a bridge goes over Coyote Creek. Another mile past this is
the old, now closed Gilroy Hot Springs, a popular resort 100 years ago when such things
were in fashion. Immediately adjacent to the bridge on the nearside is the
Gilroy Hot Springs TH.
There is parking here for a handful of cars, but signs earlier warned that parking
is not allowed on the road. Not having used this trailhead before, I wasn't sure if I
was supposed to have stopped at the Hunting Hollow entrance to pay a fee.
A sign just
past the TH indicates one is supposed to stop at the Visitor Center before entry, but
that seemed ridiculous - the Visitor Center is at the end of Dunne Rd, more than an hour
and a half of driving from here. I decided to ignore the payment of any fees for the
moment and worked on my plausible excuse strategy should my car be cited before my
return.
Starting off at 9:40a, I headed up 
Grizzly Gulch and Wasno Ridge, utilizing a
series of park roads and trails for which there seems no shortage. Every mile or so it
seems one comes across one 
trail junction or 
another, sometimes within
a span of a few dozen yards. This isn't a complaint, btw, just that it's helpful to be
familiar with the area or have a park map to help with the navigation at the various
junctions. The Tower Trail took me up to 
Wasno Ridge very near its highpoint
along Jackson Road at 2,676ft elevation. I followed this road east up and over
the highpoint (no need to even leave the road), enjoying the views to
the north across the whole of the park extending in that direction for almost
ten miles. Continuing east 
along Wasno Ridge, I dropped to lower elevations
and then took the 
Kelly Lake Trail down to 
Kelly Lake some 600ft lower,
nestled in Kelly Cabin Canyon. Several coots were swimming in 
the lake as I
circled 
around it and continued on the trail as it lead up the hillside on the
other side. I've been told the fishing is pretty good here, but since I don't care much
for the sport I couldn't say from personal experience. The highpoint of this next hill
was unnamed 
Peak 2,625ft which I deemed fit to call Kelly Peak since so many
other things around here were given that moniker. 
Its summit is crowned by a
small shack and communications tower. Climbing it up to the roof of the building provides
good views over the oaks to the 
surrounding countryside.
From Kelly Peak, I followed the 
Wagon Road south past several more junctions.
Burra Burra Peak is prominent to 
the southeast. A backcountry restroom facility
is found at 
the junction with Wasno Road and it was here that I turned west to
continue along the eastern part of the ridge I had not traveled earlier. Before reaching
the junction with the Kelly Lake Trail, I turned left and dropped to the south off the
ridge on the 
Dexter Trail. This is a fairly steep descent down a
subsidiary ridgeline with nary a switchback. About halfway down the hillside it
meets up with the Grizzly Gulch Trail, the most interesting trail I traveled on the day.
It traverses the southern slope of the canyon, passing by several 
rocky features
found along the way. I eventually returned to the junction with the Tower Trail I had
taken almost three hours earlier, closing the loop I had made. Another mile and a half
brought me back to 
the TH at 
Coyote Creek, finishing
up just after 1:30p. Just under four hours for just under 13 miles, not a bad day at
all. Especially since I had no citation on my car upon my return...