A heavily used foot path into the Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve was recently upgraded by a volunteer trail crew, Take To The Hills. T3H was formed two years ago by Steve Glaeser and myself to build stairways and make the trail safer for travel. Though the trail does not appear on any existing Park District or UC map, was never formally engineered, and was scarcely maintained, it has, for years, attracted both casual and experienced hikers traveling between Dwight Way and Panoramic Hill. Often misunderstood as belonging
Building trails in Claremont Canyon, by Jon Kaufman
Through its stewardship program, the Claremont Canyon Conservancy has been building and maintaining fire trails in upper Claremont Canyon. Working with the landowners, in this case the University of California, our volunteers have improved the fire trail from Signpost 29 to Four Corners and named it the Summit House Trail (after the old inn that once stood at the top of the canyon).
Trails in the canyon, by Joe Engbeck
Panoramic Ridge Trail: The most popular trail in Claremont Canyon is the Stonewall-Panoramic Ridge Trail, sometimes called the East/West Trail at its upper end. The trail begins at the Stonewall Road entrance to Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve and climbs steeply for about a half-mile, enabling hikers to enjoy spectacular vistas of almost the entire San Francisco Bay Region.
Eagle scout troop continues trail building, by Jon Kaufman
New trail maps installed in four places, by Fred Booker
The Claremont Hotel’s sustainability group comes to Claremont Canyon, by Steve Holtzman
Since being acquired by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in March 2014, the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa has stepped up its efforts to participate in conservation and stewardship activities in Claremont Canyon. Having long been the home of the Conservancy’s annual meetings, the Hotel, under the leadership of General Manager Len Czarnecki, has expanded its emphasis on sustainability.
On the trail, by Jon Kaufman
Nothing stays the same in nature. Willow trees are an example. They grow rapidly and also can die and fall over rapidly. That happened this past winter along the Willow Trail, named in honor of that species in upper Claremont Canyon. A large willow fell right across the trail making passage difficult, if not impossible.
Best of the Bay can be even better, by Fred Booker
This year in its "Best of the Bay" series, the East Bay Express named the Stonewall-Panoramic Ridge Trail in Claremont Canyon the Best Hike in the Sun. Similar honors were conferred in previous years, citing the trail’s spectacular vistas and easy access from the urban core. A car is not necessary to get there, a bus or bike, or even walking, will do.
