Along the Rancho San Clemente Trail

San Clemente, May 17, 2012:  From the 5 as one goes inland on Pico, on the right just beyond San Clemente High School and Gateway Village Plaza, lies Knob Hill which presides over the entrance to Rancho San Clemente and is undeveloped apparently as a set aside.  We can see Knob Hill from our patio and now, 20 years later, we have walked to the summit via what we now know is only part of the Rancho San Clemente Trail.

View of Knob Hill.  The northwest terminus of the trail is near the solitary tree on the ridge line.

The trail climbs straight up Knob Hill.

Much of the trail is asphalted but not the climb up the hill.

Two people occupy one of two benches at the summit.

 Cucurbita foetidissima (coyote gourd) vine along the trail.

 
 
 Lotus corniculatus (left); Grindelia hirsutula (hairy gumweed) (above).

 Cynara cardunculus (artichoke thistle) (above and below).

View of Montego and Bella Vista developoments.

View over San Clemente High School and the 5 Freeway to the hazy Pacific.

View of the Rancho Sam Clemente Tennis & Fitness Club.

View over Calle Amancer business park to the Talega Village Center with Saddleback Mountain far beyond.

Walmart-Plaza Pacifica with

We think this is a road runner (above), but it was hard to get close or get a good view.

Bird's nest in the pergola (above); Frankie on the stairs.