Redwood Regional Park - Tres Sendas

This is a stunning hike, with nice elevation changes and spectacular scenery.

Trails Taken -

West Ridge Trail to 

(L) Tres Sendas

(R) Stream Trail

(L) Prince Road

(L) East Ridge Trail

(L) Phillips Loop Trail

Mileage - 4.04 miles, Total ascent 4054' total descent 4071'

Trailhead - Skyline Gate

Notes and Impressions - 

Starting from the Skyline Gate staging area, this beautiful hike started on the West Ridge trail (on your right as you face the park.)  I saw numerous hikers, trail runners and dog walkers enjoying this beautiful and accessible path.  As you'll see from the gallery, there are nice varieties of trees and shrubs, including Oak, Eucalyptus, and Bay trees.  The path is a wide fire road here, and the West Ridge trail continues through the park all the way to the Stream trail.  I took the Tres Sendas trail down to the valley floor.  One of the numerous trails that criss cross this park, Tres Sendas is a peaceful and soothing path that takes you through stunning Redwoods that can be over 100 feet tall.  If it's windy, the ferns bob up and down like they are waving at you, and the Redwoods creak and moan as they rub against each other.  The path was soft and gentle, with occasional roots and rocks.  The trail connects with the Stream trail as I  wandered along Redwood Creek, and I came across peaceful and picquresque scenes every few feet.  I followed the Stream Trail to Prince Trail, and climbed back up to the East Ridge Trail.   From the East Ridge trail, I continued on to the Phillips Loop, which took me back to East Ridge and to the Skyline staging area.

 Trail Map

Trail Map North Side only

Park Page

Image Gallery

Video

Lime Ridge Open Space

When I got to the trailhead for this hike, I found myself looking up at a hill covered in fog.  I thought it might be a bad day for pictures, but I decided to hike anyway.  Well, it turned out to be a great day for taking pictures, and a wonderful hike to take.

See the Photo Map

Trails Taken

Start out at the trailhead on the Ohlone trail

Stay right as you climb the hill and take the Paraiso trail east

At the intersection with the Lime Ridge trail, take a left (north)

Stay on the Lime Ridge trail to Manzanita, then left on Manzanita trail (west)

Follow Manzanita until the intersection with Ohlone, then go left (south) on Ohlone

Follow Ohlone back to the trailhead

 

Mileage - 3.3 miles

Trailhead - Off Valley Vista road, in Walnut Creek, right across the street from Boundary Oaks golf course.  No toilets or water.  

Notes and Impressions - This is a quiet and senic hike, offering nice climbs, beautiful vistas and quite a lot of bird activity.  I was buzzed by hummingbirds and watched warily by a beautiful Kite, hoovering to hunt as I passed it by.  That was a really neat sight to see.  The Valley Oaks that dot the hills are classic, twisted specimens that look great even without leaves.  You'll be able to see the big quarry and the little suburban neighborhood that sits below it.  Nice, moderate hike. 

Image Gallery

Hayward Regional Shoreline

Have you ever been approaching the San Mateo Bridge from the east, on your way to work, and wondered what that brown shingled building was all about?

Trails Taken - SF Bay Trail, Cogswell Marsh.  You can access this trail via EBRPD property, or via the Hayward Interpretive Center.  If the center is open, go there, and you'll be able to see numerous exhibits about the area wildlife and history.  

Mileage - 3-5 miles, easy, gravel packed trails for bikes, hikers and runners

Trailhead - (Look for that nice, brown shingled building, that's the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center).

From Highway 880: 
Exit from 880 onto Hwy 92 West toward the San Mateo Bridge. 
Exit on Clawiter Road/Eden Landing Road
Go straight through the light (Do not turn onto Clawiter)
Make the first left onto Breakwater Avenue.
Go all the way to the end of the street.

