Santa Cruz County Highpoint Trip Report

Mount McPherson

Date: June 6, 2008
Author: "Rayo"

From Long Ridge (San Mateo County highpoint), I followed the Bay Ridge Trail south to Mount McPherson.

I offer an improvement to the directions offered in Suttle's book California County Summits and to those posted by Roy Wallen. After the entrance to Castle Rock State Park, take the third (not the second) driveway on the right. Therefore, the final approach is from the south of the summit.

You will see two adjacent gates. One is broken off and there is an abandoned car inside the broken gated area. Enter and turn right for a short walk up the hill. The tree farm seems almost abandoned with vines and weeds over-running the farming area but I did see two small trailers parked on the far side of the summit and, thus, kept a low profile.

The highest point appears to be piled with brush from a clearing operation.

This walk means that, over the past three years, I have walked around San Francisco Bay and from the Bay to ten county highpoints.