Hooked on Lake Ilsanjo in Annadel State Park

Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa, an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, is a pleasant destination for a day hike.

It has 35 miles of hiking trail, plus good black bass and bluegill fishing at Lake Ilsanjo, tucked away in the heart of the park. You can bring meal worms to tempt the bluegill to bite, or purple plastic worms for the bass, or you can simply bring your own picnic and let the fish feed themselves.

The lake’s Spanish-sounding name does not date from the days of the ranchos and rancheros, as one might guess. It’s actually a composite formed from the first names of two former landowners, Ilsa and Joe Coney.

It was not the tranquil shores of Lake Ilsanjo, but the rocky hills around it that brought the first humans to the area. The Pomo and Wappo peoples gathered obsidian, using the shiny black rock to fashion knife blades, arrowheads and spearheads.

White settlers, too, came for the rocks. Basalt was quarried here at the turn of the century to build San Francisco. After the Great Earthquake of 1906, the rock was used to rebuild the city. Also quarried, for city streets, was cobblestone, though in no time such paving fell into disfavor with drivers of the new horseless carriages.

Once part of the 1837 Mexican land grant, Rancho Los Guilicos, the Annadel area was owned by a series of farmers and gentlemen ranchers. It became a state park in 1971.

A favorite way to Lake Ilsanjo is via Warren Richardson Trail, a wide path that honors a prominent Sonoma County cattle rancher and avid horseman who had a love for trails. The trail winds through a cool forest and crosses an open meadow on the way to the lake. For a fun return trip, loop back on steep fern- and fir-lined Steve’s S Trail.

Directions to trail head: From U.S. 101 in Santa Rosa, exit on California 12 and follow it east through town. Turn right on Montgomery Drive, then right again on Channel Drive and follow it a mile into the park. The park office (where you’ll find water and maps for sale) is at the entrance; trail head parking is a mile farther down the road.

The hike: From the parking lot, join the trail leading south, which in no time delivers you to a dirt road--Warren Richardson Trail. You’ll pause to view an interpretive display about how the Wappo and Pomo used acorns, then spot Steve’s S Trail (your return route) on the right.

Three-fourths of a mile of easy walking from the trail head brings you to a hairpin turn and a junction with Two Quarry Trail. Swing northwest on Warren Richardson Trail and begin ascending through a forest of redwoods and Douglas fir. Sword ferns seem to point the way uphill.

The dirt road turns south again, passes a junction with Louis Trail, then begins descending. You get your first glimpse of Lake Ilsanjo. Emerging from the woods, you cross a meadow to the lake shore.

To circle the lake, continue on Warren Richardson Trail, then join Rough Go Trail and Middle Steve’s S Trail. Parts of the lake shore are carpeted with blue-eyed grass. Sticking above the grass are mule ears (one look at this plant’s protruding leaves will confirm how it got its name). In spring, mule ear sprouts yellow, sunflower-like blossoms.

Your return route joins Steve’s S Trail, which skirts the east end of the meadow as it begins to ascend. Topping a hill, the path joins up with the North Burma Trail for a brief descent. Then Steve’s S Trail forks left and descends through a Douglas fir forest. A mile’s descent deposits you on Warren Richardson Trail, very close to where you began this hike.

Wine Country Near Santa Rosa Warren Richardson, Steve’s S Trails Where: Annadel State Park. Distance: To Lake Llsanjo, 5 miles round trip, with 500-foot elevation gain; circling the lake adds an extra 2 miles. Terrain: Rolling hills, meadows. Highlights: Fishing in Lake Llsanjo, great picknicking. Degree of difficulty: Moderate. Precautions: Early rising hikers and anglers should note the park’s later-than-usual 9 a.m. opening time. Also, there is plenty of poison oak in the park. For more information: Contact Annadel State Park, 6201 Channel Drive, Santa Rosa, Calif. 95409, (707) 539-3911.

Hike with John McKinney’s guidebook: “Walk Los Angeles: Adventures on the Urban Edge “ ($14.95). Send check or money order to Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Dept. 1, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.