The idea behind this site is to share as much visual content as possible. I carry a GPS recording DSLR and an HD Camcorder. My first priority is photography, but I take out the camcorder when I can.
Trail notes are designed to help hikers and runners learn more about a specific hike taken. Here is what you'll find here:
Trails Taken - Route of the hike
Mileage- How far was the hike (I wear a GPS enabled watch, which records distance traveled, pace, elevation changes, etc. It works great when I remember to turn it on. Occasionally I lose the satellite signal, so please take these mileage numbers as an approximation, not necessarily an exact distance.)
Trailhead - Where did I start and finish, location of bathrooms, water, etc...
Notes and Impressions - I usually carry a small digital recorder to record voice notes, and enter the transcript here.
I'll include the images here as well. If I've taken video, you'll see it at the end of the notes.
This wonderful hike was organized by the Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association and led by Helene Crowley, and they offer hikes like this quite often. Please visit their events page to learn more.
Trails Taken - Regency Gate to Donner Canyon to Lower Donner to Wasserman, down Cardinet Oaks to the Falls Trail, Falls Trail to Middle Trail. Middle Trail to Meridian Ridge, Meridian Ridge to Meridian Point trail, Meridian Point to Back Creek, Back Creek to Regency Trail, back to Regency Gate.
Mileage - 6.5 miles
Trailhead - End of Regency Drive, Clayton, CA. No bathrooms or water.
Notes and Impressions - As you'll see from the images, this hike offers a variety of experiences and scenery. It's not an easy hike, and the trails can be narrow and steep, but it's enjoyable and satisfying and I'd highly recommend it.
This time of year (Spring, 2011) offers great opportunities to see mountain wildflowers, flowing streams and, of course, waterfalls. If you're expecting Hawaii type waterfalls, you'll be disappointed, but even with moderate water flowing, it's still beautiful. These falls are visible, but not accessible from the trails. You won't be walking under them. You'll also see numerous streams and the vibrant life they support. Much of the terrain around the trails is choked with heavy brush, some bursting with new life, and reaching on to the trail. Nothing is impassible though, but you'll need to be careful with your footing in many places. Loose rock, water and brush create obstacles that can be a little challenging.
Bear Creek is a pleasant and senic hike, with ample views of the reservoir as you hike along the shore.
Trails Taken - Bear Creek Trail
Mileage - 3.8 miles (One way)
Trailhead - Started at Bear Creek staging area, finished at Overlook staging area.
Notes and Impressions -
Started out in a little brush, but trail opened for a little, and I saw this unique tree right in the field to the left of the trail:
I hiked for approximately .56 miles, and reached the "real"start of the Bear Creek trail, which then follows along the reservoir for the rest of the hike.
The trail is mostly shaded and very pretty, and at about 1.05, there is a nice bench to relax upon.
1.17 In a wooded shaded area with lots of bay trees, brush, mossy covered stumps
1.21 Big old bay trees on the right
1.29 Really pretty section, but the whole trail is quite nice so far
1.32 Trail is single track, lots of beautiful mossy covered trees, ferns, lush grasses
1.42 Trail is going in to gradual, comfortable incline
1.51 Bear Creek Road is on left, fairily close and above the trail, about 20 meters to left
1.59 Trail hugs road for a bit
1.62 Beautiful oak and bay trees on right between you and reservoir as you hike on this narrow path, trees hoover over you but you still hear traffic on left
1.80 Still hugging road but not much traffic, for the most part it's quiet
1.94 Beautiful twisted oak at this spot
2.11 On left is fire trail on right is Bear Creek trail, so stay on Bear Creek
2.14 Great shot of reservoir as you climb this hill
2.17 Another georgous grove of old oaks
2.26 Nice grove with two benches, take a snack and some water
2.28 Really nice views of water
2.31 Beautiful hawk just flew right over my head
2.33 Trail crosses fire road, just go across road
I met some nice guys here from the East Bay Trail Dogs, and they were working on the trail
2.86 Going through really pretty canopy here
2.96 Bay trees are criss crossing above you, laying on top of one another
3.34 Pretty trail with nice view of water on right, looks like a barn across the water
3.37 Bench and nice view
3.39 Pretty view of reservoir, walking through pine trees
You might have passed the trailhead for this hike many times without knowing it. The de Laveaga trail, an East Bay Mud trail, starts just at the corner of Moraga Way and the Orinda on ramp to Highway 24. You'll see a chain link fence with some East Bay Mud signs, and you can park right in the gravel area. There is a four hour time limit, which you should easily manage on this hike.
