With over 17,300 acres, Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve sprawls over the flanks of Mount Umunhum, in its namesake mountain range just southwest of San Jose. Sierra Azul rivals some of the largest state parks in the Bay Area for sheer size and diversity, with chaparral, redwood groves, mixed woodlands, headwaters, and grassy slopes, all just a short drive from San Jose.
     Start from the parking lot on the wide fire road, Woods Trail (gate SA06). This trail is used by cyclists and equestrians, so stay alert for traffic throughout your hike. Mount Umunhum's summit, marked by a large six-story concrete building, is visible uphill in the distance as the trail makes its way at a nearly level pace into a lightly wooded area. You may hear chickadees chirping from the coast live oak, madrone, and California bay trees, and see Oregon juncos picking through leaf litter along the trail. In late spring, checkerspot, fritillary, and California sister butterflies flutter above poison oak, sticky monkeyflower, coyote brush, and creambush shrubs in the understory. Woods Trail descends gently and crosses a creek at about the 1/2 mile mark. Bigleaf maples and California buckeyes mix through the other trees here. In the shaded slope on the left side of the trail, look for Chinese houses, fairy lanterns, ribbon clarkia, and pale lemon-colored Ferdinand's irises in spring. On a May hike I saw a little ringneck snake basking in a pool of sunlight in the middle of the trail. As the trail continues to descend, the sound of rushing water gets ever louder until you reach Guadalupe Creek, at just past 1 mile. Woods Trail crosses the waterway then begins to climb somewhat steeply, passing a few eucalyptus trees. A large Douglas fir marks its territory along the trail with scattered cones. As the trail ascends into a grassy area dotted with coyote brush, scan the sides of the trail for spring flowers, including purple ookow, ivory mariposa lilies, blue-eyed grass, white yarrow, golden yarrow, and pink clarkia. Where Woods Trail bends left, expansive views unfold from the right side of the trail, stretching past Almaden Quicksilver County Park and the city of San Jose to Mount Hamilton and Mission Peak. If it's not too hot, the pocket of nearly level grassland here is a great stop for a picnic. Woods Trail passes under power lines, levels out a bit, and reenters partially shaded woods, home to California bay, madrone, live oaks, toyon, poison oak, buckeye, chaparral pea, and manzanita. A sunny open stretch hosts a collection of chaparral plants including yerba santa, chamise, pitcher sage, mountain mahogany, and sticky monkeyflower. Swallowtail butterflies are commonly spotted along the trail in late spring -- these large cream- yellow and black butterflies flap and glide more like a bird than a typical butterfly's flutter. Anise swallowtails are the most common Bay Area swallowtail, but on a May hike here I saw pale swallowtails, no doubt drawn to host plants coffeeberry and creambush, both found in abundance on the slopes of Mount Umunhum. The two swallowtails have similar yellow and black colors, but anise swallowtails have a stronger yellow hue, and large patches of black on the middle tops (shoulders) of both wings. There are more great views uphill to the summit, before Woods Trail reenters shaded woodland again, where a rare oak hybrid called Oracle or Shreve oak graces the right side of the trail. This deciduous oak, a cross between a black oak and an interior live oak, is most conspicuous in autumn, when the leaves turn a beautiful orange color. In this final shaded segment where wild rose, columbine, and western hearts ease (tiny white violets) bloom in spring, the trail ascends slightly to a signed junction with Barlow Road at 2.7 miles. Woods Road continues uphill straight ahead, and Barlow Road climbs to Mount Umunhum Road to the left. Retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Total distance: 5.4 miles
Last hiked: May 28, 2006

	Web www.bahiker.com

Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page