Outfoxed

A big, bushy, beautiful silver tail passed over the path. The grey fox stole away into tightly enmeshed bushes of poison oak, ferns and coyote bush before I could see its face. If you assessed its health by the look of its tail, this was one healthy fox. Knowing it roamed here explained the scat I’d already seen, coffee berries evident in the piles.

Purisima Creek Redwoods offers steep hikes and a range of environments, from vistas of Mt. Diablo to groves of cool redwoods. Songbirds whistled through the redwoods, big leaf maples and Douglas firs. Sparrows and towhees pecked the dirt.

Several types of wildflowers were still blooming – red columbine, apricot-colored monkeyflower, lavender hedge nettles and bright yellow goldenrod. I wished the thimbleberries were fruiting. I love those raspberry-like berries they yield.

The best way to see this preserve is to start at the North Ridge Trail, descend the Whittemore Gulch Trail and take the Harkins Ridge Trail to Purisima Creek Trail all the way out to the southern entrance where hopefully someone can give you a ride to your car in the other parking area or you can park a second car there before you start out.