Notes and Impressions - Before I drove out for this hike, I checked the tide maps to make sure I was visiting at low tide.  That's the best time to see the water birds feeding, and I wanted to capture as much of that as possible.  What I didn't check was the weather.  I was about a mile in when it started to downpour.  I had to jam my camera under my jacket and pull it out when I saw something I wanted to photograph, so that was a challenge.  I was astounded by the beauty and variety of birdlife.  In addition, it wasn't until I reviewed my images that I observed a fox, very well camoflagued, hunting Willits.   This is a special trail.  Make sure you check the tide charts before going, and visit during low tide.   

Image Gallery

Rimer Creek Trail

Parts of this trail and King's Canyon Loop help me imagine what the horse and carriage routes might have been like 150 years ago in California.   There were probably some great roads with canopies of oak and Bay trees, like you'll find on these trails.  

See the Photo Map

Trails Taken - Starting out at the Valle Vista staging area, head east toward the King's Canyon trail.  Initially the path takes you on the Riche trail, but then you'll see a little path that drops down to a little forest of pine trees.  Take this, then cross the bridge over Moraga Creek.  Just across the bridge, the trail starts on your left. You'll follow Rimer Creek for a while, and the trail has some nice trees and canopies.  Eventually, you'll connect with the Rocky Ridge trail.  Take a right on the Rocky Ridge trail for a bit of a climb.  You'll reach a point where you can either go straight on the Rocky Ridge trail, or take a right (also on the Rocky Ridge trail).  Take a right here, and go down hill to the King's Canyon Loop trail.  Take a right here, and you'll head back across the bridge and back to the staging area.  

Mileage - 3.37 miles

Trailhead - Start at the Valle Vista staging area, toilet here, but no water

Notes and Impressions -

Rimer Creek Trail is one of those easy Sunday morning kind of hikes.  It's short enjoyable hike with opportunities to see grazing horses, and numerous water birds and raptors.  This trail can get very soggy after rains.  

 

Image Gallery

Video

King's Canyon Loop

This is one of my favorite running trails, especially if you like 10k's.  There are some steep sections, and a wonderful variety of wildlife.  

 

Trails Taken - Starting out at the Valle Vista staging area

Head east, toward the bridge over Moraga Creek.  (Left as you face the sign in sheet).

Cross the bridge and continue past the pasture on the left and Reservoir on your right. You'll see some ranch buildings and some portable toilets.  Up ahead there is a little bench on your right that looks over the reservoir in a very nice area for birding.   If birding is all you want, sit here and enjoy yourself as you watch a huge variety of birds feeding, flying and hunting.  

The trail goes to your left a little.  You'll reach a cattle gate.  To your left is the Rocky Ridge trail, to your right is the King's Canyon trail.  Go to your right.  Follow this beauty as you hike along the reservoir to your right.  The trail is mostly wide, but there are some nice elevation changes.  There are some benches along the way, with a real nice one high above the reservoir.  Keep going on this trail and follow the reservoir as it narrows to a tributary.  Eventually, you'll connect with a path that takes you to the Rancho Laguna park.  Instead of going through the gate, take a left and continue on the Rocky Ridge trail.  You'll see a narrow road to your right on the other side of the fence.  Stay on the narrow Rocky Ridge path, and you'll start some short but serious climbing.  This is where I saw a wandering California Newt, so be careful where you step.  These are nice little lizards just out looking for some love.  Keep on the Rocky Ridge trail, and follow it back down toward the reservoir.  Take a right back on to the King's Canyon Loop trail, past the same buildings you saw on your way in.  Continue back to the Valle Vista trailhead.  

Mileage - 6.1 miles

Trailhead - Valle Vista staging area, toilets, no water

Notes and Impressions -  This is a hike that builds appetites.  With numerous climbs and descents, you'll be hungry and thirsty at the end of this adventure, even if you've enjoyed snacks and water on the trail.  

The Upper San Leandro reservoir is home to a huge variety of birds, so bring your binoculars.  There are also numerous canopies on the trail, with some huge oaks and bay trees.  

Image Gallery