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!.

Golden Eagle Trail  Essential Info

Length: 2.3 mi
Time: 1.5hrs
Difficulty: Easy
Hours: 8am – sunset
Dogs (leashed), Bikes, Equestrian allowed

Website: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/vargas
Trail map: Vargas_Plateau Map

Vargas Plateau Regional Park

Behind what is quickly becoming one of the most congested bottlenecks in the Bay Area, Vargas Plateau provides a critical corridor from the parks covered by the Ohlone Wilderness Trail (Sunol, Fremont Peak) to the bay wetlands (Coyote Hills, Don Edwards). Having resolved neighborhood issues regarding road traffic, East Bay Regional Parks re-opened the park in May, 2017.

This hilly area, covered by California’s familiar grassland and oak trees, provides ideal environments for bay raptors and their prey.

Getting There

To get to Vargas Plateau Regional Park, exit at Vargas road along I-680. If going up 680 North, simply follow Vargas road until it turns into a one-lane road. If going down 680 South, turn left onto Vargas road; right will bring you back towards the entrance to 680N

About 1.5mi along, turn right onto Morrison Road. After another .5 mi, the parking lot and trail entrance are easy to find on the left hand side of the road past a highly visible barn (see pic below).

Golden Eagle Trail to Vista Point

Start

From the parking lot, the very gradual Golden Eagle trail brings you across the open hills, towards an outcrop of rocks seemingly sprouting from the ground. The rocks are just beyond the fork which splits into Deer Gulch Trail and the Upper Ranch Trail.

Fork

The fork towards the Upper Ranch trail takes you past the open fields of the park residence. The flat open space provides plenty of habitat for rodents and their predators in the sky.

Curving around the base of the viewpoint, the trail upwards crosses the Upper Ranch trail loop at two points before a moderate climb up a gravel path.

Vista Point

The vista point provides views of Mission Peak as well as the Quarry Lakes area in Fremont.

Return

From the vista point, you can return along the same path you came in, or do the Upper Ranch loop which will add about 3 miles to the overall hike.

Wildlife

The post Vargas Plateau – Golden Eagle Trail appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Facilities: Visitors Center and vault toilets.
Hours: 8AM-5PM (winter) 8AM-7PM (and later depending on month)
Dogs: $2 fee.
Parking: $5 per vehicle
More Info: East Bay Parks Website
The site says there’s no drinking water, but they often serve water out of drinking jugs near the visitor’s center.

Seasonal Note: Like many East Bay parks, Sunol Wilderness can be extremely hot and exposed during the summer.  The longer hikes are best avoided during this time of year. Spring is the best time, offering wild flowers, flowing creeks, and milder temperatures.

Highlights

Flag Hill towers above the valley floor offering breathtaking views of the surrounding areas. The trail is steep but quick to reach the peak and has various return route options.

Getting There

Access the park via 680. From the South bay, take 680N to Calaveras/84-W off ramp and make a right onto Calaveras Road.

From the northern bay areas, take 680S to the Calaveras Road/84 Dumbarton Bridge exit. Make a left onto Calaveras Road. Note that the preceding exit is labeled “Sunol” and is not the correct exit.

Stay on Calaveras Road for 4.3 mi. Along the way, you’ll come across a couple of plant nurseries, a construction aggregates facility,and a water treatment plant along the southern side of the road. The road is also popular with bicyclists.

At approximately 4.3 mi, make a left onto Geary Road. At the time of this writing, Calaveras Road is closed beyond Geary road making this turn really hard to miss.

Geary Road will eventually lead to an entrance gate and ranger booth that will provide a park map in exchange for the vehicle entry fee.

The Trail

The rocky cliffs topping Flag Hill are an intimidating sight for anyone attempting this trail. While the climb will keep your quads burning, the trek to the top is short. Before you think you won’t be able to go any further, you’ll find yourself at the top, looking over the grand views over the valley floor.

Start at the visitors center, crossing the Alameda Creek bridge. Proceed left (west) along the Canyon View trail and turn right (north) at the Flag Hill Trail trail sign. The trail will immediately begin ascending, zig-zagging its way up the side of flag hill.

