London Lake Loop

From the Park entrance booth follow the road up the hill to the right to the Upper Parking Lot and Trail Head.

Picnic Area, Group Picnic Area. Benches and BBQ's in a nice grove overlooking the London's Cottage and ruins with a backdrop of vinyards and forested hills. The area also overlooks stone barns below.

The Sherry Barn contains an assortment of farming tools, wagons, and plows used on the Beauty Ranch.

In line behind are the Manure Pit and the Stallion Barn. The Manure Pit and Stallion Barn were both built by the Londons. The Manure pit was built as an experiment in farm efficiency, reprocessing and fertilization of the crops. Formerly there was an overhead rail and bucket system for moving manure from both the Sherry and Stallion Barns to the pit. There, it was mulched and prepared for distribution out in the fields.

Spineless Cactus. While in Hawaii on his travels on his yacht “Snark”, Jack found a variety of spineless cactus grown as animal feed. He tried growing the cactus at Beauty ranch as an experiment in self-replenishing animal feed.

As it turns out he was good friends and worked extensively with internationally known horticulturalist Luther Burbank who was based out of the Santa Rosa region just to the north. Much of modern horticulture is still largely influenced and based on his pioneering work.

Winery and Distillery ruins, leftovers from the winery that the Londons purchased the property from. Overlooking the ruins is the Londons' cottage which is open to visitors and restored with period furnishings.

It was here that the Londons lived on Beauty Ranch and housed their many guests. This is the place where much of Jack London's literary work was completed.

Smoke House, Pig Palace, Lake Trail. Informational sign describing the activities of the farm. Continue along the path around the vineyard towards the working farm.

Return to Trail head, “Pig Palace, and Farm area. Lake and Upper Trails. Walk northwesterly along the vineyard towards the experimental farm area.

Smoke House, Pig Palace, Lake Trail. Interpretive sign describing the activities of the farm.

In the foreground are the foundation remains of the cattle barns. To the northeast in the treeline are the Smoke House and Pig Palace behind the modern Bat Houses.

Explore the farm! When done, continue along the path around the vineyard towards the hills.

Intersection of Lake Spur Trail and Lake Service Road. Both are routes to the Lake. Follow the trail heading west (Lake Spur Trail. You’ll drop into a gully and redwood forest then start a climb through Redwood country.

Bench within a scenic Redwood Grove.

Lake Trail (South East) and Lake Spur Trail to the northwest. Take the Lake Spur Trail. This segment does have a more aggressive uphill component that will rise to the top of a saddle.

Parking Lot Trail and Upper Lake Trail. Take the Upper Lake Trail.
Shortly the trail will break into a valley meadow area and then on to the Lake itself.

London Lake is man made and rests picturesquely surrounded by forest in a valley. At the southerly end is a stone dam.

Over the years much of the lake has silted in providing a great home for cattails and other lake vegetation.

London’s lakeside Bath House. The bathhouse sits easterly of the stone dam forming the lake.

The reed filled area in front of the Bath House was clear during the London’s time and served as beach front for swimming, picnics, and launching small boats. Adjacent to the bath house is a park picnic area and on the other side of the dam, the junction of several trails to much of the rest of the park.

Intersection for Quarry Trail, Bridge Trail, Mountain Trail. These are some of the primary trails to the upper reaches of the Park. There is also a restroom at this location.

Return to the Bath House area and take the Lake Service Road back down to the vineyard. This downhill trail is forested with Fir, Redwood, Madrone, and Oaks. It provides tantalizing views over the vineyard down slope and across the Valley of the Moon.

Break out of the forest and along side the vineyard.

Returning to the Lake Spur Trail Junction.

Backtrack around the vineyard to the Point of Beginning.