It was good to find a new trail, at least new for me since it's been open to the public since 2010…read more As part of the John Muir Land Trust (and not East Bay Regional Parks), the trail is just south of Highway 4 between Hercules and Martinez, definitely an isolated area of grassy hills with the added challenge of Highway 4 speed demons who believe the speed limit doesn't apply to them. Heading east, I had to slow down to take a minor exit onto Christie Road. The trailhead is only 0.7 miles down a paved road, though the parking lot itself is on gravel. There's a restroom and a suspension bridge they built as the starting point of the hike. I followed the Windmill Trail and failed to see the windmill. I did see the old dairy farm and a herd of cows who had little interest in my presence. The trail climbs a bit to a locked gate protecting the Pinole Valley Watershed. That was my cue to follow the woodsy Woodrat Trail and then the Whipsnake Trail for the elevated views. Luckily I didn't run into either woodrats nor whipsnakes, but I did see young deer jumping in a large meadow next to the concluding Black Phoebe Trail. The entire loop was less than four miles but still a reasonable workout if you need the steps RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

I am not a local around here but my in-laws are. I needed to find a nice decent trail to hike in…read morefor my weekend hikes. I did the 'Black Phoebe to a Windmill Trail' loop which was only four miles and around 680ft. Make sure to go clock wise on the loop. I would consider this an easy trail; zigzag trails to higher elevation so it's good for beginners and kids. On 'AllTrails' app they considered this a moderate trail. Plenty of shade for those hot summers. Nice loose dirt but not good once winter hits and it rains. Some horse poops, some cows and their poops and was dry when we hiked. This place has a good amount of private car parking and a place to have a day picnic. There is no garbage cans or water access so bring your own. There is two other longer trails in this ranch so I will be back when I get a chance. Definitely, a nice trail to come to for a nice hike. [62/100]

This is a large staging area with plenty of rooms for cars. Keep in mind that on the weekends it…read moredoesn't open till 8 a.m., so if you're an early hiker you'll have to wait. However, the ranger opened the gate promptly at 8. The whole area is well-maintained. I only saw a few bits of trash. There are several trailheads right off the parking lot, making this a very convenient location. There is also a rustic restroom there. I did not see any drinking fountains. There were lots of trail maps in the parking lot.

Although I probably couldn't pronounce "Nejedly", I know it's the name of the staging area for a…read moremoderate hike with views of Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay, west delta, and Mt. Diablo. There is no fee here to park in one of two parking areas: Shaded lower parking area and a bigger upper parking lot with room for trailers. There's also a bathroom and some picnic tables too. If you're coming here to hike something like the Franklin Ridge Loop Trail, the trailhead is on the west end of the upper parking area. You'll notice buckeye, oaks, and eucalyptus trees along with wildflowers. One thing that was pretty interesting about this place was how empty it was; that feeling was intensified by the cemetery just adjacent to the staging area. This would be an interesting hike or bike ride after the sun set.

I love me some Lime Ridge. Why it's taken me so long to review this beautiful open space is beyond…read moreme. But I'll tell ya that I hold this place near and dear to my heart. This is one of my local faves. The hiking trails seem to the endless. In late winter and early spring, the hills are so amazingly green that it looks fake. I've hiked here during all seasons, day and night. It's always beautiful here, even in the dead of hawt ass summer. I just LOVE dem hills! The hillsides cannot be touched at Lime Ridge. My favorite trail to hike here is the California Riding and Hiking Trail. I usually start at the intersection of the Ygnacio Canal and Contra Costa Canal Trail near Citrus Ave. This trail starts off with a long and steep hill. Many runners train on this hill to increase their endurance. I love it because it challenges me. I'll usually start here and loop around through a couple of other trails. What's nice is that you can go on for miles or just get a short quick hike in. There's so much versatility. The best time to come is during the spring. The spring greens and bright wild flowers and so abundant during this time. Plus, it won't be scorching hot like it is during the summer time. If I do decide to hike here in the summer, it's usually early in the morning or right before sunset. There's absolutely no shade on these trails, so take precautions and bring lots of water. Also, the summertime can bring bugs and those bloodsucking mosquitoes. Bug spray in the summer as well as sunscreen will keep your skin happy. Lately, the trails have been much busier because of quarantine. However, people respectfully keep their distance on the trails and many also wears masks as well. I tend to stick to the same trails which don't seem to be as busy as the ones that are located deeper into Walnut Creek. Either way, it's still worth a visit because the trails are so versatile.

