As of Aug, 29 2024, the park is open, but some trails (Shady Glen [which leads to the Flag Hill trail], Indian Joe, McCorkle) are closed. Update: Indian Joe trail reopened on Aug 30, 2024.

The park was fairly empty on Aug 29, 2024 in the morning. Our favorite jaunt up to Flag Hill was blocked off due to the Shady Glen trail closure, so we did a simple in and out to Little Yosemite. During this course, we were treated to sitings of bobcats, red tailed hawks, scurrying quail and other birds.

The water level in Alameda Creek was low, so Little Yosemite was mostly dry at this time.

Have you visited recently? What were your experiences?

Related

• EBRP official Sunol Wilderness Regional Park page.
• Sunol Regional Wilderness Flag Hill Trail
• Sunol Regional Wilderness Little Yosemite

The post Sunol Wilderness Creek Fire Aftermath appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Nestled in the heart of Sonoma Valley, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park offers an idyllic escape into nature, showcasing Northern California’s diverse landscape. For those yearning for a day of adventure and tranquility, the Bald Mountain Trail to the waterfall loop trail presents a fulfilling itinerary through the park’s rich ecosystems.

Essential Info

• Length: ~7 mi. Total. ~5 miles for Bald Mountain – Hillside Loop, ~2 miles for Waterfall Loop
• Time: ~3hrs.
• Ascent: 1360ft.
• Difficulty: Intermediate (elevation and stream crossings depending on month)
• Cost: $10/vehicle regular, $8 Seniors.
• Hours:  6 AM to 8 PM
• Pets: No dogs allowed
• Address: 2605 Adobe Canyon Rd, Kenwood 95452

Getting There

From the East Bay: Closer to 680, take 680N across the Benicia Bridge to 780W to 37W. Closer to 580 take 580W across the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge to 101N to 37E.

From 37 turn onto CA-121N at the Sonoma Raceway (Sears Point). CA-121N continues straight into CA-161W at a 4 way stop. Drive straight into Arnold Dr (do not veer left to continue on CA-161). Continue on Arnold Dr until reaching a traffic circle where you’ll need to take the first exit (right) onto Agua Cliente Road.

Proceed along Agua Cliente Road to a traffic light and turn left onto CA-12W. Proceed for ~8mi through Glen Ellen and Kenwood. Turn right into Adobe Canyon Rd located just after the Chateau St Jean Winery. This road brings you into Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.

The Hike

Begin your adventure at (1) the main parking lot, 400ft in from the fee kiosk, and make your way to the paved Stern Trail. Shortly up from Stern Trail, take a right to embark on the (2) Bald Mountain Trail.

The Ascent: Climbing Bald Mountain Trail

The Bald Mountain Trail beckons with its expansive vistas. Wander through a tapestry of grasslands and oak woodlands, with the path’s outset offering a soft introduction. Along the way, the vineyards of Tesseron Estate occupies the hillside of the far view.

Here, a solitary flower amidst the verdure stands as a testament to the park’s serene beauty—a symbol of the peaceful solitude that Sugarloaf Ridge bestows on its visitors.

Continue onward to (3) Vista Trail, descending gently to meet the (4) Gray Pine Trail. Then, (5) cross the creek to join the (6) Meadow Trail.

Through Meadows

As the trail unfolds through the meadows, revel in the openness around you, where wildflowers scatter across the landscape, adorning it like jewels. The whisper of leaves and the sporadic chirping of birds provide an aural backdrop to the visual splendor, with fleeting glimpses of wildlife captured in brief photographic moments.

The Observatory

Approaching the observatory, veer left onto the (7) Hillside Trail, circling back towards (1) the parking lot. For those drawn to the sound of cascading water, head towards the visitor center and pick up the Pony Gate Trail, which leads to the (8) Canyon Trail where you’ll make a left (to do the loop clockwise).

The Waterfall Loop: A Refreshing Finale

The journey peaks as you make your descent toward the waterfall. Transitioning into a realm where the lush canopy thrives on the nourishment of water, an enchanting image of a waterfall awaits—a spectacle of water flowing over rocks, illuminated by streaks of sunlight. The waterfall’s melody entices you to pause, soak in the beauty, and be enveloped in the refreshing ambiance of the waterfall’s embrace.