Trails Taken - de Laveaga Trail to Skyline Trail and back
Mileage - 2.7 miles each way. The way up feels like 5 miles, the way down feels like 1.
Trailhead - Corner of Moraga Way and Highway 24 in Orinda. No water, no bathrooms.
Notes and Impressions -
Initially, you'll have some tree cover, but the trail opens up to a wide meadow. At some point, probably a while ago, somebody spiked the trail with nails. Now there is a sign warning about it, although I didn't see any nails or any other type of malicious trail damage.
The trail climbs from the start to the end, with a few slight downhill segments in between. On the way up, you'll feel the burn in your legs, and if you climb fast enough, your heart will really get pumping. The trail offers views of Orinda and surrounding areas, and on clear days the greater bay area and beyond. What you'll also see on this trail is the new development being built just off Highway 24.
Mileage notes from trailhead:
.54 Views of Orinda, movie theater, Highway 24, full sun, no trees
.59 I can hear cars from 24, but I can also hear frogs
.65 All hill
.71 Lots of little boulders
.80 Trees on left getting me some shade from early morning sun...jacket comes off, hill is a major fat burner
.91 Lots of moths fluttering under oak and bay trees
.95 Whole family of wild turkeys on hillside warming themselves, but watching me
1.05 I can hear sizzle of power lines as I walk under them
1.18 Going through Oaks, and lots of birds flying between them
1.27 Slight downhill
1.27 View of Briones Reservoir
1.41 Pretty scenery, views of reservoirs, but I'm walking among power towers and I can see cell phone towers...path wide and wet, shrubs mixed with oak, wide fire road here
1.50 Trail a bit more level, can see reservoir, power plant and the distance covered in fog
1.54 Sign on Right says electric fence, so don't touch
1.67 Trail loops to left, don't go straight toward stable
1.81 Cattle gate
1.83 On Left are Eucalyptus stumps
1.92 Eucs have been thinned out
2.0 Hill on Right is covered in Eucs and trail goes downhill a bit
2.02 I startled a family of deer in Euc grove
2.10 Hawks circling valley to left
2.25 Lots of rocks on trail and on hillsides, lots of cow poop and rocks on trail
2.32 Quieter here, lots of oaks to left and hillside to right, dipping down but will climb soon
2.36 Cross a stream
2.42 Trail to left is a fire road, so go right
2.5 In to a clearing and trail curves down and to right through Euc trees
2.58 Hike up past Eucs on left, you can hear them rubbing and moaning against one another
2.70 Still climbing
2.86 At intersection of de Laveaga and East Bay Skyline trail, some Redwoods and Bay trees...Road right above me....turning around and heading back down
2.99 Heading down the hill...hike back is easy, just heading down
3.70 a few uphills here..you can see the hills the Caldecott Tunnel goes through
4.06 Hawk on electrical tower
4.20 Downhill easier, on left is San Pablo and Briones Reservoirs
4.44 Nice views of mt. diablo
4.74 Small birds hoovering and diving
4.81 Some steep spots and if wet will be a slippery downhill
5.07 Starting to hear the roar from 24 again
5.10 Butterfly sighting
Trails Taken:
de Laveaga to Skyline trail and back
Wildlife seen:
Variety of birds, including Kestral, Finches, Jays, Hawks, Turkey Vultures and Wild Turkeys. The Turkeys were warming themselves in the sun on a ledge above the trail. They watched me warily as I passed, and went back to sunning themselves while one of their sentinels kept an eye on me until I went further along.
I also heard a frog chorus at .59 miles, which was competing with the noise from Highway 24.
This beautiful journey starts at the Valle Vista staging area, and takes you through forest of Redwood, Oak and Bay trees.
Trails Taken -I Started at the Valle Vista staging area. After signing in (East Bay Mud, Permit Required) I went right to the Redwood trail The Redwood trail takes you through EB Mud land and up to Redwood Regional Park. There are two sections of the Redwood trail. From Valle Vista to Pinehurst, you'll see a variety of trees on this up and down trail, and occasionally hear sounds from passing cars on Moraga Road down below. The first part of the trail is X miles, then I crossed a bridge and came to Pinehurst Road. You'll see the continuation of the trail across the road, starting at the grove of giant eucalyptus trees. I'm not a huge fan of Eucs, but they disappear soon enough. The hike from this point to the intersection of Redwood trail and East Ridge trail is all up hill. I followed the trail through the switch backs up this hill to the connection with East Ridge trail. From this point, hikers can explore the whole of Redwood Regional Park. However, I choose to follow East Ridge to Prince trail. This was a mostly flat hike along a ridge line. There were some beautiful canopies, and I saw the occasional hiker and biker. Once I reached Prince, I turned around and went back.
