This trail along the marshes on the San Joaquin River in Oakley offers about 3 miles of level walking and bird-watching; the Delta interpretive display is excellent.
With no rain and no flowers we hiked the lower slopes of the mountain making a loop out to an overlook along the Castle Rocks Trail
The plan for this rare January visit was to go up to the crest and turn eastward. There are trails with views in all directions that have been added in recent years that we have not explored.
Our annual visit to the botanical art exhibit in the UC Botanical Garden (Lee McCaffree will be our docent for the artworks) begins with most of us walking from Grizzly Peak Blvd down Strawberry Canyon to the garden where the others meet us for lunch and the art exhibit.
04/16 - Mt Diablo (North Peak Tr)
Our annual visit to the botanical art exhibit in the UC Botanical Garden (Lee McCaffree will be our docent for the artworks) begins with most of us walking from Grizzly Peak Blvd down Strawberry Canyon to the garden where the others meet us for lunch and the art exhibit.
02/12 - Sobrante Ridge
03/05 - WC Open Space
03/12 - Las Trampas Ridge
04/02 - Nimitz Way
04/09 - Mt Diablo
Sobrante Ridge Preserve from an entrance we haven't tried yet (there are 4).
This time the trail picks up at the end of Morningside Drive.
02/19 - BrionesThis time the trail picks up at the end of Morningside Drive.
A shuttle allowed us to hike from the ridge down to the Alhambra Creek staging area (Old Briones Rd Tr, Spengler Tr, Diablo View Tr). Also a side trip to the lagoons.
03/05 - WC Open Space
Not trusting the forecast, we kept it short (just under 3 miles). The mud wasn't bad. It was nice to see the hills bright green and there were flowers, too: poppies, fiddlenecks and buttercups.
03/12 - Las Trampas Ridge
Shirley was back and led us on an approx 4 mile hike beginning from the end of Bollinger Canyon Rd, up to Las Trampas Ridge, out to Las Trampas Peak and return.
03/19 - Lynch Canyon
Off to Lynch Canyon, a return to the ranchlands we visited once before in a cold November. Bright spring day...not many flowers but the hills are green!
04/02 - Nimitz Way
After missing last week because of rain, it was nice to get out and enjoy the view of green hills.
Donner and Back Canyons. Reminder: Middle Trail is NOT the one to take if you want to connect to the upper end of Back!
04/15 - Hite's Cove
This was an Ulla and Karen adventure, but we wanted to share the flowers with everyone.
04/16 - Mt Diablo (North Peak Tr)
We had a special hike on Mount Diablo. It was led by Heath Bartosh, Save Mount Diablo Board Member and Research Associate at the Jepson Herbaria at Cal Berkeley. (Jeanne bid and won the hike at the auction last September at Moonlight on the Mountain). North Peak trail out to Devil's Elbow and around toward Prospector's Gap.
A short morning hike...up the fire road and then along the nature trail and back to the fire road. Good views and plenty to look at.
04/30 - Edgewood Park & Filoli
06-11 - Ring Mountain
04/30 - Edgewood Park & Filoli
We survived the hottest day of the year and had a
great time! The hikers split into two groups with Karoline leading a shorter,
flatter walk along the Clarkia Trail (about 2 miles), while Lee
took the rest of us up the Sylvan Loop Tr to the Serpentine Loop
Trail (a bit over 3 miles).
05/07 - Mt. Diablo (Perkins Canyon)
We made our first group foray into the burn area on the southeast slope of the mountain. Flowers!!! everywhere, especially on the Perkins trail.
05/14 - no hike, too hot
Lots of wonderful food and good company to celebrate Jeanne's 85th. Then several short walks to view some of the amazing floral display.The Muir Picnic Area is an easy access point to view some of the marvelous fire-followers, especially the Whispering Bells and Golden Ear Drops. There are more bulbs blooming on the mountain than any of us can remember. Goodies along the trails circling the summit, too.
It was cool and foggy as we walked the new Devil's Slide trail which used to be Hwy 1. More flowers than we expected. The walk was followed by lunch in Half Moon Bay at Cameron's Pub.
06-11 - Ring Mountain
Excessively windy. The Calochortus were gone to seed and the 2012 fire area at the top of the ridge still fenced off. But there were many other flowers.For a plant
checklist see: http://www.marin.edu/cnps/Ring_Mountain.html .