When you’re ready, continue on the Canyon trail until it hits the paved road. Seek out the (10) Pony Gate Trail 10-20ft up the road (to the right) and loop back to the main parking lot; you’ll proceed through the Canyon View turnoff you made earlier at (8) and then retrace your steps back towards the visitor’s center.

Reflecting on Nature’s Wonders

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is more than a hiking destination; it’s a journey through diverse landscapes, each with its own story and spectacle. From the lone wildflower at the trailhead to the expansive views from Bald Mountain and the soothing sounds at the waterfall, each step offers a unique interaction with the natural world. The park is a reminder of the peaceful coexistence of various life forms and the subtle, profound beauty that unfolds when we step out and explore.

IDs of encounters during the hike courtesy of CrossPrism Nature:

Other Points of Interest in the Area

• Jack London State Park
  • Easy hikes around Jack London’s former ranch.
• Robert Ferguson Observatory
  • Offers (for a fee) night sky lectures and telescope viewing sessions located within Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
• Sonoma Safari
  • A collection of animals brought from Africa.

The post Sugarloaf Ridge State Park appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

This December, we were fortunate to escape away for two weeks on Hawaii’s Big Island. We’ve done a fare bit of the popular (e.g., Manta Ray night snorkel) and less popular (e.g., Hiking out to the lava fields) over the course of many years. The plan for this trip was to take things slow with a mix of snorkeling, hiking, and enjoying the tropical Polynesian environment.

Contents

• Helpful Tips
• Lodgings
• Beaches
• Hikes and Walks
• Places to Visit
• Restaurants and Food Stops

Helpful Tips

Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the US States, but Costco can help ease the pain. A stop at the Costco in Kona can save you hundreds of dollars for purchasing things like Hawaiian bread, meat for BBQ, snacks, beer/alcohol, gifts, and beach supplies. This location also has a gas station and given its proximity to the airport, it’s worthwhile to plan to do a final top off here before returning a rental car.

If renting out a unit, check to see if beach accessories are included. Tommy Bahama chairs, umbrellas, and a wagon to carry all of it can make a huge difference when visiting beaches that aren’t at your doorstep.

Also if renting a unit, try to book directly with property management companies or owners. Many have existed long before the rise of short term stay apps and their direct rates can save you substantial sums depending on your length of stay.

Identifying Flora and Fauna

Use our own iOS app – CrossPrism Nature – to help identify the various new animal and plant species you’ll encounter!

Lodgings

The Kohala Coast, north west of Kona is popular for its dry weather and its proximity to Kona. For this trip, we rented a condo in the Waikoloa Beach Resort, close to the Queens Marketplace and Kings Shops. This location is convenient for its restaurants, shops, and groceries. Hilo is about 1.5 hours away via the Saddle road, and Kona is approximately 30 mins south. The main downside is that it’s the furthest away you can get from the Volcanoes National Park at ~2hrs distance.

The Royal Kona Resort, situated in the middle of Kailua-Kona is an older hotel on the south end of the main Kona strip that can provide bargain prices for oceanfront rooms. From this location, you’ll enjoy sunsets over Ōneo bay, the sound of crashing waves, and easy access to the many tourist shops and restaurants along Ali’i Dr. Tip: They charge $25/day for parking but free parking is often available along Kahakai Road towards the south side (heading away from Ali’i Dr).

Beaches

Anaehoʻomalu Beach/Waikōloa Beach

Situated next to the Marriott, this popular beach is a good choice for its many amenities including boat tours, equipment and cabana rentals. The calm waters make this beach good for sun bathing and swimming, but it’s not the best for snorkeling.

If you’re not staying within walking distance, there are public parking lots available next to the Marriott and next to Lava Lava Beach Club that necessitate a short walk along mostly paved paths to the beach.

49 Black Sand Beach

A quiet beach with few public amenities (bathroom, shower), we spent most of our snorkeling time here. Ensuring that it never gets too crowded, it’s situated in a private development that has 18 spaces allotted to the public. The entry/exit is controlled by a gate attendant making it best to arrive early.

The beach can be a little rocky and the surf slightly rough making entry/exit a little tricky at times. But the snorkeling here is good with plenty of coral and fish.

Hikes and Walks

Ōhi’a/Pu’u wa’awa’a Cone Trail (Kohala)

The Ōhi’a Trail is relatively new and offers an alternate, slightly longer, path to the Pu’u wa’awa’a Cone through former cattle ranch lands inhabited by ōhi’a trees. They share the same starting point, but the Ōhi’a trail forks off to the right, whereas the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Trail proceeds straight along a paved path. The trail eventually returns to the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Trail but the turns are not well marked (use GPS!).

