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!.

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!.

River Otter Research and Tracking

• The River Otter Ecology Project

Other Wildlife in the East Bay

• Don Edwards for watching egrets, herons, and pelicans
• Brushy Peak for coyotes, hawks, harriers, and eagles
• Los Vaqueros for bob cats, coyotes, and deer.

The post River Otters Returning appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Shadow Cliffs sits in the the “Chain of Lakes” area of Pleasanton, created by gravel mining operations run by the Kaiser Sand and Gravel Company started in 1938. Donated by Kaiser Industries in 1971, the Shadow Cliffs regional recreation area provides swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking activities as part of the East Bay Regional Park District.

Shadow Cliffs Levee-Arroyo Trail Essential Info

Length: 3mi
Time: 1.5 hr
Difficulty: Easy
Alltrails link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/shadow-cliffs-levee-and-north-arroyo

Fees: $6 per vehicle, $2 per dog
Trail Map: https://www.ebparks.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24403
Hours:

Nov – Feb
7am – 5pm
Mar – Apr
6am – 7pm
May – Labor Day (Sep)
6am – 9pm
After Labor Day (Sep) – Oct
6am – 7

Getting There

Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area lies situated in Pleasanton near the border with Livermore.

To get there, Take 580E towards Tracy and exit Santa Rita Road, going South. Turn left at Valley and then make another left at Stanley. The park entrance will be on your right hand side.

The Trail

Checkpoint: Parking Lot

Relative to most of the EBRPD parks, Shadow Cliffs has a huge parking lot. For this guide, we start out in the parking lot furthest away from the entrance located in the boat launch area. All of the parking lots have easy access to the Levee trail. The 2nd parking lot features solar panels providing shady spots and are probably the most ideal choice.

Checkpoint: Levee Trail Start

Depending on the parking lot, look for signs directing you towards the Levee trail. The Levee trail runs along the back side (the direction opposite of the main lake) of all three parking lots. There will be a short climb up to the top of the levee where it then flattens out.

Make a left when you reach the top of the levee. The main recreational lake and parking lots should be on your left hand side and the Arroyo Del Valle on the right hand side.

This long flat trail is popular with trail runners and provides decent views of Mt Diablo over the main lake (our featured picture at the top of this page). On the right hand side runs the Arroyo Del Valle which sources from the hills of Santa Clara County, through Del Valle Lake, and eventually flows out to the San Francisco Bay via Alameda Creek.

Continue along the Levee Trail until you dead end at the park boundary.

Checkpoint:  Boundary

From the boundary, turn back towards the direction you came while looking out for the North Arroyo Trail turn off on the left hand side.

Checkpoint: Arroyo Trail

When you find the turn off, descend down the levee onto the North Arroyo Trail. It should take you close to the bottom edge of Island Pond then turn away to follow the Arroyo Del Valle which runs parallel to the Levee Trail.

Follow the Arroyo Trail where you can get close to the water’s edge. Fishermen kick back from the shoreline or float on un-powered inner tubes in Boris Lake to catch the catfish, trout, largemouth bass, and bluegills that are regularly stocked.

Checkpoint: Lake View

Boris Lake, along the Arroyo Del Valle, is a popular place for fishermen and dog walkers during the summer where their furry friends can take a quick dip in the shallow lake waters.

Checkpoint: Crossroads

Proceeding down the Arroyo Trail you’ll come to a crossroads in sight of the entry kiosk and the first parking lot. Here you can choose to continue on the Levee Trail to circle around the Rimillard Marsh (as shown in this guide), cross the Arroyo Del Valle to the South Arroyo trail (note this is not a loop), or head towards the parking lot and finish your hike.

If you choose to circle around the Rimillard Marsh, continue on the Levee trail and then be on the lookout for the signs to  return back to the parking lot. The trail otherwise continues towards a BMX bike park at the outskirts of Shadow Cliffs.

Shadowcliffs Alternates

• Del Valle Lake
  • Livermore, Fishing, Hiking, and other water activities.
• Los Vaqueros Reservoir
  • Livermore, Fishing and Hiking
• Sunol Regional Wilderness
  • Sunol, Hiking, Little Yosemite

The post Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area – Levee and North Arroyo Trails appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Lake Del Valle – East Shore to Heron Bay Essential Info

Length: 4 miles
Time: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate (some steep areas)
Dogs: OK, off-leash OK
Cost: Free (At the arroyo staging area, main entrance costs $6/vehicle).
Website: https://www.ebparks.org/parks/del_valle/
Alltrails Link: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/del-valle-heron-bay–2

Background

Lake Del Valle is the result of the damming of the Arroyo del Valle. Currently, the earthen dam trickles a stream that flows to the Shadow Cliffs recreation area that empties into the Arroyo Valle. The Arroyo Valle joins the Arroyo de la laguna and then merges into the Alameda Creek (which sources from the Sunol Regional Wilderness) and eventually flows into the San Francisco Bay just outside of the Coyote Hills Regional Park.

