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Technolord
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There are several nice hikes through the Sunol Wilderness in the East Bay. Jane describes one featured hike, and I have a few other suggestions:
1. Small hike:
Start on the "Canyon View Trail". This trail is described as a "Gentle Slope". Not by my standards, but the steep parts are only for about 1/4 mile, then the trail levels. This trail will lead along a canyon, and the view down the canyon is great. This trail drops you off at the "Little Yosemite" section. Little Yosemite looks like a typical river canyon in the Sierra Forest, but is unusual in the foot hills of the East Bay. You can hike down and sit by the river for a short rest if desired.
Next, return back by starting down the gravel road (head down hill). After a couple hundred feet, there will be a bench on the left. There is a foot path that hugs the river, follow this foot path. The scenery along this small river is breath taking in spots.
This path eventually drops you off on the gravel road. Follow this road. It branches to the right; this will lead you over a wooden bridge. Past the bridge, follow the road or the foot paths along the road, it will lead back to headquarters and the parking lot.
Distance: ~3 miles.
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Total Posts: 5 | Joined June 2004 | Posted on: 11:18 am on June 16, 2004 | IP
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Technolord
Member
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2. Medium Hike
This hike is a bit longer, but is worth it.
Start on the Canyon View Trail and follow this to the Little Yosemite area. Stop and visit Little Yosemite if desired, but return back to the Canyon View Trail. At the end of the Canyon View Trail, there is a road to the right leading to Little Yosemite. The sign post says Cerro Este Road to the left, go left. The path is all but gone, but after about 200 feet you end up on the Cerro Este Road. Hike up this gravel fire road. You will pass several ponds and vista points. There are several views of the entire park, and a good view of the Calaveras Reservoir in the distance. This is mostly uphill and wears me out. When the Cerro Este meets with the Cave Rock Road, follow Cave Rock to the left. The rest is mostly downhill.
Along Cave Rock Road you will see the Indian Joe Trail sign post. Follow this trail (left turn) back to headquarters. Indian Joe trail is mostly tree covered, scenic, and follows a small stream. Along the way you will see Cave Rocks, which is a group of large boulders. The caves are cracks between the rocks, but is interesting to see anyway.
When Indian Joe Train ends, follow the main path back to a foot bridge over the Alameda Creek and you are back.
Distance: ~5 miles
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Total Posts: 5 | Joined June 2004 | Posted on: 11:34 am on June 16, 2004 | IP
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Technolord
Member
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3. Tougher Hike
This is the Jane Huber featured hike, but in reverse.
From Camp Headquarters, follow Flag Hill Trail.
Towering above the area is Flag Hill, which looks like a hill with a rock clift surrounding the top. This is about 1360 feet high, and is where this trail ends up. Along the way is several switchbacks, some a bit steep. Keep following this trail to the top of Flag Hill and stop to rest. I needed the rest.
Follow a fireroad down - Flag Hill Road. When you get to High Valley Road, turn right. This leads past High Valley Ranch. High Valley Ranch is a small deserted ranch which is converted to a rest spot (small park) with a drinking fountain, benches and the like.
From High Valley Ranch, continue on Cave Rocks Road to Indian Joe Trail (right turn), and take Indian Joe trail back to camp headquarters.
Distance: ~5 miles
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Total Posts: 5 | Joined June 2004 | Posted on: 11:45 am on June 16, 2004 | IP
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FastHiker
Member
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Maguire Peaks Loop
Park at the visitor’s center located in Sunol Regional Wilderness. Cross the footbridge and turn onto Hayfield road. An alternate trail is to turn left after the footbridge and hike up and over Flag Hill via the Flag Hill trail. At the end of Hayfield road is an old barn. Turn left at the barn onto High Valley Road. This takes you downhill to Welch Creek Road. Welch Creek is a paved road. For a shorter hike, you can park on Welch Creek road instead of at Sunol. I believe parking on Welch Creek requires a permit that you get from the kiosk at Sunol. Basically, you’d be parking on the side of the road. Anyway, turn left onto Welsh Creek. About 2 tenths of a mile down Welch Creek is a dirt road on your right. Follow this dirt road. After about 1.25 miles you’ll come to a fork in the road. There is a sign that points the way to the Maguire Peaks Loop. You can go counter-clockwise (keep going straight) or clockwise (turn left at the sign). For no reason in particular, I do the loop counter-clockwise. After hiking the loop, retrace your steps back to Sunol. To be honest, I’ve never actually measured this hike. Since I normally hike 3 mph and this hike takes me 3 hours, I assume it is roughly 9 miles.