The rest of the way, along the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Cone trail ascends an old volcanic cinder cone and offers all-around views of Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and the Kohala Coast. My GPS recorded 1800ft in elevation gain for this intermediate hike with one very steep sections climbing the crater.

Makāula ‘o’oma Trail (Kona)

With this hike you’ll experience the lush rain forest environment of the Honua’ula Forest Reserve. It’s a loop trail approximately 3.8 miles long with an elevation gain of almost 700ft. The Makahi St trailhead is at the end of a sparsely populated residential street.

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (Kona)

An easy 1.5 mile flat walk from the nondescript visitor center to Honokōhau Beach and back, you can experience ancient Hawaiian structures, petroglyphs, ponds, and turtles.

Places to Visit

Mauna Kea Visitors Information Station (Saddle Road)

Famous for its astronomy observatories, Mauna Kea is a perfect stop when traveling along Saddle road between Hilo and Kona. See the sunrise in the early morning, the sunset at dusk, or join other stargazers at night. The visitor station is only partway up the volcano and is easily accessible. The summit, on the other hand, requires a 4WD vehicle.

Tip: Bring cold weather gear, as the temperatures in the morning and evening here can be close to freezing.

Hilo Farmers Market

Offers various tropical fruits, vegetables, home made sweets, and crafts.

Big Island Candies (Hilo)

A favorite stop while in Hilo, you’re guaranteed a warm welcome (free chocolate and Kona coffee samples) and great cookies/candies/sweets.

University of Hawaii at Hilo Imiloa Astronomy Center

This off the beaten track stop has exhibits highlighting Mauna Kea’s telescopes, Polynesian navigation methods, and a planetarium with a regular schedule of educational shorts. Admission is $19 for adults, $12 for children, and $17 for seniors.

Original Hawaiian Chocolate (Kona)

Chocolate enthusiasts should make an effort to visit this small chocolate producer. Featuring locally grown chocolate, they specialize in the forester and criollo varieties. They offer free tastings, educational videos in their lobby, and tours around their property.

Restaurants and Food Stops

Lava Lava Beach Club (Waikōloa)

This favorite sadly no longer has happy hours, but the beachside location (right next to Waikōloa Beach) and good food is still hard to beat. They’ve also added a dedicated lot, making parking here a breeze.

Broke Da Mouth Grindz (Kona)

We tried the “Pork Belly Fat” Adobo plate, the Bi Bim Bap with Kalua Pork, and the Ube Ice Cream Mud Pie. All were excellent with the Ube Ice cream being a standout if you like gargantuan ice cream desserts.

Tip: Because there’s no dining space, try bringing your food to the Old Kona Airport Recreation Area. The park has picnic tables and walking paths and provides the perfect atmosphere along the ocean.

Island Java Java (Kona)

Another old favorite, they serve wholesome breakfast and Kona coffee with a view of Ōneo bay. They’ve moved locations by a few feet since we’d last been there with a new upstairs area and greatly expanded seating. The Luau Omelette, Island Eggs Benedict, and Lava Java Breakfast (w/waffles) didn’t disappoint!

Basik Açai (Kona)

This small breakfast shop is located upstairs of Snorkel Bob’s Tours, next door to the Royal Kona Resort. It’s remained surprisingly similar to our last visit in 2018. The “bowls” are pricey, but the portions are generous and tasty.

Rainbow Cafe (Kona)

If you’re doing a Costco run, try this place for lunch Instead of the Costco food court. The Rainbow cafe is a restaurant offering an extremely large menu of Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, and breakfast items.

Kanoa Grill (Kona)

Located in a strip mall, the popular “Rodzilla” with lobster crab cake fulfilled my seafood cravings! Food is cooked to order, so expect to wait ~10mins.

El Mercadito Rincon Mexicano (Kona)

Getting Mexican in Hawaii seems like a bad idea, but it’s not! Located in an international food court, there’s plenty of alternative neighbors (Tenkatori directly across from them had me wavering) for mixed tastes. Their standard burrito with carnitas turned out to be perfect with a Longboard Lager.