Just before the top, a rocky, narrow section requires a little balance and caution. Once past this, a wide, barely inclined path leads up to the peak.

Checkpoint: The Peak

Checkpoint: The Overlook

Proceed just a few yards past the peak onto the Flag Hill loop trail where you’ll catch better views of the valley below.

Checkpoint: Fossil Rocks

At the top of Flag Hill is Flag Hill Loop Trail. This short but deceptive trail offers more views westward towards the bay and of the MacGuire Peaks. Bear in mind that this loop descends quite a bit before ascending (rather abruptly) back to the top.

Checkpoint: High Valley Camp

The Flag Hill marker designates the intersection of the trail and Flag Hill Road. Take this road north, going away from the valley and descending behind a hillside. After a few switchbacks and a fallen oak tree popular with the squirrels, you’ll come across Hayfield Road and the High Valley camp.

Checkpoint: Indian Joe Turn Off

Hayfield road will continue back to the visitors center. However, if you prefer a more shaded route to return by (recommended), look for a signed intersection on the left hand side about a quarter mile past High Valley camp. The turn off with double back along a hillside before crossing a stream and placing you on the Indian Joe Trail just below the Cave Rocks.

The shade on the Indian Joe Trail makes for a more comfortable return trip and provides for greener surroundings.

Checkpoint: Indian Joe Creek

From here, continue to descend along the Indian Joe Trail where you’ll meet the Canyon View trail and head right (west) back to the visitor’s center.

The post Sunol Regional Wilderness – Flag Hill Trail appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Essential Info

Length: 2mi
Time: 1.5 hrs
Difficulty: Easy
Facilities: Visitors Center and flush toilets.

Hours: 8AM-5PM (winter) 8AM-7PM (others); Occasionally closed on weekend so check ahead.
Dogs: On leash only and not allowed in the marsh/pasture areas. Suisun Hill trail is OK.
More Info: Solano Land Trust Website

Highlights

The Rush Ranch Open Space Preserve brings us to an old ranch along the tidal marshes of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta.  Aquatic birds flock to the brackish waters of the Suisun Marsh in which fish like wild salmon and delta smelt thrive.  Nearby Grizzly Island reportedly provided foraging grounds for the now extinct California Grizzly which came down from the Mt Diablo foothills to forage on the island.

The hikes within the ranch area provide trails along the sloughs and above in the hills that provide grand views of the marsh land. The preserve is operated by the Solano Land Trust and provides various free activities.

Getting There

Rush Ranch is located next to Suisun City, just south of Fairfield. Take 80E to Sacramento, then switch to 12E near Fairfield. After about 6.5 miles, turn right onto Grizzly Island Blvd. You’ll pass a strip mall on the left hand side and the road surroundings will quickly shift to water and marsh grasses. 2.5 miles in, the ranch will be easily visible on the right.

The Ranch

Even if you’re not a hiker, a visit to the ranch can be a worthwhile excursion if you’re in the area. They feature the “Bone Yard”: a grave yard of old farm equipment and blacksmithing classes (check their event calendar).

Opportunities for wildlife viewing exist even here as the locals check out the attractions.

The ranch’s horse corrals are frequently occupied.

The Marsh Trail

The Marsh Trail is an easy, flat hike which traverses various habitats and offers plenty of opportunities to sight birds, coyotes, and wonderful landscapes.

Hiking through the visitor center, past the horse corrals you’ll immediately pass a grove of trees. Make a quick scan for owls or other birds resting on the branches.

Continue on past some grassland to the base of a small hill. The steepest part of this trail, a small ascent up a lookout hill offers grand views of the marsh. Relax on the benches and have a snack while taking in the view.

Descending down from the lookout you’ll pass a few Native American interpretive exhibits at the bottom of the hill. Follow the signs to stay on the trail.

