Situated along CA 128 in Northern California's oak studded Coast Range, this trailhead offers access to the Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve, run by the University of California, Davis. There are about 5 or 6 miles of trails, all going uphill. You will see many examples of shrubs and plants characteristic of California chapparal. Many UCD students come here to study the local natural area, and hikers can enjoy a popular trail system, with nice views and plenty of exercise to be gained.

Getting There

The Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve primitive parking area is reached by taking Highway CA 128. About 8.5 miles west of Winters, CA, or about a half mile east from the Monticello Dam (forming Lake Berryessa), no signs indicate the parking lot. There are no facilities.

From Winters, CA, which can be reached by taking the Winters Exit from Interstate 505, head west along CA 128, passing through the small town of Winters. Keep your speed down for the many schools along the roadway. Pass some gas stations, and come along Putah Creek. As the highway enters the main canyon, watch your speed taking the many curves. There's some camping and fishing supported here. Pass a private resort (no public restrooms), then shortly cross Putah Creek. A sign indicates "Solano County Line." About 200 yards later, you should see the primitive parking area on your right, with perhaps several cars. Slow down, motor slowly and carefully over the rough sections, and enter the dirt lot. There is room for maybe 25 cars. Overflow parking may be had along the highway, in wide shoulder areas. Be sure to park well off the roadway, then. It can get crowded on a nice day or holiday.

For a quick way to Winters, approaching from Interstate 80 westbound, take CA 113 north just past Davis, CA. In a mile or two, exit at Russell Boulevard, or even Covell Boulevard, a.k.a. Road 31, or at first, E6. Turn west (left). Both lead to Interstate 505 and Winters. You'll make some turns to follow Russell Boulevard, which has some 30 mph curves to negotiate. Covell Boulevard has four traffic lights, and two stop signs. It is a bit faster, though, once you pass out of Davis.

From the Napa Valley, along Highway 29, take the signed highway CA 128 east at Rutherford, CA. Or take CA 121 east from just south of Napa, CA. CA 121 joins CA 128 after several miles. Turn right (east) and follow CA 128 to Lake Berryessa and Monticello Dam. About a half mile past and down from the dam, the road takes a hairpin turn to the left. The first lower trailhead is here, on your right, and there is room for about three cars. Otherwise, go 40 yards further and park on your left, in the large, main, primitive, dirt lot.

There are gullies and rocks in the parking area, so be careful with low slung cars.

Trails

Essentially, two trails are done from this trailhead. The main one, the Cold Canyon Loop, begins and ends in about the same area. It offers a 4.75 mile loop hike (with 1,500' gain, total) on fair trails, and many people use this area. From the primitive parking area, head upstream (south) on a use trail, and then be careful crossing the highway. Cars come fast around a blind curve. The two starts to each end of the trail loop are about 60 yards apart.

1) The left (or lower) start to the loop trail has a narrow gate. Squeeze through, and shortly come to to the big signboard offering information and a map. You can sign the trail register. The unsigned Pleasants Ridge trail leaves here, too, up to the left, climbing up a big hill. Most hikers will stay to the right (lower) trail, which leads straight ahead, and in about a mile, to the historic Homestead, a collection of rock foundations left by pioneer settlers. The loop trail continues right, back at an unsigned junction, up the ridge, over many wood steps.

1a) If you wish to climb to the top of Blue Ridge first, take the right, upper, trail 60 yards up along the highway. This doesn't have any signboard, but there is another gate, map, and another trail register. The trail runs up some switchbacks, and formerly straight up a steep, eroded section, to come to the main ridge. They are now (October, 2007) building a new, gentler, graded, dirt trail, here. You'll then see nice views of Lake Berryessa to the north. An indistinct side trail, back slightly below the ridge, goes right (east) to a viewpoint of the dam below. Continue along the main trail to the top of Bump 1,475'. A few rocks on top offer a place to sit and enjoy the view. The trail drops and continues south along the top of the ridge, then climbs up Bump 1,580+'. Down further along, a trail marker reads 2.0 miles, the midpoint of this loop. You may continue down the trail, which descends some wooden steps, and goes under a canopy of chapparel. It empties into the Homestead trail portion of this loop. You can saunter right (south) to see, in about 100 feet, the additional remnants of this historic site. Going back left (north) leads back to the highway and cars, by the lower trail, 1).

The lower Homestead trail does cross a creek, which can be high at times. When there's flowing water, it necessitates a three foot rock hop to cross it. It is usually dry, or a trickle, come the end of the rainy season. Exploring in winter/spring, you can see short cascades, and pools of the main creek.

2) The Pleasants Ridge trail climbs steeply up the high hill to the west of the canyon. You might try to use the small rocks buried in the trail dirt for footsteps. This is not a popular trail! It is very steep, again, and you can slip and tumble. It ascends to a flatter area, then starts to climb up the ridge, again. The trail mostly disappears after topping Bump 1,656', but you can scramble cross-country atop the ridge, and go further, possibly to more hill highpoints. The ridgetop here does not have a lot of thick brush till almost to the Bump 1,656'.

Make sure you can descend back down the steep trail, before you take it up. While I'd still call it class 1, unsure or unsteady hikers may want to slide down on their rears, holding on to whatever they can.

Hazards

Poison oak grows in many parts along the trail. It is especially thick up from the Homestead trail. It can be hot during summer, with 100+ degree highs. The trail can be muddy and slippery after rains. Lightning can strike here, too, during a major storm.

Mountain lions are included in the area habitat. Rattlesnakes are a natural part of the ecology, too. Ticks can be found here in the Coast Range, too. They can transmit a number of potentially serious, even fatal, diseases.

Brush grows over the trail, so you may wish to wear long pants. The trail is rough, and some class 2 sections are found along the high ridge. There are short rock jumps needed to be done, to continue, although there is no great exposure (distance to fall). But weak or incapable hikers can break a leg, or worse. No ducks mark the trail along the ridge, so keep your eyes open to see where it goes. It may not be obvious to beginners.

One set of wooden steps are steep, and some may wish to hold onto nearby branches. There are no handrails.

I once figured this trail is a liability magnet, and once, one hiker became lost, resulting in a missing person search, covered by TV. You must exercise good judgement in thinking to attempt these trails. Some might rate this a rough, strenuous hike.

A lot of work went into building this trail, but the high ridge trail was once warned about. Its usual popularity on weekends, during the cooler seasons, ensures others will probably be about during normal daylight hours. Most hikers will take the easy trail to the Homestead. The bump or ridge trail is for, then, the relatively adventurous.

Links

Many a photo and brief trip account are posted at the index link from my home page PTP>Peaks Archives>Various Past Peaks Archives>hikes>Cold Canyon Loop (and More) Hikes 2003-2009. Also are connecting links on my Latest Peaks Adventures pages on the PETE'S THOUSAND PEAKS website. Spring, summer, fall, and winter are covered, here, with some 27 recent visits on various trails.

Some Rules

Dogs are fine on the upper loop trail, over the two bumps, till about a point a quarter mile further (south) of the Bump 1,580+. There, a paper sign, once, declared the reserve boundary, I'd think, with a "dogs not allowed." It's best to leash your dogs, as they can get lost running wild, or disturb other hikers and wildlife.

No guns, no collecting, no dumping, no littering, are some of the posted rules. There is a signboard at the lower loop trail start.

External Links

Official Website at

http://nrs.ucop.edu/Stebbins-Canyon.htm

Images