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| Hiking | 10.04 Miles |
1,605 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.04 Miles | 2 Hrs 22 Mns | | 4.24 mph |
| 1,605 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Get away day. Wanted to get up north before it started getting too cold. Returned to the Lynx Lake area. Haven’t been here in about 5 years. Over the years I’ve done all 3 of f these trails, it never as a loop. Got to the TH just after 6am. First one there.  Started with the Ranch Trail. Probably my favorite of the three. They changed up the routing for this trail about three years ago, so some of the information for this trail description is outdated. Back in the day this was a fairly straight, rutted, 3 mile hike that went along the ridge line to connect to Seven Mile. Honestly, it was very unappealing. Now, the trail does quite a bit of switchbacking working it’s way along the interior side of the hill, never really cresting the ridge. In this case, that is kind of nice, because on the other side of the ridge are homes. (This is probably one reason why the rerouting was done….to minimize home exposure. Houses are still periodically visible on this trail, but they are not nearly as intrusive as they use to be on the old alignment). The trail gains elevation gradually which makes it ideal for hiking, biking or jogging. A surprisingly smooth, single track that is easy to follow. Shade is spotty, especially at the lower levels, but as the trail follows the curvature of the hills you do encounter nice pockets of oak and pine providing some shade. The higher you climb the more common this becomes. There are a couple of trail junctures along the way. There is the Badger/Turkey about 3.5 miles in, and the Boy Scout shortly after. It now takes almost 5.5 miles to reach the Seven Mile juncture. Sadly, Seven Mile Trail is just as I remember it. A rocky, rutted, straight ATV track that has some steep grades in sections. From the Ranch intersection there is still a little bit of a climb to reach the high point. Views are nice to the east and a little to the north, but most of the surrounding views are blocked by higher elevation or foliage. It is a steady downhill descent from this point, with brief sections of level terrain. (If you are doing this loop, you definitely want to be doing it CCW). Near the end of Seven Mile there is another trail juncture - Hoot Owl that goes off to the south. When you reach the TH for Seven Mile, the trail description has you road walking for .25 miles to reach the Homestead trail. Not sure the reasoning for that. Instead, I simply crossed Walker Rd., bypassed a green gate and within 20 yards I was on the Homestead trail. Took this trail north. Little bit of a roller coaster ride as the trail went up and down through gulley and washes. First .5 miles on this trail you are going through the Highlands Center of Natural History(preserve/campus) and an option to visit the Lynx Lake ruins. There are a couple of official side trails (names escape me), that I think, are part of the preserve. Homestead is easy to follow as it makes its way through this area. All junctures are signed. Trail is pretty well shaded throughout. About .5 miles from the Ranch/Homestead TH you cross Walker Rd one more time. Solid loop. Ranch and Homestead make it worthwhile. Came across 4 Javelina in the early morning on Ranch and then a couple of deer Seven Mile. |
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