a well-maintained dirt road heads downhill to the Long Ridge Sheep Shed. Take the Lyons Ranch Trail trail.
Oak woods, Lyons Ranch Trail After contuing along the windy ridge for a short distance, another road branches off; it leads up a low knoll to a weather station. Stay on the road to the left, which begins to descend through prairie and patches of open oak woods, offering new views as it curves around the knoll. There's a little valley with the Long Ridge Sheep Shed visible far below, then a wider up-valley view of the Redwood Creek basin. In winter the distant peaks are snow-capped. Finally there are dramatic views of Bridge Creek Ridge with its huge square clearcuts. Even at this distance, you can clearly make out how tall the redwoods at the edges of the clearcuts are. Finally the road ends up at Home Place, which is a little cluster of rustic buildings, a barn and two shacks.
Bunkhouses, Lyons Ranch Trail
© 2009 David Baselt |
