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HPRP, March 2020
Helen Putnam Regional Park: A Photographic Log
3 March 2020
I've pedaled past Helen Putnam Regional Park without stopping. I've pedaled into the parking lot and utilized the restrooms. But never have I bicycled through HPRP.It's a relatively small, busy park on the edge of Petaluma, known mostly for hiking rather than biking. But I decided to give it a try today in more unseasonably warm and dry conditions. The temperature climbed into the 80s. (Today hit a record high of 85° for this date in Santa Rosa, 20 degrees above the average high.) The trails were dusty instead of muddy. Some of them were too steep to ride up or down, even though they were comparatively smooth and free of rocks. Quite a few people and quite a few dogs. Some interesting views. Some great trees for climbing.
It's always fun to explore new terrain, but all in all, the riding was at best okay. Given the length of time it takes to drive from home to the park, I probably won't make Helen Putnam a regular cycling destination. But I know where the restrooms are.
From the eastern edge of the park.
The homes are part of the Petaluma suburbs pushing up the little valley. The main part of Petaluma can be seen in the distance off to the right. Beyond Petaluma is the long ridge of Sonoma Mountain. The highest point poking up in the far distance is Mount St Helena on the far side of Sonoma County.
The park isn't very large, but it's crisscrossed with trails, so there's a junction everywhere you look.
This is probably the highest point in the park.
Some of the trails pass through open grassland, and some pass through dense woods.
Old Grumble-Face found a perfect tree for climbing.
Yes, I did recall that Jeff suffered some damage when he managed to fall out of a tree last year.
One little pond in the park, surrounded by a web of trails.
Lots of benches for resting after climbing the steep trails.
Off to the west can be found Spring Hill Road and Chileno Valley Road, where I've previously biked.
Another perfect tree for the apeman to climb!
From here it was a dramatically steep downhill to the parking lot. The Ogre and I mostly hiked it.
Summary
Date: 3 March 2020
Time: 11:30 - 1:00
Weather: 70 - 80° F, sunny
Route: Helen Putnam Regional Park
Distance: 5 miles
Bike: Ogre
Riders: Solo
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
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