Reuben’s Mexican Food (Hilo)

We were saddened by the closure of our usual favorite in Hilo, Lucy’s Taqueria, back in 2021 (even though as of this writing, their website is still running!) Because we were at the farmer’s market, we decided to give Reuben’s a try and it appears to be a worthy successor. The pork tamale with chicken enchilada plate was as good as any I’ve had in California.

Markets

Aside from the restaurants, Hawaiian markets can be a great source for portable lunch and snacks.

• Poke is particularly good with some delis carrying multiple varieties (e.g., Salmon, soy sauce, mayo, etc).
• Spam Musubi. Seaweed, rice, and SPAM.
• Bento. Japanese style lunch combinations usually carrying a protein, rice, and pickles or veggies.
• Baked Goods. Malsadas. Doughnuts.

KTA is a common local supermarket chain and can be cheaper than tourism oriented markets.

Until Next Time…

After writing all the above, it feels like we did a lot, but we really spent most of our time lounging on the lanai, beach, or balcony. The main attraction of the Hawaii’s Big Island is that it’s, well, BIG. There’s always something interesting to do and in the meantime, the constant 70 degree weather (during December) makes it very easy to simply do nothing.

Have you been to Hawaii’s Big Island before? Any recommendations we should try for our next visit?

Other Travel Destinations Outside of the East Bay

• Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

The post Hawaii Big Island Trip Report appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

The Martinez Regional Shoreline offers a historic stroll along a waterfront. Relax afterwards at a restaurant nestled in the nearby downtown.

Side note: The photos presented here were taken on Sept 26, 2020.

Essential Info

• Hours: 8am-Varies (check website)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Time: 1hr
• Distance: 1.5mi in and out
• Dogs: OK
• Map: ebrp map
• Website: https://www.ebparks.org/parks/radke-martinez
• Address: Ferry Street, Martinez, CA

Getting There

Martinez is located on the south side approach to the Benicia-Martinez Bridge.

Using 680N, exit at Marina Vista Ave and head west to downtown Martinez.

The Hike

The Duck Pond

Beginning from the bocce ball parking lot, travel north towards the water and turn left at the duck pond trail. A well named feature, the pond attracts various water fowl that stop to take a rest.

The Arch Bridge

Veering left to the Kildeer and then Pickleweed trail, climb the Arch Bridge which crosses the Alhambra Creek, once the water source for the Alhambra Bottled Water Company.

Marsh

Just beyond the bridge, a marsh fed by a mix of salty bay and fresh water creek, provides a thriving ecosystem for animals to live.

The Schooner

Only a hull of it’s former self, it’s hard to imagine the 250ft schooner once sailed across the Pacific, delivering lumber to places like China, India and Australia. In its last days, it was used as a tidal break during the construction of the Carquinez Bridge (just off of Crockett), and then beached on the mudflats where it now sits. A fire burned it into its final shape, preserving only those pieces that were submerged in the water.

The Carquinez Strait

A stretch of the SF Bay delta that connects Suisun Bay with San Pablo Bay, it supports various wildlife as well as water activities.

Related and Nearby

• Carquinez Regional Shoreline
  • Literally next door to the Martinez Regional Shoreline, its a much larger park compared to the Martinez Regional Shoreline.
• Crockett Hills Regional Park
  • An alternate view of the Carquinez Strait, overlooking the Carquinez Bridge
• Waterbird Regional Preserve
  • A small park good for viewing birds.

The post Martinez Regional Shoreline appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Just the other day, I came across this article in SF Gate: Poison hemlock is growing across the Bay Area: Should you be worried?

While I haven’t been doing many destination hikes lately, I do walks around my home several times a week. During one jaunt, I decided to do a test on what I thought was wild carrot. To my surprise, it ended up being….

It works!

If you want to add a new dimension to your outings, give the app a try! It’s only been out for a week. Unlike other photo AI apps, it:

• Recognizes multitudes of plants, birds, reptiles, fungi, and mammals
• Gives an image rating to help with making those instagram moments
• Doesn’t require network connectivity. Many parks don’t have good cell reception.
• Works in realtime with your iPhone camera

Get it on the app store!

CrossPrism Nature

Oh ya, it also recognizes oceanic life: should you (and your iPhone) ever find yourself underwater or at an aquarium.

The post Photo AI: A New Dimension To The Outdoors appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

If you do decide to go during the summer time, caution should be exercised for long hikes such as this: there’s little shade and little water along the way.

