My husband and I tackled the Blue Ridge Loop Trail above Lake Berryessa in mid-March. He had been on it once before and had shown me beautiful pictures looking down on the lake. He did mention that it was a steep climb up and that there were a few boulders to climb over at the top, but then the hike was fine. It had taken him 3.5 hours to hike the 5 to 6 mile trail and he thought it might take us 4 hours.
The day was sunny and much warmer than we had anticipated, with the temperature up into the seventies. The first mile and a half seemed like it was straight up. I found out later it was 1,250 feet up. But okay, the view was fantastic and hadn't he said there were just a few boulders to clamber over before we headed down? The landscape along the ridge reminded me so much of the American Southwest, I kept expecting to see cowboys. Turns out the ridge portion of the Blue Ridge loop trail is 2.5 miles of climbing over boulders and is officially rated as difficult, a detail my husband had forgotten to include in his descriptions. Luckily I had my hiking poles with me and my knee braces on. Trying to take my mind off the pain and my fear of falling, I began concentrating on the wildflowers.
I saw beautiful, orange Indian Paintbrush, Castilleja latifolia, scattered through the dry brush as well as the dramatic red Indian Warrior, Pedicularis densiflora. Earlier, driving up to the site we had seen Bluebonnets, Lupinus succulentus and California Poppies, Eschscholzia californica.
Finally we reached the fork in the trail that allowed us start the descent which led us through wooded areas. I kept seeing plants covered in small purple flowers with bright yellow centers. I told my husband they reminded me of tomato or potato flowers. Looked them up later and found they were Purple Nightshade, Solanum xanti. I was truly enjoying the shade by this point in the walk. We saw several types of ferns in the understory and could first hear, and later see, a lovely creek. Finally after five hours we were back to the car.
Being no spring chicken, I was stiff and sore for days, particularly my knees and calves. I am not sure I would do this hike again, at least not without a lot of training ahead of time. I truly cannot even imagine doing it in the summer heat. But I am glad that I did it at least once, got to see the beautiful views and admire the extra gift of the spring wild flowers. If you decide you want to take this trail please bring lots of fluids and give yourself time.