Completed: June 25, 2023 | Elevation: 2,999′ | Trail: Cañada de Pala Trail / Pala Seca Trail > Antler Pt Trail | Distance: 10 miles
After being away last week at the NWOR Overlanding Rally in Plain, WA, we resumed our Nifty Ninety hikes by completing Antler Point, one we should have done earlier this year when we attempted our drive to Mount Hamilton. The weather could not have been more different from that cold, rainy day in March; instead of a gray blanket of fog, we had bright blue skies and cool temperatures that actually made it a perfect day for hiking.
We started from the Twin Gates staging area, which was open and still had ample parking when we arrived at 10:00 A.M., and headed out on the Cañada de Pala Trail. Antler Point was due north on an exposed trail that had gradual elevation changes.
We stayed on Cañada de Pala, past several junctions, until we reached the loop with the Pala Seca Trail at 2.7 miles, and went counter-clockwise, taking Pala Seca to the spur for Antler Point. After stopping at Antler Point we continued to Mariposa Point at the end of the trail.
After enjoying the views, we turned back and stopped at the bench we had passed at the beginning of Antler Point Trail and ate our lunch. While enjoying the scenery and solitude, we noticed a plane skywriting out in the distance. We sat there transfixed, trying to figure out what it was drawing. Was it a proposal? A birthday greeting? Nope, it was a gender reveal. Someone in the South Bay just had a baby boy.
Refueled and entertained we continued our hike on Cañada de Pala, down a severely damaged section, followed by a short detour to see the remains of the Pala Seca Cabin, and past a marshy stretch grassland before finishing the loop. The walk back afforded excellent views of Mt. Hamilton and the Lick Observatory.
It was around 2:15 P.M. when we arrived at the car and debated whether to drive up to Mt. Hamilton considering that I had already claimed its completion back in March. In the end, we made the 20-minute drive to the Observatory, took some pictures, drove past Copernicus Peak, which is actually higher than Mt. Hamilton, and then headed home.
Follow our progress bagging the Bay Area’s Nifty Ninety here.
Coda
The approach to Antler Point from Twin Gates was actually a really pleasant one, with expansive views on both sides of the trail. Aside from a group of mountain bikers we did not encounter other people on the trail and definitely no other hikers. I can imagine that the narrow, winding drive to this staging area, as compared to starting from the main entrance, might be a deterrent for some, but it made for an easier hike to Antler Point in about the same amount of distance.