Essential Info

• Hours: Varies (Check Del Valle website)
• Cost: $2/person for trail permit, $6/vehicle
• Difficulty: Hard
• Time: ~8 hours.
• Length: ~14 mi. in and out
• Elevation Gain: 4550ft.
• Additional COVID-19 info (as of 2/2021): The West shore parking lot at Del Valle is closed but a small parking lot is available at the turn off leading to it. Water and bathroom facilities are closed. Go early!
• Water: Camps in the wilderness offer water, however a filter is recommended.
• Dogs: OK, $2/dog
• Website: Del Valle and Ohlone Wilderness

Getting There

Heading on I580 East, exit N. Livermore. Continue south where the road will transition into S. Livermore and then Tesla streets. After about 0.5 miles, make a right at Mines Road. Continue for approximately 3.5mi and continue straight onto Del Valle Rd. This road will take you to the main entry gate of Del Valle.

After the entry gate, proceed straight towards the West shore. After crossing the bridge, turn right. At the time of this writing, the West shore facilities are closed and you should park at the small parking lot at the turn off; it’s a short walk to the West shore parking lot. If it is open, you park in the main area. The trail head is towards the far end of the parking lot.

The Hike

From the West shore parking lot, look for the Ohlone/Sailor Camp trail head signs around the far end of the parking lot. The trail back tracks along the lot for a hundred feet, then switches back into a slight ascent.

The first segment is the Sailor Camp trail which is an intermediate hike to the Ohlone Trail. At the start of the Ohlone trail is sign-in sheet.

Along the way, water is available at Stromer Spring (use a filter!) and shortly after, Boyd’s camp offers an outhouse.

From there, the most difficult stretch of the trail descends into Willams Gulch and subsequently climbs out over an elevation gain of ~1450 ft.

Johnny’s pond marks the end of the ascent and a crossroads. Keep right around the pond to go to Murietta falls.

If the falls are flowing, you’ll cross a small stream that is the fall’s source. Look for a large boulder which marks the turn off to go to the falls.

As one last hurdle, there’s a steep, narrow descent to get to the base of the falls.

Trail Gallery

Related and Nearby

• Del Valle Arroyo Entrance
  • Intermediate hike to the top of the dam and along the east shore
• Brushy Peak
  • Intermediate level hikes with good bird viewing
• Los Vaqueros Reservoir
  • Smaller version of Del Valle lake with recreational amenities and hiking
• Concannon Vineyards
  • Restaurant and wine tasting
• Wente Vineyards
  • Restaurant and wine tasting
• Altamont Beerworks
  • Taproom

The post Murietta Falls: Lake Del Valle-Ohlone Trail appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

In a naturally, socially distanced experience, paddle up the Elkhorn Slough with a kayak at your own pace. For land lovers, surrounding trails provide access to the beach and the slough entrance. For a more laid back experience, boat tours provide the most relaxed journey.

Elkhorn Slough Background

Located 20 miles north of Monterey, the Elkhorn Slough is the 2nd largest Californian estuary and sits at the center edge of Monterey Bay. Located at the site of a primordial river drainage basin, the current slough was only recently reconnected to the ocean in 1946.

Getting to Moss Landing

Take 880S to San Jose through the 101 interchange where it will turn into 17S to Santa Cruz. At Santa Cruz, follow the signs to highway 1S. Moss Landing is directly off of highway 1.

Alternatively, you can take 101S. Exit to 156W before Prunedale, and then exit 1N to Moss Landing.

Most of the activities are at north harbor, off of Jetty Rd. The power plant is an unmistakable landmark that is located to the south of Jetty Rd.

Accommodations, restaurants and most boat tours are in the south harbor, further south on 1, off of Moss Landing Rd.

Moss Landing Activities

Hiking

Jetty Road leads into Moss Landing State Beach. From here, you can view wildlife across the north harbor.

The Moss Landing State Wildlife Area across highway 1 from the north harbor is frequented by fishermen along the shores of the estuary. Check their website for the latest information.

Kayaking

Kayaking outfitters from the north harbor (Jetty Rd), offer rentals and quick training courses to set you on your way. The water in the slough is extremely calm, however paddling in/out can be a workout depending on the flow of the tide (see tip below). I’ve tried Monterey Bay Kayaks at Elkhorn Slough and always had a good experience.