06/18 - Serpentine Prairie
I didn't hike, so have no details and no pictures
We took the 3.37 mile walk around the lake, enjoyed a visit to the Bonsai Garden led by Polly and after lunch explored some of the other parts of the Gardens.
Starting at the Fish Ladder we went up Orchard trail to French trail, contoured along the slope and descended either Fern or Mill trail to Stream trail. Lunch at Trail's End picnic area and then return via the Bridle trail. 3.6 or 4.4 miles
Hot inland, but very foggy and windy toward the coast. A good 4 mile hike. We made the circle up Miwok Trail to the WNW joining the Coyote Ridge Tr and coming down Fox Tr.
From the parking lot, along the shore of San Pablo Bay; out the fishing pier; lunch in the big picnic area under the eucalyptus; along the shore, across the marsh and return across the grassy hill. Most walked about 4.75 miles
We split into two groups one making a loop UP Fox Trail and then down the Coast Trail to meet the trail to the beach. The other stayed on the relatively flat valley trail. We walked back together after lunch. Distance ranged from 3.66 to 5.3 miles +/-
Starting at the Fish Ladder we went up Orchard trail to French trail, contoured along the slope and descended either Fern or Mill trail to Stream trail. Lunch at Trail's End picnic area and then return via the Bridle trail. 3.6 or 4.4 miles
Hot inland, but very foggy and windy toward the coast. A good 4 mile hike. We made the circle up Miwok Trail to the WNW joining the Coyote Ridge Tr and coming down Fox Tr.
Late
lunch at the picnic tables by the parking lot.
Caples Week
Lee, Ulla and Karen do a reconnaissance hike.
Two groups: Debbie, Lee, Ulla and Karen hike from Kirkwood, take the Emigrant Trail and after some cross-country scrambling reach Emigrant Lake as it starts to rain. The others took a boat across Caples, hiked about 2 miles to Emigrant Lake, enjoyed a swim and were on their way back as the other group approached the falls.
Again two groups and also several sub-groups. Delia and John, Phred and Elaine, Debbie and Kathy, Ulla, Lee and Karen started from Woods Lake. At Winnemucca, Delia, John, Debbie and Kathy went on ahead to Round Top Lake. They returned via Winnemucca and the Woods Lake Trail. The other five followed more slowly and after lunch took the Lost Mine Trail back down to Woods Lake. The other hikers started at the pass and after reaching Frog Lake, explored around Elephant Back.
There were only 6 of us. Ulla and Karen started first from the Meiss trailhead. Debbie soon passed them. Susan was behind her. We all wandered independently catching sight of one or another at times. Sylvia and Ron met us at the iris pond as we were returning. Unfortunately I didn't pay attention and images were not saved on the camera card. I replaced it before the evening storm, so there are pictures of that.
Only Ulla and Karen hiked. Ulla suggested going up the route of old Hwy 88 from Red Lake to the end of the road by the pioneer monument. Great choice! Another afternoon storm.
The hike will was a return to Lake Chabot, this time to the eastern shore. No climbs, but some rolling ups and downs. The surface is paved and unpaved fire road. The course is out-and-back; our usual has been about 4 miles.
07/30 - No Hike
No hike thanks to the lingering 90+ degree forecasts. Even driving to the fog bank on the horizon doesn't sound like fun.
We started at the dam and because of the warm, muggy weather, did an out and back rather than walking all the way to the Bear Creek staging area and shuttling drivers.
Just four of us. We did the loop trail going clockwise (started down). Wonderful as always.
Approaching from the Old Tunnel Road Staging area, up the Round Top Creek trail. The fog stuck around and the wind had a nasty bite; the walk was just under 4 miles). There were views which we don't normally see as we wound to the east side of Round Top and then north along the Volcanic trail.
From the park in Pt Richmond, we walked over the hill to Keller's Beach, out to Ferry Point, back to the lagoon for lunch and then through the tunnel to return to the cars.
From the Valle Vista staging area on Canyon Rd thru the old growth pines to the bridge. Then left on the Rimer Creek Trail and eventually up the hill to the Rocky Ridge Trail. Down to meet the King's Canyon Loop Trail and so back to the cars. Under 3 miles.