Hiked Sat 3/13/21 at Lime Ridge Open Space, 47 min drive from my house in Fremont. Free parking in…read moremedium size parking lot & on the street. Across the street is Boundary Oak Golf Course where we used their bathrooms (by Taphouse) cuz none at Lime Ridge. We turned Right at Ohlone Trail gate, passing houses in Walnut Creek. Saw a nice pond with lots of water, climbed up, was on private property land, had to go under the fence to get on park land. Did Manzanita Trail, Lime Ridge Trail, went by a bench and near it is summit marker elev 1,986, Blue Oak Trail, Ohlone Trail, went under tunnel, Lone Oak Trail, Savannah Trail, saw Bayberry Pond (was Dry), went through a lower tunnel, Blue Oak Trail. Ohlone Trail & Ygnacio Canal Link if u climb up a few time and keep going you'll find a labyrinth! We saw it didn't go down to walk it, that would have been nice! Blue Oak Trail to Ohlone Trail back to car. Long day we started 9:10am finished 3:30pm.

What a lovely trail! Big fan of the work done by the JMLT and I decided to do this hike with my…read moretoddler. It is perfect for littles. Flat trail, full of native plants, bugs and birds. You can see big cargo ships leaving the refineries and you may get a nice breeze as well. Side note, no shaded trails. So don't do this on a hot day.

Pacheco Marsh is a John Muir Land Trust project. My husband…read moreis a bird watcher and boy does he enjoy this walk! It is a 2 1/2 mile loop. Very flat loop through some gorgeous views of nature. There is a kayak launch, users get a relaxing 2 mile loop through the marsh. No dogs for obvious reasons. There is a ton of wildlife here. Our last walk here a coyote and I locked eyes and shared a moment together. I am happy to have this new area close to home and part of our love where you live rotation;)

"Secret Trailhead, Ensconced behind Vacant Horse Trailers"…read more This is a perfectly legal access point to this trail, but it's hard to find. The trailhead is located on a private road, Rohrer, and you have to park a little ways away. At least, that's what the local sign says. It's difficult to find the trailhead. There are several horse trailers parked in the cul-de-sac. I'm pretty sure the horse trailers are unoccupied, by either man or beast. Look behind them and you will soon discover the trail. I have posted some photos of the trailhead, so you can see what you're looking for. The trailhead is right next to a horse training facility. The day I visited, I kept hearing the loud snapping sound of a whip. I think they just make the sound to train the horses. I don't think they actually whip them. It's a mystery to me why the trainers make that whip sound. Is it actually made to scare away hikers? If anyone knows please tell me. Assuming you have found the trail, for the first mile it's pretty steep, but it's still a pleasant hike. If you keep on going it will take you to the Clyde Wood trail. From that trail, there are numerous access points to Rossmoor. You can also access this trail from Las Trampas Regional Park. But be prepared--it's a long hike! I enjoyed my hike on this trail, but honestly, it's probably not worth a second visit. It's a long way to get to, no matter which route you take. Keep in mind there are no facilities whatsoever. No restrooms, no water, no nothing. Just the sound of whips.

What a great trail! This leads from a lovely little neighborhood up into the Las Trampas…read morewilderness. There are frequent astounding views. The only negative is that the landowner on the southern trailhead is anti-hiker. They have coned off the parking lot (that's on public land) and parked their trailer in such a way as to try to hide the trailhead. If you can avoid their negativity, it's one of the best trails in the area.

My favorite hike in the Bay Area (so far)! The grand loop consists of the Juniper Trail, Summit…read moreTrail, North Peak Trail, Bald Ridge Trail, Meridian Ridge, and finally Deer Flat Road. 6.8 miles with a total elevation change of 1,800 feet sounds like a lot, and it is (especially if you're used to flat trails). Definitely bring water and snacks for energy. Driving to Mt. Diablo is easy enough. Entering via South Gate, there is a $10 vehicle entrance fee. Going up the mountain itself can take up to 30 min, with avoiding bikers going both up and down the roads. I managed to find one of the last spots at the massive turnaround at Juniper Campground at 11am. I definitely recommend coming early just to find a spot. There's also bathrooms at the campground. Since the "trail" is a loop you can either start on the Juniper Trail and go clockwise or start on Deer Flat Road and go the opposite way. We chose to go clockwise and ascend ~700 ft up to the peak. There's a cool info center at the top detailing the mountain's history and wildlife of the area. The rest of the hike was descending 1,800 feet down and re-ascending 1,000 feet to make it back to our car. Honestly, I don't know if one direction would be easier than the other, but if you want pics at the top you might want to start at Juniper Trail first so you're not too sweaty at the top. The weather was nice for the first half of the hike, no clouds and barely any wind. But the second half was around the other side of the mountain so winds picked up. Definitely bring layers!