An alternate to kayaking are “hydrobikes”. The main advantage the bikes have over kayaks is that they’re higher up over the water and extremely stable. This means bringing large gear (like a large DSLR w/zoom lens) is a lot safer than on a kayak. The downside is that they have a propeller that requires a minimum depth and can get tangled in sea grass or fishing line. Try calling Monterey Bay Hydrobikes to check pricing as they sometimes offer day-of discounts depending on their schedule.

Tip: Check the tide tables for the high tide time. Ideally begin your journey before high tide to let the tide push you into the slough. Start returning to the harbor after high tide, and kick back as the ebbing tide pulls you back in.

Boating Tours

Typically located at the south harbor, boating tour operators offer a leisurely experience into the slough. The advantage is that you have a guide and boat do all the work for you. The disadvantage is that you have less control over your view and ability to explore according to your own interests.

Otter Pictures

Taken from a hydrobike (see above under Kayaking).

Related

• Point Lobos State Reserve
  • Just south of Monterey, plenty of hiking along craggy shore where you’ll spot seals and otters in the water.
• Año Nuevo State Park
  • A regular breeding ground for elephant seals.
• Geologic history of Elkhorn Slough

The post Moss Landing and Elkhorn Slough appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

It’s been 5 weeks since the Bay Area shelter in place directive began. One exception to the rules has been outdoor hiking which has caused a flood of visitors to parks.

In response to the increased traffic and Centers For Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) has modified its normal services. Some parks are closed, others remain open with their parking lots barred, and most retain access with caveats. Check the EBRPD Covid-19 Park & Trail Updates page before heading out to any of its locations to verify accessibility.

As a result, normally popular parks are now either closed (like Sunol Regional Wilderness) or jam packed with people trying to escape the confines of their shelters. The Morgan Territory Regional Preserve is a lesser frequented park in Livermore that offers hikers some relief from crowds. Note that large bold “Area Closed” signs apply only to picnics, restrooms, and other onsite facilities; in small print the sign clarifies that “Trails remain open”. Because of the reduced service, maintenance has ceased and visitors should dispose of any garbage (animal waste, etc.) at home. Read more at the EBRPD COVID-19 FAQ.

Morgan Territory Essential Info

• Hours: 8am-sunset
• Fees: None
• Dogs: Normally OK (Though COVID-19 rules stipulate on-leash at all times)
• Difficulty: Most trails are easy
• EBRPD Website: https://www.ebparks.org/parks/morgan/default.htm

Getting There

To get to Morgan Territory, take 580E to N. Livermore street. Proceed north on Livermore Street until it bends west and then turn left onto Morgan Territory Rd. This road will turn into a narrow, one lane road and proceed about 5.5mi to the park staging area.

Hiking

A popular route includes the Volvon trail (starts from the staging area) to the Valley View trail. From there you’ll be able to see neighboring Los Vaqueros reservoir, Round Valley Regional Preserve, and out to the Sacramento river delta (see panoramic photo below).

Round trip, plan about 3-4 hrs, and about 6 miles with slight elevation changes.

Alternatives

Livermore offers an abundance of (slightly more popular) alternates including:

• Del Valle Lake
• Los Vaqueros reservoir
• Brushy Peak

The post Morgan Territory: East Bay COVID-19 Spotlight appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Olompali State Park is a historic site, beginning with the Miwok tribe dating back to 6000BC. It currently features Miwok village re-creations, the adobe remnants of the last Miwok owner (Camilo Yinitia), and the later ranch dwellings of the Burdell family. Before becoming a state park, the land exchanged hands between various organizations, including the Grateful Dead. It was finally acquired by Marin County and California in 1977.

The structures and Miwok village are all accessible within a short stroll from the parking lot. A long hike up to Burrell Mountain traverses a majority of the park and offers grand views of a lesser known part of the north bay.

Olompali State Park Essential Info

• Park hours: 9am-5pm (gated)
• Cost: $8 (cash only)
• Website: CA State Parks
• Alltrails link: Olompali Burdell
• Dogs: No
• Distance: ~9 mi (various routes)
• Difficulty: Intermediate (distance)

Getting There

Olompali State Park is located in north of San Francisco Bay, between Petaluma and Novato. To get there from the East Bay, take I580W across the Richmond Bridge to 101N. Exit at Atherton Avenue, making a left onto Atherton Avenue and then a quick right onto Redwood Blvd. The park will be on your left hand side.

