Stebbins Cold Canyon - Lake Berryessa

I read this article in the Sacramento Bee about the Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve. The writer apparently had trouble with the trail, but we found it well developed. The website YoloHiker has a map and additional information. It is about a 50 minute drive from Sacramento, outside of Winters. We did the four mile Blue Ridge Loop Trail in three hours and 15 minutes, with a few short breaks. This was a great hike with a 1200 foot elevation gain that follows the top of a ridge and then dips into a valley. We hiked it counterclockwise, starting with the climb first.


This is a view from the ridge looking down at Lake Berryessa.


There are three trails outlined on the map at the trail head (although there are apparently others). Part of the preserve is controlled by the Univesrity of California. This pat is called the Homestead Hike.












A mud slide in the mid-1990s took out part of the trail. A series of stairs were placed in this section and throughout the Homestead hike.



















Some of the ruins of the homestead are still visible.














Another view of Lake Berryessa.