I haven't been to Mt. Diablo since I was a kid, so it was a blast from the past coming back! You…read morecan drive all the way to the summit, so my friend and I decided to hike the "grand loop," which covers ~7 miles and goes around the whole mountain. We were fortunate enough to have a very clear day, and you can see for miles and miles all the way around the mountain. Views were amazing. It was an eighteen hundred foot elevation gain, so no joke, but only about 400-500 per mile for the 3.5 miles that went uphill. Definitely was steep at points but very doable, even for those who aren't in the best hiking shape. Not sure I agree with my dad, who claims the views from the summit are some of the best in the world, but it was definitely well worth a visit, and I really enjoyed getting the 360 degree view throughout the course of the hike! A few tips: set your GPS for the juniper campground to get you to the nearest parking lot. I recommend going clockwise so you can end on a high with the summit (and a downhill!). The trail is hot always the best marked, so I recommend downloading a free app such as AllTrails to make sure you don't lose your way!

Beautiful walk in the middle of the city. Can cut through from downtown to other areas of town.read more

I've been Yelp friends with Jennifer N for years. She an avid traveler and hikes everywhere…read more Me? The Four Seasons is how I camp. So when I look for a trail to walk about, I turned to Jennifer's reviews. Creek Walk is perfect for me. Flat, paved, sometimes shaded, and actually quite beautiful. A good mix of the great outdoors and suburbia. The walk has helpful signage and virtually impossible to get lost. While I'm not big on ruffing The Great Outdoors, Jennifer and I share the the same obsession going to the gym. According to check-ins, she's got to be the Duchess of every 24 Hour Fitness in Contra Costa County! 5 stars for my Yelp pal!

Only two reviews from stellar Elite Yelpers? Must be a well kept secret!…read more Finally got my new bike built and wanted to take a simple Sunday ride. With COVID-19 illnesses rising, I choose an 6:00am start to avoid crowds. Easy parking near John Muir Hospital (thank you, Jennifer N for the tip). Headed south to Alamo for about ten miles. With a new gravel bike, I had the options of riding pavement or hard packed dirt. It wasn't as crowded as the Iron Horse Trail further past Alamo. Just a few runners. Not challenging at all, which is good. It was a relaxing ride with my new toy!

The Ygnacio Canal Trail is one of my favorite walking and running trails in the Walnut Creek area!…read moreLocated in the Ygnacio Valley hills, this trail extends about 7 and a half miles from Citrus Avenue in Walnut Creek to Heather Farms Park. This trail can be accessed from several different residential streets in Walnut Creek and it also intersects the Contra Costa Canal and California Hiking and Riding trails. There are loads of beautiful scenic views and all types of different wildlife present throughout. The trail runs parallel to the Ygnacio canal where you can view the adorable ducks swimming alongside. The trail is easy to moderate, given the rolling hills at the beginning near Citrus ave. The trail passes through a few different parks and golf courses, one of which is the Arbolado Community Park. I sometimes park my car at the park and continue on the trail from Arbolado blvd. I haven't yet been able to finish this trail in one sitting since it is 7 miles long. However, I have traveled along the entire trail to its' end at the beautiful Heather Farms Park. The people on this trail are always super friendly. This trail is shared use, so people walk, run, and ride their bikes. At it's highest point, you will capture the gorgeous views of Walnut Creek and Mount Diablo in the distance. Lime Ridge Open space can also be accessible from the tunnel overpass near Ygnacio Valley Blvd. In the summertime, this trail can be sweltering in areas that aren't shaded. I've seen ducks, squirrels, and even cows roaming around in the hills. If you are looking for a new trail to conquer in the Contra Costa area, add this one to your list!