Mileage - 5.57 miles, Total Ascent 3118' Total Descent 3129'
Trailhead - Valle Vista staging area, pit toilets but no water, bring your own.
Notes and Impressions -
Starting out on Valle Vista to Redwood trail by heading west (right as you face sign in box).
Climb short but steep hill to trail split. Take Redwood trail to the right. To the left is pinehurst trail, which is now closed.
.28 Lots of bird activity in the brush and trees
Nice moss covered bay trees
.35 forest floor is covered with ferns, lots of moss on stumps, nice pretty trees
See an old gate where a fence used to be
.53 nice canopy, cool climate, everything looks health, but seeing some cut back brush
Nice grove of redwoods
.68 crossing bridge heading to Pinehurst road
At intersection Pinehurst road and Canyon Road, lots of Eucs and redwoods mixed together
Much heavier and darker, more Redwoods and fewer Eucs on the other side of the trail
Bridge, water level below 3 feet
.81 Rest of trip is uphill, but beautiful, Redwoods mixed with Bay trees at this point
.84 trail switches back and forth in the climb, nice groves of Redwoods
.91 nice mossy twisted bay tree
.94 Old moss covered stump in grove of Redwoods
.99 Lots of Euc brush
1.05 more Bay trees and Redwoods
1.08 beautiful grove of Redwoods on left, could be surrounding remains of an original giant
1.31 still climbing through nice Redwoods
1.35 Redwoods, ferns, Bay, Oak, cut brush, lots of stuff that's been chainsawed out
1.44 at intersection of Redwood trail and East Ridge trail, see fewer Redwoods, heading in to EBRPD
Wide fireroad, Redwoods on right and Oaks and Redwoods on left
1.57 Lots of jays squaking and more intense sun
1.6 Nice vistas, bench coming up, time for more sun block
1.69 Bench for "Polly Strand", but bushes block view from where you sit
Trail is really cleared, brush pushed back, very wide for trucks
1.76 valley on left is beautiful, hawks circling, stunning
Heading toward prince road and will turn around there
This part of East Ridge trail has nice canopies and trees curling over, very peaceful, lots of bird activity
Still on east ridge, very pretty but no signs of anyone
1.54 passed bikers on East Ridge trail
2.77 at intersection of Prince road and East Ridge
3.17 on my way back, sun is hot and bright, tripod getting heavy and lunch sounds good
We took this hike on a Sunday, and ran in to lots of people with the same idea. This is a pleasant hike with some reasonable uphill climbs,certainly easy enough for the pack of Cub Scouts we encountered.
Trails Taken - I suggest exploring the area before you hike. We wandered around a bit, took the Jewel Trail across the bridge, connected to the Sylvan Trail, then got on the Wildcat Peak Trail. We followed the Wildcat Peak Trail to the summit of Wildcat Peak. We continued on the Wildcat Peak Trail past the Peace Grove and took a right on Laural Canyon Road. We continued to Loop Road and visited the Little Farm. There are bathrooms and water there. Then, you can take the final stroll back to the parking area.
Mileage - 3.57 miles, total ascent 1712', total descent 1736'
Trailhead - Bathroom and water at the Education center
Notes and Impressions -
Starts out with lots of Eucalyptus on this part of trail, and Bay trees, some Pine trees
Incline starting, going through tall Eucs, almost all Euc forest
.87 under a lot of canopy, mostly Eucs , very thick brush on both sides of trail, lots of undergrowth
1.04 passing hikers and trail runners
1.2 miles still climbing
1.21 miles seeing little side trails here
Parts of trail are dry and cracked, parts are muddy
1.33 trail opens up and more sun exposure, nice views of canyons and SF Bay, and winds kick up here
1.3 miles steep drop on left
1.95 At Wildcat peak, lots of people, including cub scouts and their parents. There are great views here of the Bay, reservoir, Mt. Diablo
2.08 Peace grove and lots of Sequoias
2.23 Heading down Laural Canyon road, lots of brush, trail is a little muddy but easily passable
2.43 Down among oaks, off the hill top, hills are choked with brush
2.49 Nice grove of Oak trees and Bay trees on left
2.51 Still going downhill...seeing oaks, very pretty
Down lower you hear jays and see more Oak, Pines, Bay trees, shrubs, heavy brush
Trail is pretty accessible, safe and busy, even for a beautiful Sunday in January
3.0 Back to Euc forest, feeling cooler in the Eucs
3.09 Crossing bridge and listening to creaks and moans of the Eucs rubbing together
3.2 Lots of fallen trees, but pretty in this light
Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 7:00PM 
;)