Burdell Mountain Hike

Covering almost the entirety of the park, the hike to Mt Burdell offers shaded paths that meander up to grand vistas of San Pablo bay and the Petaluma river basin.

Depending on where you are in the parking lot, find the path towards the Stone Fountain. Make a left up towards the dairy barn. Just past the dairy barn, make a left onto the Loop trail. The Loop trail loops back via the Miwok trail so you can alternatively start with the Miwok trail.

Along the way, look for a sign at a fork indicating Miwok/Loop/Mt Burdell paths. Take the path to Mt. Burdell. From there, stay on the main path which will switch back multiple times. You’ll reach the stone wall, indicating you’re very close.

The path more or less follows the stone wall. There’s a picnic table and clearing with some of the best views. Continue down from the clearing towards the stone wall. You’ll reach a gate representing the exit of the state park and entry into the Mt Burdell Preserve.

Follow the fire road till just before the Fire station lookout where a path veers upwards towards the stone wall which sits upon the summit.

To return, you can follow the same path back. For a shorter, but steeper return, follow the alternate trail from the picnic clearing leading straight down the hillside. That trail has a few misleading turn-offs (you might notice I took a few of those on the GPS track above!), so I’d recommend following it using a GPS guide.

Nearby

• Lagunitas Brewing Company taproom in Petaluma
• Jack London Historic Park

The post Olompali State Park: Burdell Mountain appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Why October? In additional to fall colors, October is the time of the elk rut when bulls bugle to attract mates and ward off competitors. Bears are also active this time of year foraging in order to fatten up for winter hibernation. A major reason is simply to avoid the massive crowds which heavily detracts from the experience with nature.

Highlights

• 3000 total miles. 7 days, starting from Bay Area, California to Jackson, WY (for Grand Teton), to Gardiner, MT (for Yellowstone), and returning from there.
• Costs: ~$60 night in Jackson, WY at the Super 8, $20/night at Mammoth camp ground, ~$90/night at Gardiner Super 8
• Grand Teton wildlife spotted: moose, bison, pronghorn, muskrat, elk.
• Yellowstone wildlife spotted: wolves (Junction Butte and Phantom packs), grizzly bears, coyote, elk, golden and bald eagles.

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park was spectacular for its scenic vistas of the Tetons with various foreground settings depending where you are at in the park: Barns on Mormon row, the Snake River on Oxbow bend, or Jackson lake at Coulter bay.

Grand Teton Wildlife

Moose were plentiful around the southern end of the park, near the Craig Thomas Visitor center. During this time I found them around Moose-Wilson road, Gros Ventre river, and the Black tail ponds.

Bison and pronghorn were also plentiful in the ranges between the Antelope flats and Gros Ventre road. I didn’t spend too much time lingering around them as they are plentiful in Yellowstone.

On top of being a famous photography spot, Oxbow bend is also a great place to spot water birds and mammals like beavers and muskrats.

Grand Teton Useful Info

• Check Best of the Tetons daily journals which are constantly updated.
• National Parks Grand Teton website.
• Grand Teton Park Map

Yellowstone National Park

My original intent was to stay 3 nights in Jackson, and then 4 in Yellowstone. Due to road closures which prevented me from reaching Mammoth on my first try, I only ended up staying 3 nights in Yellowstone.

Mammoth Campground

Of the 3 nights, 2 were in Mammoth campground and 1 was at the Super 8 in Gardiner. Mammoth campground is open all year round and is a bargain at $20/night. It had plentiful availability during this time and saves about 15 minutes compared to driving in from Gardiner.

Mammoth campground supports both tents and RVs. Tent camps (which I used) can be identified by a sandbox area where tents can setup. RV spots, by contrast, only have a pull through driveway.

The main downside of the campground is that it’s situated by the roadside, nestled in the hairpin right before the Mammoth Hot Springs center. You might think you can escape the road in the latter campsites (a one way road loops through all the sites), but you can’t. I camped in spot #64 but if I had to do it again, I would have just chosen something closer to the bathroom like #55 or #21.

Yellowstone Wildlife

Having recently read American Wolf, by Nate Blakeslee, my main objective in Yellowstone was to see wolves. If you haven’t read it already, it provides a background on the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone as well as the history of some of the most famous wolves and packs.