Built in 1968 as part of the South Bay Aqueduct project which serves Alameda and Santa Clara counties, the East Bay Regional Park District has maintained the recreational facilities since 1970. Water from the Sacramento/San Joaquin delta is pumped into Bethany Reservoir located in Tracy where it then flows to Patterson Reservoir just east of Livermore. From there, water flows to Lake Del Valle and down to San Jose.

Getting There

The East Shore trail begins at the Arroyo staging area which is not the main entrance. 

From I580 E, exit North Livermore. Take North Livermore south till it becomes South Livermore and turn Right onto Concannon Blvd.

At Arroyo Rd, make a right. Follow the road. You’ll pass by a golf course, the Wente Winery restaurant and the VA Palo Alto Hospital areas.

Make a left into the Arroyo Staging area.

The Trail

The Heron Bay Trail has two distinct loops sections which branch and return from the East Shore trail. This hike only does the northern loop. Adding the southern loop would tack on about 3.5 miles to the overall distance and about another 2 hours.

Checkpoint: Start

From the parking lot, find the trailhead and proceed through the grassland below the earthen dam that makes Lake Del Valle possible.

You’ll quickly cross a small bridge over the Arroyo Del Valle.

Checkpoint: Arroyo Del Valle Bridge

From the bridge, get your glutes ready as the trail begins its primary ascent to the top of the dam.

Checkpoint: Overlook

After the ascent, a small bench about 100ft further down the trail provides shade underneath an oak tree to take a rest and admire the views: the lake to the south or the livermore valley to the north.

Once your legs have recovered, remain on the East shore trail and proceed along the ridge.

Checkpoint: Loop Return and Bald Eagle Viewing

The East shore trail will intersect the Heron bay trail twice. At the second intersection, take the Heron bay trail and loop back to the beginning.

Throughout the hike, be on the lookout for the distinctive white head of bald eagles which are reportedly nesting in this section of the lake.

Since 1996, bald eagles have been sighted at Lake Del Valle. They’ve also been sighted at Los Vaqueros (Livermore) and Chabot Lake (Castro Valley) in the east bay.

Checkpoint: Lake View

The Heron bay trail returns slightly above lake level offering a closer perspective of the water. In the early morning, you’ll often hear and see fish leaping or lazily drifting in the shallows.

One final ascent along the trail will bring you back to a familiar bench and tree at the overlook. From here, return to the staging area by retracing the East shore trail downhill.

Lake Del Valle Alternates

Within Lake Del Valle, there are many other spectacular hikes such as the East ridge and Ohlone trails (reports coming soon!).

Near Livermore there’s also:

• Los Vaqueros Reservoir
  • Similar to Lake Del Valle but less crowded. Operated by the Contra Costa County Water District.
• Sunol Regional Wilderness
  • Little Yosemite
  • Flag Hill

The post Lake Del Valle East Shore/Heron Bay Loop appeared first on East Bay Wild!.

Año Nuevo state park is famous for their elephant seals. During this time of the year, the first young males haul themselves onto the beach in preparation for the return of the females during winter. Shortly after their arrival, the females will give birth, ween their pups, and then mate to repeat the cycle for next season.

Elephant seals were once hunted to the brink of extinction. These amazing aquatic mammals spend their lives foraging far off the west coast of America, from California up to the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. They can dive to a depth of 5,000 feet, feeding off the ocean floor bottom and gaining a mass of over 4,500 lbs (males). Read more at the Marine Mammal Center site.

Entry to the state park costs $10 per vehicle. Ask for a trail permit (free) at the entry gate in order to hike down to the elephant seals. It takes about 3-4 hours round trip to see the elephant seals so plan accordingly.

Marine Education Center

Start off your visit at the Marine Education center which offers information panels about the general life cycle of the elephant seal. From there, the trail begins through marshy grasslands on the way to Cove Beach.

Cove Beach

Sand Dunes

A half mile past Cove Beach, the terrain changes into sand dunes, making the hiking a bit more difficult.

Bight Beach and North Point

After trudging up and down the sand dunes, you’ll begin to get your first glimpse of elephant seals at the Bight Beach overlook. Just 800ft further down from Bight Beach is the North Point overlook which offers the best viewing during the Sept-Oct months; During this time, the first juvenile males are beginning to haul out.

Boardwalk Overlook

On the way back, stop by the boardwalk overlook along the south end of Bight Beach. There aren’t any elephant seals there at this time of year, but you’ll get some nice ocean views of Año Nuevo island. This island, now abandoned, once maintained a lighthouse with living quarters.

Winter is coming

Early October just offers a sneak peak: The hoard of elephant seals and birthing of pups will arrive during winter.

The post Fall visit to Año Nuevo State Park 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!.

Hidden Away

This is one of our favorite destinations! Sunol Regional Wilderness is one of the most diverse of the East Bay parks offering streams, wildlife, climbable rock features, and a visitors center. Come spend a morning exploring Little Yosemite or the Flag Hill trail!

The post Sunol Regional Wilderness page is up 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!.