~9 miles
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Total Posts: 256 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 8:36 am on Nov. 10, 2004 | IP
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FastHiker
Member
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Mission Peak (from Sunol)
Hiking on this trail requires a permit for the Ohlone Trail. The permit is only a few dollars and is good for a year. You can buy the permit at the Sunol kiosk or visitor’s center. The permit is a great source of information. It has a map of the entire Ohlone trail, which goes from Mission Peak to Del Valle (~29 miles one way). While hiking the Ohlone Trail, some trail markers have a red decal and a number on them. The red decal indicates you’re on the Ohlone Trail. The number (which is either painted onto the sign post or is stamped into a nickel size piece of metal) corresponds to a number in a table, which can be found on the trail permit. The table tells you where the signpost is located, how far it is from mission peak, and how far it is from Del Valle. The signposts are numbered sequentially starting at the Mission Peak parking lot on Stanford Avenue.
You can either park at the Sunol visitor’s center or in the large dirt lot next to the horse corrals (on your right after entering the park). Go through the gate next to the horse corrals and proceed up the narrow trail. After crossing Calaveras road, you’ll be hiking on a road. Unlike most of the trails around Sunol, this one has a lot of trees. Once you get closer to Mission Peak, the trees give way to dry grass and a few scattered trees. You pass through a gate when you enter Mission Peak. Keep following the road until it intersects with another road (Eagle Trail). The 2 roads form a “T” with Eagle being the top of the “T”. Mission Peak is right in front of you. You can climb Mission Peak by either turning right or by turning left. I think going left is easier and shorter. After taking in the view and having some lunch, retrace your steps.
Since I hike solo most of the time, I measure hikes by time not by distance. This hike takes me a little over 3 hours (not counting the time I sit on Mission Peak). I normally hike 3 mph so this is probably between 9 and 10 miles.
~10 miles
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Total Posts: 256 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 8:39 am on Nov. 10, 2004 | IP
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FastHiker
Member
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3 peak loop: Flag Hill, Vista Grande, Cerro Este
Park near the Sunol visitor’s center. Turn left after crossing the footbridge and walk along the creek. Hike up the Flag Hill trail. This is a steep narrow trail. When you get to the top of Flag Hill (~1 mile), turn right onto Flag Hill road. You now get to lose a lot of the elevation you just gained. You will come to the junction of Flag Hill, Vista Grande, and High Valley roads. Vista Grande takes you up the next hill. This is the road you want. Vista Grande road follows the top of a ridge. There are some good views from here. A little over a mile up Vista Grande brings you to a fork in the road. To the right is a single large tree, a bench, and Eagle View trail. Eagle View is were we’re headed. It is a narrow downhill trail. At the bottom of the downhill section, you’ll come to a very small creek under some trees. The creek is very small but has water year round. It may be small enough to step across but there is enough water for my dog to play in. He likes this trail. After leaving the creek, the trail crosses Eagle View road. Go straight on Eagle View trail instead of turning right onto Eagle View road. A few more tenths of a mile will bring you to Cave Rocks road. Turn left onto Cave Rocks road. Six tenths of a mile takes you to the junction of Cave Rocks and Cerro Este roads. This is the high point of the trail. Turn right onto Cerro Este. It’s now time to lose more elevation. There is trail junction when you get to the large “cow pound” on the left. Cerro Este makes a 90-degree turn to the right. Keep going straight on McCorkle trail. This trail is mostly downhill. Another 1.28 miles will bring you to Backpack road. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can turn left onto the Ohlone trail and climb Rose Peak. It’s about 7 miles one way from here. Rose Peak is a great 20-mile roundtrip hike from the visitor’s center. I hike it all the time. Anyway, hike down Backpack road until you get to Camp Ohlone road. Camp Ohlone road follows Alameda Creek. The upper part of the creek dries out in summer. Down stream from Little Yosemite, there is water year round. Turn right onto Camp Ohlone road. After almost a mile, turn onto Canyon View trail. This is an easy to miss trail on the right hand side of the road. Canyon View trail will eventually take you to the footbridge, near the visitor’s center, where you started. This trail takes me roughly 3 hours. It’s probably somewhere around 9 miles, maybe a little shorter.
Instead of taking Canyon View trail at the end, you can remain on Camp Ohlone road until you get to Little Yosemite. This is a nice enough place but it doesn’t really live up to the name “Little Yosemite”. There is water here year round. I usually avoid this area because everyone and his brother come here. To get back to the car, turn right at the outhouse onto Cerro Este road. Go uphill until you get to the water trough. Turn left at the water trough onto Canyon View Trail. Turn left when you get to Indian Joe trail and right when you get back to the creek. This takes you to the footbridge near the visitor’s center. Watch where you are going on Canyon View trail, there are a lot of false trails there. This is the last of my favorite short hikes around Sunol.
~9 miles
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Total Posts: 256 | Joined Nov. 2004 | Posted on: 1:27 pm on Nov. 10, 2004 | IP
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Bay Area Hiker Discussion Board
Sunol Regional Wilderness