The book also provides an introduction to the wolf watchers Rick Mcintyre (a retired Yellowstone ranger), Doug McLaughlin, Laurie Lyman and the Yellowstone wolf project lead, Doug Smith. I had the opportunity to meet all of them and chances are good you can run into some of them in the Lamar Valley during the morning (see tips below).

Yellowstone and Wolf Watching Tips

Ordered from lesser to greater experience level.

• Check the Yellowstone road status page.
  • Construction, weather, and seasonal schedules affect road status. Make sure the roads you want to take are open!
• Use Google Maps on your smartphone and download offline maps for Yellowstone
  • Unlike Grand Teton, cellular coverage in Yellowstone is very poor.
  • Google Maps expire after 30 days, so make sure you download them before you get to the park. They are large (100s of mb) so you should preferably use WiFi.
• Download the official Yellowstone app
  • It also supports offline operation for finding points of interest
• Subscribe to Facebook groups
  • Yellowstone Up Close
  • Yellowstone and Grand Teton Wildlife Sightings
• Bring binoculars.
  • Considering these are useful for general wildlife viewing, investing in a high quality pair is worthwhile.
  • I have a pair of Canon 10×30 IS binoculars which are compact and provide image stabilization for a clearer view.
• Wolf watching etiquette:
  • Avoid standing in front of an already situated viewer
  • During low activity, most wolf watcher are happy to answer questions or let you look through their spotting scopes. Avoid asking when wolves are moving or when viewers appear concentrated on their scopes.
  • Keep voices and cars sound levels low. The wolves often howl and other wildlife sounds give clues to their movements.
  • Avoid stopping in the middle of the road to take photos and pull fully off the road (past the white line) when parking.
    • A distracted driver may rear end you if you are unexpectedly stopped.
    • Rangers will cite illegally parked vehicles.
• Get a radio scanner
  • The park service and wolf watchers regularly communicate over the radio and broadcast useful information such as wildlife locations and road traffic updates.
  • The Baofeng BF-F8HP is cheap, compact, and provides great battery life. Just make sure to read the manual and figure out how to program frequencies ahead of time; the user interface is throwback to the pre-smartphone cel phone.
  • Radio frequencies I found useful during my trip:
    • Wolf watching: 464.500
    • Park Service: 165.5875
    • For more frequencies, see the yellowstone.net forums.
  • The wolf watchers are pretty much active every day of the year, so if you are in the Lamar Valley and tune in during the morning hours (approx 7-9am), you are likely to be able to find them.
    • Use the map here to help decipher some of the names of locations
• Invest in a spotting scope.
  • Wolves tend to be very far away and spotting scopes (which are essentially small telescopes) offer the optimal viewing experience most of the time.
  • You’ll need a tripod and pan/tilt head in addition to the scope, so this is a major step up in cost and baggage you will need to move around.
  • The Celestron 52250 is a good introductory scope that is < $200. On the higher side, Vortex Razor HD is well reviewed. Swarovski is the gold standard.
• Subscribe to https://www.yellowstonereports.com for $20/yr
  • Daily reports by the wolf watchers will give you a good feel for where to find wolves and information on the wolf packs.

Driving Routes

One of the additional motivations from driving vs flying for me was the discovery that it’s possible to do the trip in a single day. There’s also a one hour time difference so depending on the direction, you’ll lose or gain an hour.

During October, I encountered some heavy snow falls and snow covered roads. 4WD and snow tires are pretty much required if you go during times when snow is likely; one reason the summer season is so crowded.

Getting to Jackson, WY

This route was ~910 miles, and took 14 hours including stops for gas.

Getting to Yellowstone from Jackson

Unfortunately, due to snow storms and road closures throughout Yellowstone, I had to go all the way around through Bozeman adding 2x the distance and time.

Returning to SF Bay Area from Gardiner

By the time I was scheduled to leave, the road down through Madison and West Yellowstone had opened, allowing me to save some time and distance.

The route took about 16 hours and ~990mi.

Further Thoughts

While the time spent in Grand Teton felt about right, my time in Yellowstone felt too short. Perhaps this was due to the my feeling that Yellowstone offered more in the way of wildlife, whereas Grand Teton mainly offered scenic vistas. The snow in Yellowstone also slowed things down and cut my stay there by a day.

I’m hoping to return in the early spring, before Memorial Day (which kicks off the busy season). Hopefully, the weather will be less snowy with an abundance of pups, cubs, and calves bounding about!

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