Suisun Slough

Proceeding towards the Suisun Slough, you’ll get a close look at the levee gates which are used to help control salinity levels and create an optimal habitat for water fowl. High tides cause the salty bay water to back up through the delta while high river flows can push the salt back down.

From here is a long stretch along the Suisun Slough.  While boaters motor up and down the slough creating noise and wake, elegant birds can still be seen resting close to the shorelines or in flight.

Goat Island

About 3/4 of the way along the slough you’ll reach Goat Island, a small lump of earth in the middle of the marsh that’s slightly elevated leaving it drier with less vegetation. From here, the trail proceeds along the slough and hits the riparian zone where the reeds of the marsh come to an abrupt end and open grasslands take over. Turn left here to stay on the main trail, although the trail also goes right for about 100 ft.

The barbed wire fence here is a popular spot for various birds to perch and observe trail goers.

The grassland section of the trail offers good views all around where wildlife can be seen.

The South Pasture Trail

Length: 2mi
Time: 1.5 hrs
Difficulty: Easy

The south pasture trail offers a different loop with various vantage points of the marsh and surrounding landscape features. It consists of grasslands with a crossing over marsh land a small piece of the Spring Branch slough.

Start the loop at the windmill, just beyond the “boneyard”.

The first quarter of the trails passes over the greenest portions which traverse the Spring Branch slough.

Panorama Point

After passing through the slough is a split where the trail forks into a greater and lesser loop. If you turn off before the small hill, you’ll be taking the smaller loop. If you continue up the hill you’ll immediately hit the panorama taking stand where you can help participate in documenting the visual, historical changes in the marsh. Just below the hill is a Native American interpretive station.

Continuing along the trail, you’ll proceed through grassy flat areas used for (as the trail name suggests) cattle grazing. Take a look at the ground every now and then and you’ll be surprised by a striking flower or two.

Though the trail is mostly well marked, some of the signs gave gone into disrepair. As a general rule, stay on the most clearly defined trail and look for benches.

A second crossing back across the Spring Branch slough goes over a wooden ramp. The springy boards and missing pieces are a good indication care should be taken while crossing over.

You also will come across seemingly impassable cattle gates: you’ll need to suck in the gut and squeeze through the zig-zag pattern.

The end of the trail arrives at the eastern side of the boneyard.

The post Rush Ranch Open Space appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 4.5mi
Time: ~2.5hr
Link: East Bay Regional Preserve: Brushy Peak
Location: Livermore, CA

Highlights

Brushy Peak Regional Preserve is easily accessible on the North side of I-580 off of the Vasco exit in Livermore. It features rolling hills, ample wildlife, and varied terrain to suit the mid level hiker. Morning or Evening times provide striking views of golden casts over the downtown Livermore valley as well as the popular peak used for gatherings from the time of the native Americans. Trail runners, bikers, and dog walkers all enjoy this hidden gem of Livermore.

While only offering a limited set of hiking trails, the area offers some of best raptor viewing in the bay area. Red tailed hawks, golden eagles, harriers, and falcons can be readily seen in the varied landscapes surrounding the peak.  The surrounding windmills in the area take advantage of the constant valley breeze which helps keep the summer temperatures tolerable but are bone chilling during the winter months. A windbreaker is advisable in the early morning summer season and a heavier jacket is advisable during the fall-spring season.

Getting There

Existing Vasco road coming from 580, proceed north towards Brentwood and make a quick right onto Northfront Road. Past a couple dealerships and open ranch land, turn left at the Laughlin road intersecion. Laughlin road winds past an upscale community to the west of the seasonal Frick lake and narrows down to a single lane road.

After a short time warp past horse ranches and nostalgic farm equipment, you’ll arrive at a large parking lot open at 8:00AM-8:00PM in the summer and 8:00AM-5:00PM in the winter. The gate is on a timer for entrance but is always open for exit (beware the nasty one-way tire puncturing backup teeth preventing people from entering through the exit without peril to their vehicles). They seem to not adjust for daylight savings so its possible to enter at 7:00AM during winter times. There’s also a few parking spots along the road shoulder located outside of the parking lot for those who want to partake during the off hours.

