After flying across the globe and getting over the jet lag, I was excited to get back into my routine, especially my workouts. Instead of jumping right into intense exercise, I opted for a gentler start with hiking. With the joy of fresh air and the beauty of spring around us, we decided to spend the evening hiking through Wunderlich Park.
Wunderlich Park features a picturesque hillside area filled with redwood forests, open meadows, and beautiful oak and madrone trees, all connected by lovely trails. We chose to tackle a 4.6-mile loop that included the Bear Gulch and Alambique trails, which took us nearly two hours to complete. Despite being a popular location for hiking and walking, we enjoyed a quiet evening and encountered very few other people.
We set off in an anticlockwise direction, starting at the end of Alambique Road. Spring was in full bloom, with luscious green grass and a refreshing breeze enhancing the experience. At the trailhead, to the right, we passed the Folger Stable Historic Site, which features the Carriage Room Museum.
The trail winds through beautiful forests of redwood, oak, and madrone, along with meadows that offer lovely views. Evening sunlight filters through the dense trees on the shaded path, featuring some steady inclines. The aromas of the foliage and wildflowers were delightful. Some sections of the trail are also used by horses, so we encountered horse dung along the way.
I was born and spent part of my early childhood in a place where horse stables and carriages were common. The smell of horses and the sound of their distant hinnies evoke a sense of nostalgia for me.
The trail meanders and is adorned with wildflowers such as Hound’s Tongue, Forget-me-nots, Violets, and Milkmaids. Colorful flowers blanket the ground, and the lush green trees above, along with the filtering sunlight, create a spectacular view.
After a final steep incline to the highest point, an open meadow reveals itself under a clear blue sky.
As we made our way back, we passed the massive trunks of ancient redwoods, some of which have endured the ravages of fire but still stand tall and strong. It was a refreshing hike for us!
