The Hills Are Alive

We have been busy since school began last month, but we still manage to get in at least one quick hike on the weekends. Here are three hilly hikes that we have enjoyed in Walnut Creek and Alamo. The hills here change with the seasons. In the winter and spring, these hikes are green, and in the summer and fall, the grasses are yellow. These hikes also have very little shade, so they are best done in the morning or on a cool day. Remember to bring water, and be respectful of the surrounding neighborhoods!

Shell Ridge Open Space: Franco Ranch Loop

This easy loop hike is just over 2.5 miles in the Shell Ridge Open Space, and it abuts the Mt. Diablo foothills. We find street parking near the intersection of Sunburst Court and Rudgear Road. You’ll enter at the Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge trailhead near the intersection of these roads. It is well marked on the north side of Sunburst. Follow this trail until you come to the gate. Through the gate, climb the very short steep trail to the left (Franco Ranch Loop Trail). Follow this trail up and around. Continue along this trail – don’t turn on any of the trails to your right or left. At the top of this hill, you’ll have a beautiful view of Mt. Diablo and its rolling foothills. Continue along the Franco Ranch Loop Trail until you exit at the gate that lets you out onto Benham Court. Walk out the court, turning right onto Rudgear Road. Shortly after you turn right, there will be a small unmarked trail between the bushes on the north (right) side of Rudgear. Enter here for a short trail above these homes, that eventually takes you over a bridge ending at Brantford Court. Cross Brantford Court, entering the marked trail across the street. This trail will take you over another small bridge across a (currently dry) creek, and ends back at Sunburst Court where this hike begins. Not to worry if you miss the unmarked trail off of Rudgear. Simply walk along Rudgear until you reach Brantford Court, turn right into the Court, and left onto the marked trail noted above.

Acalanes Ridge Open Space: Sousa Trail Lollipop Hike

This 3-mile easy-moderate hike starts on the Sousa Trail and leads to a beautiful loop in the Acalanes Ridge Open Space. Park at the trailhead entrance at the end of Sousa Drive in Walnut Creek. Follow Sousa Trail and then veer right onto Ridge Top Trail. Turn right at the end of Ridge Top Trail, and take it to Camino Verde Trail. Turn right again, onto Camino Verde, and then veer left down, almost to the road below (Camino Verde Circle). Rather than going down into the court, turn right onto the Yarrow Trail, and take that back to Camino Verde Trail. Turn left onto Camino Verde, and follow it until you are back to the Sousa Trail. Take the Sousa Trail out the same way you came in.

Diablo Foothills Regional Park: Hanging Valley Loop

This is a moderate, approximately 3.5 mile, loop hike in the Mount Diablo foothills. Park at the Livorna Staging Area, off of Livorna Road in Alamo. Carefully cross Livorna Road, and start this hike at the Alamo Trail, which begins on the north side of Serafix Road, just past where it intersects with Stonegate Road. Follow Alamo Trail to its end. Turn left onto Hanging Valley Trail, and take a good hike along Hanging Valley until you reach Stonegate Trail. Enjoy the beautiful hillsides! Turn left onto the Stonegate Trail and then right at the cut-through trail that’s to the west of the water tower (don’t go all the way into the neighborhood). This trail will take you over to Foothills Trail. Be mindful of the cows – there can be many along this route! Alternatively, you can continue straight through the Stonegate Trail to the Twin Ponds Trail, taking the partly paved path around the EBMUD water tank over to the Foothills Trail. Either way, turn left onto Foothills, and follow it all the way back to the Livorna Staging Area.