The Trail

There’s a main loop trail which goes through the peak and a couple side trails which can be incorporated into the loop trail to extend your overall hike or add some variation for repeat visitors. This guide documents the most direct route up to the peak along the Brushy Peak loop trail and coming back down the eastern leg of the Western Side Loop Trail.

Entering through a cattle gate along the ranger’s residence edge, you’ll start yourself along the Brushy Peak Loop trail which passes by meadowlands and a water retention zone which runs dry during the late summer and autumn months.

Running up alongside a mostly dry creek bed, raptors often perch directly on the hillside, waiting for their furry meals to rise from their burrows.

The trail follows the eastern section of a seasonal drainage channel that approaches a set of eucalyptus trees frequently populated by perched raptors.

Checkpoint: Eucalyptus Grove

Around the sharp bend past the eucalyptus, you’ll get a view of the grassy hills frequented by coyotes scouring the hillsides for bite sized meals and sometimes resting in the morning glow.

Beginning the main ascent towards the peak, you’ll frequently come across scurrying squirrels of Brushy Peak.

Following the trail behind the eucalyptus grove, there’s a steep ascent which will bring you to one of the first of many spectacular views over Livermore valley.

Approaching the peak, the landscape begins to change from open grassland plains to the rocky outcrops exposing pieces of the geologic history of Brushy Peak.

Checkpoint: The Peak

The brushy areas of the peak are actually live oak trees that dot the landscape. Slow growing and native to California, these old trees provide ideal perches for red tailed hawks. As you make your way through the shaded areas of the peak, it’s not uncommon to stumble across one quietly minding its own business.

The loop trail doesn’t actually go to the very top of the peak. Access is by guided tour only. Check the East Bay regional park page for tour info.

After traversing across rocks and underneath live oaks at the base of the peak, the trail will start to descend on the western side.

While descending, keep an eye upwards for Golden eagles circling around the air thermals of the peak.  It’s easy to mix them up with the more common turkey vultures that are commonly seen throughout the bay area. But zooming in reveals a golden head dress and the symmetric white patches underneath the wings.

The trail eventually meets with a drainage channel that feeds into one of the few permanent ponds in the area. Year round, ducks, frogs, and salamander can be spotted in reeded outskirts of the pond. At this point the trail forks to either the upper or lower sides of the West Side loop trail. I typically follow the lower side past the pond and through a meadow. The upper side offers a slightly more strenuous workout along the edge of the park border.

Checkpoint: The Permanent Pond

Past the pond is a large meadow frequented by white tailed hawks looking for a meal.

Checkpoint: The meadowlands

Towards the end of the trail is a pair of trees, providing ample shade where rabbits often forage for food.

The last leg of the trail toward the cattle gate passes a hillside frequented by northern harriers that glide immediately overland. Occasionally, they can be seen perched on the ground.

Laughlin Ranch Loop Trail

The Laughlin Ranch Loop trail can be used as an alternative starting point in conjunction with the Tamcan trail to extend the Brushy Peak loop trail by two  miles. Or, it can be used solely as a shorter alternate. It features fine views of the valley and unique glimpses of raptors hugging the hillsides and swooping down on unsuspecting prey.

The trail begins by ascending over the hillsides next to Laughlin road, then arriving at a junction with the Dyer Ranch trail. Make a left to stay on the loop trail.

Eventually, the trail begins to descend through a small valley. Take your time through here, looking out for harriers and falcons flying over the crest of the hillsides. In particular, the clump of trees towards the later half of the descent is a popular spot to perch.

With such a great density of raptors, its not uncommon to find them defending their airspace. These birds demonstrate amazing aerial agility, flying in inverted positions with talons extended.

Once the descent is complete, make a left to complete the loop back to the parking lot. Alternatively, make a right to take the Tamcan trail.

Nearby Trails

• Del Valle Regional Park
• Los Vaqueros Reservoir
• Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area

The post Brushy Peak – Livermore Wildlife Hiking Haven appeared first on East Bay Wild!.