March 5, 2026
Today is another Bayside Adventure Sport meet up hike at Cronan Ranch. For mid week, this is a large group of 14. I have hiked at Cronin and Magnolia Ranch a lot lately. It is BLM land, two parcels that sit side-by-side and share the same Trail network. Today we will encounter many rolling green hills, oaks, possibly some cedars and will stop alongside the river. I also expect to see a number of fresh bloom wildflowers
As we leave the parking lot the down and up Trail is our first intersection and will lead us, as the name says, up the side of the hill where we should have some beautiful views
The first flowers popping up are the rusty Popcorn flower and the purple Mediterranean storks bill
Our next junction is the hidden valley cut off Trail, which we are opting for. It’ll keep us from going up and over the larger portion of the up and down hill Trail. This will go mid slope through the valley leading towards the river.
Our next flower is the golden common Fiddleneck
As I hike along this trail, I realize despite being here many times I’ve never been on this particular trail. One of the things about there being such a big Trail network here is every time I come out it’s a slightly different adventure.
We have a beautiful view of the river sitting just over the top of a granite rock sticking up in the middle of the hillside
Our scenery is beginning to transition from a wide open Rolling Green Hills to a portion of trail dotted with multiple oak trees
The cut off Trail is now rejoining the down and up Trail, which also shares a portion of the South Fork American River Trail. We will be going right along the South Fork American River Trail to the rivers edge if we continued down this trail along the river, it would eventually come out at the salmon Falls Bridge skunk Hollow trailhead Approximately 10 miles downstream
It seems two of our regular hikers, Kelly & Tracey, are both enjoying the day.
Once again we come to another trail junction this time we will leave the South Fork American River Trail, and go down a river access road to the riverbank.
I’ve come to the portion of the trail, where the road is paralleling the river. We’ve got the beautiful serene sound of the water and the beautiful views of the river itself.
We’ve reached the rivers edge. We stopped and take a break listen to the beautiful sound of the water. I like to look at the smoothness of the rocks that have been worn down over years of rushing water.
After our break we continue on the access road which soon turns into a single person width walking trail, paralleling the river amongst the trees.
Although not in very good condition, this building is actually from a movie set for the movie. “Love comes softly” that was filmed here.
Miner’s lettuce is an edible plant that grows in the moist areas. It tastes just like lettuce as its name implies.
The trails here are multi use, shared between hikers bikers and horseback riders. If you are not aware of Trail etiquette, the horse always has the right away, followed by the hiker with bikers yielding to both. If you meet another hiker on the trail, the one going uphill is considered to have the right of way.
We come across a patch of Blue Dicks. It’s a purple flower that sits on top along slender stem. There are a couple of butterflies, enjoying the flowers as well.
We are halfway up the west Ridge trail. We can look back and see the movie set mid screen under the oak trees with the river behind it gorgeous view.
Our next intersection is the West Ridge Trail and the W. Ravine Loop. We stayed on the ravine loop that wound through a valley and made a half a circle and T intersected back into the west Ridge Trail that we are now on heading back to the parking lot.
We are now winding down the West End trail, headed towards the parking lot. It is directly below us at this point. We will wind around and come up to the back end of it where we entered the trail this morning.
We ended the day at just about 7 miles. A good day.
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