Valencia Peak is a "must do" hike for Montaņa de Oro enthusiasts.
Tom Brisson, Ed Smith, Al and Carol Tsang, and Mike Baird ascended
Valencia Peak, just for fun and companionship, on Saturday June 16,
2001. Here are a few snapshots taken of the group and the
scenery. (click to enlarge photos). This was the first hike
organized under the morro-bay.com Yahoo!
Hiking Group "hikemorrobay."
We started out from the Visitor's
Center, to the Valencia Peak trailhead just south of the Holloway Gardens.
The views from the peak at 1347 feet elevation, were pretty nice, as the fog was
lifting and the sun bright. We took a leisurely 1.5 hours to reach the
top.
We returned along the more north-easterly Oats Peak route, enjoying the many wildflowers and vistas along the way. This return path, while narrow at the crossover to Oats Peak trail, and steep on Oats Peak trail itself, also affords a more direct downhill return, avoiding the ups-and-downs of the ridgeline traversed on the approach.
You should bring
two pints of water on this hike. Long pants were deemed to have been nice
(especially on the return path taken on the crossover to Oaks Peak trail) as there was some brush and poison oak
along the way, but those wearing shorts were glad they did so, as it was pretty
warm. The three foot rattlesnake we saw on the final branch to Valencia
Peak, however, also invited long pants. At this time of year, there appeared to no longer be any ticks
in this area.