Shirley led us on a new walk today. We parked on Vicente Rd then rambled through the neighborhood to reach Garber Park. It is a 13-acre City of Oakland woodland park located behind the Claremont Hotel. Total distance only 2 miles.
We started at the dam and because of the warm, muggy weather, did an out and back rather than walking all the way to the Bear Creek staging area and shuttling drivers.
Just four of us. We did the loop trail going clockwise (started down). Wonderful as always.
Approaching from the Old Tunnel Road Staging area, up the Round Top Creek trail. The fog stuck around and the wind had a nasty bite; the walk was just under 4 miles). There were views which we don't normally see as we wound to the east side of Round Top and then north along the Volcanic trail.
From the park in Pt Richmond, we walked over the hill to Keller's Beach, out to Ferry Point, back to the lagoon for lunch and then through the tunnel to return to the cars.
From the Valle Vista staging area on Canyon Rd thru the old growth pines to the bridge. Then left on the Rimer Creek Trail and eventually up the hill to the Rocky Ridge Trail. Down to meet the King's Canyon Loop Trail and so back to the cars. Under 3 miles.
Shirley led us on a new walk today. We parked on Vicente Rd then rambled through the neighborhood to reach Garber Park. It is a 13-acre City of Oakland woodland park located behind the Claremont Hotel. Total distance only 2 miles.
From Picklewood Park in San Rafael along the edge of the Bay. Plenty of birds and great views.
From the Skyline trailhead along West Ridge Trail; past the Chabot Space & Science Center; on to Roberts Grove. Back to the Redwood Bowl for lunch 4.7 miles
We walked DOWN the de Laveaga trail from the Steam Train parking lot to Camino Pablo in Orinda. Total distance (including the extra half mile to the Orinda Community Center park for lunch) 3.68 miles.
We hiked in the deep shade up Palo Seco creek. Early lunch at Lookout Point and return to the Palos Colorados trail via the Sinawik trail. Distance 2.85 miles.
Clockwise around the reservoir.The four of us who started down on El Nido Ranch Rd walked 4 miles. Just a few pictures.
From the Skyline trailhead along West Ridge Trail; past the Chabot Space & Science Center; on to Roberts Grove. Back to the Redwood Bowl for lunch 4.7 miles
We walked DOWN the de Laveaga trail from the Steam Train parking lot to Camino Pablo in Orinda. Total distance (including the extra half mile to the Orinda Community Center park for lunch) 3.68 miles.
We hiked in the deep shade up Palo Seco creek. Early lunch at Lookout Point and return to the Palos Colorados trail via the Sinawik trail. Distance 2.85 miles.
Clockwise around the reservoir.The four of us who started down on El Nido Ranch Rd walked 4 miles. Just a few pictures.
Grape vines everywhere! A wonderful display of California fall color. This was an absolutely perfect day for this hike: warm in the sun, but not too warm; clear air; beautiful colors; etc. etc.
Just over 3.5 miles.
Just over 3.5 miles.
From the parking lot, along the shore of San Pablo Bay; out the fishing pier; lunch in the big picnic area under the eucalyptus; along the shore, across the marsh and return across the grassy hill. Most walked about 4.75 miles
We split into two groups one making a loop UP Fox Trail and then down the Coast Trail to meet the trail to the beach. The other stayed on the relatively flat valley trail. We walked back together after lunch. Distance ranged from 3.66 to 5.3 miles +/-
It was a great hike for 13 of us along the newly re-opened George Miller Regional Trail (Carquinez Scenic Trail), starting at the Port Costa end and walking toward Martinez. Seven of us added a loop up the Franklin Ridge Trail. The others had lunch and then turned around. We all ended up back at the cars about together. Shorter hike was 4 miles; longer one almost 6 1/2.
Rain at last - no walk
We had a very pleasant ramble in Lafayette Parks and Recreation District property at the end of Springhill Rd. Distance about 2.25 miles and flat except for the clib up Sunrise Trail for a view toward Diablo.
Rain at last - no walk
We had a very pleasant ramble in Lafayette Parks and Recreation District property at the end of Springhill Rd. Distance about 2.25 miles and flat except for the clib up Sunrise Trail for a view toward Diablo.
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