Yerba Benchmark / Grant Ranch

DATE: Tuesday, May 12, 2020
DISTANCE: 12.95km / 8.05 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: 429m / 1409 ft.
TIME: 3:35
JOSEPH D. GRANT COUNTY PARK
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA
SUMMIT: Yerba Benchmark: 749m / 2457 ft.
SOUNDTRACK: Sleep: Some Grass

PHOTO ALBUM
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This was the second time I'd been to Grant Ranch Park, the first time being only to drive through it on the way to Mount Hamilton a few months earlier. Joseph D. Grant County Park, as it's officially known, is the largest of the Santa Clara County Parks, situated between East San Jose and Mount Hamilton. I had been going on quite the tour of San Jose Parks this spring, so it was inevitable that I would end up here at some point. Specifically, to reach one of the high hills.

Amber and I arrived on a cool, mostly cloudy morning, and parked at an old barn near the beginning of the San Felipe trail. Now, they call these trails, but what they really are is old ranch roads. I steered us south, secretly hoping to mount the provocatively name Panochita Hill. On the way, we passed the decrepit Snell Barn, had views of the higher mountains to the east, and plenty of rolling oak meadows, still green at this time of year. The sight of Snell Campground jogged Amber's memory of an epic night of camping many years ago. Eagle Trail to Brush Trail. The sun never fully emerged, but nor did it ever rain. At the southern border of the park, the Dutch Flat Trail took a sharp turn to the west, and I did not see a clear path (or any path at all) up to Panochita Hill, so I silently abandoned that project. Now came the best part of the hike, as we climbed up to the ridge that forms the west side of the park. Over the crest of the hill, the Valley came into view, sprawling out beyond. The high point of the ridge "Yerba Benchmark," was found along the way, as we moved north along the ridgetop. Though I didn't find the USGS benchmark plaque, there was a sitting bench, and I had climbed at least one hill for the day's outing. At this point, we had almost returned to our starting point, and we closed the loop, descending east now onto Dutch Flat Trail, leaving the ridge, and arriving back at the car in short order.

FURTHER READING
•Bob Burd: Bob visits YB and many others
•Alltrails: Here is a loop very similar to the one we did