Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Northern California - Matt Heid - Страница 28

HIKE 11 Sunol Backpack Area

Highlight A hidden oak woodland oasis

Distance 5.9 miles

Total Elevation Gain/Loss 1,100'/1,100'

Hiking Time 3–5 hours

Recommended Maps Sunol Regional Wilderness Park Map by East Bay Regional Park District, USGS 7.5-min. La Costa Valley

Best Times February–May

Agency Sunol Regional Wilderness, East Bay Regional Park District

Difficulty

SHIELDED FROM VIEW behind landmark Mission Peak, peaceful Sunol Wilderness offers escape in beautiful rolling woodlands. An idyllic backcountry camping area is located at the hike’s midpoint, a tranquil spot and a wonderful way to extend your visit.

The Hike explores the multifaceted character of Sunol Wilderness, passing through majestic oak woodlands, walking open hillsides, and pausing at substantial Alameda Creek as it rushes through a scenic section dubbed “Little Yosemite.” This hike can be completed year-round, but spring is the time to come as hillsides are carpeted green, wildflowers are in bloom, and temperatures are most ideal. Cows graze throughout the park, creating a pleasant manicured landscape full of cow-pie minefields. Crowds around Little Yosemite can be heavy, especially on weekends, but the rest of the trails are more peaceful. Poison oak and stinging nettle are ubiquitous and unfriendly companions on this hike—be watchful. Water is available at the trailhead.

To Reach the Trailhead Take Hwy. 680 east of Fremont to the Calaveras Rd. exit and proceed south on Calaveras Rd. for 4.3 miles to Geary Rd. Turn left on Geary Rd., reaching the visitor center parking lot and trailhead in 1.9 miles. There is a day-use fee of $5 per vehicle, plus $2 per dog.

Sweet Sunol

Description From the trailhead (0.0/410'), head to the wooden bridge over Alameda Creek and pause to admire the babbling waters. The largest watershed in the East Bay, Alameda Creek drains more than 700 square miles. Here it nourishes the mottled, smooth gray trunks and twisting branches of California sycamores, which line the streambed. With their broad leaves, sycamore trees can lose up to 50 gallons of water per day and grow only where such large volumes are available.

Cross the bridge, bear right on the wide path, and continue straight on Canyon View Trail as it quickly passes junctions on the left for Hayfield Rd., Indian Joe Nature Trail, and Indian Joe Creek Trail. Canyon View Trail soon climbs away from the creek and into a drier environment populated by blue oaks, the most drought-tolerant of all oaks. Easily recognized, their leaves are shallowly lobed with smooth margins. You pass through one of numerous cattle gates to come (always leave them as you find them) and reach a four-way intersection with McCorkle Trail (0.7/700').

Turn left on McCorkle Trail and follow the overgrown path as it climbs the ridgeline and then turns east to traverse through chaparral. This low-lying and shrubby community flourishes in arid environments and is regularly seen throughout the hike. Its common constituents include coyote brush, toyon, sticky monkeyflower, bracken fern, coffeeberry, and plenty of poison oak. Valley oak also begins to appear along this section, identified by its 2- to 4-inch deeply lobed leaves.

The trail passes beneath some huge coast live oaks and reaches the junction with wide Cerro Este Rd. (1.7/1,180'). Bear left, make a steady uphill climb on Cerro Este Rd., and then bear right to return to singletrack McCorkle Trail (2.1/1,430'). Traversing steadily across open slopes, the route offers outstanding views of Mission Peak to the west, and south toward Calaveras Reservoir, the upper Alameda Creek watershed, and the more distant peaks of the Diablo Range. The trail makes a steep, switchbacking drop into the “W” Tree Rock Scramble and then continues its traverse to reach Backpack Rd. (3.4/1,150') and the gated edge of Sunol Backpack Camp. The camp’s pleasant sites and potable water (above Site 3) make for a pleasant layover.

Continuing, follow wide Backpack Rd. as it steadily descends to Camp Ohlone Rd. (4.0/800'), where you turn right to begin your tour alongside nearby Alameda Creek. It’s an easy cruise along this wide thoroughfare to Little Yosemite (4.5/450'). With a rushing river coursing through a small gorge over boulders blue and green, Little Yosemite is a pretty sight. From here, continue on level Camp Ohlone Rd. to rejoin the park road at the upper parking lot (5.5/420'). Watch for gray pine, California buckeye, and the reappearance of coast live oak and California bay along this final section. Walk the road to return to the visitor center (5.9/410').

Nearest Visitor Center The park visitor center is open Thursday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. For general information, call 510-544-3249.

Backpacking Information Backcountry camping is permitted only in Sunol Backpack Area. Seven campsites ($5 per person per night and a one-time reservation fee of $8) are available and must be reserved at least 5 working days in advance by calling the East Bay Regional Park District reservation office at 888-327-2757, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday. Fires and dogs are prohibited in the backpack area. Water is sometimes available depending on conditions.

Nearest Campground Sunol Wilderness has 4 drive-in campsites, but they are closed through at least 2016 while the Calaveras Reservoir is undergoing improvements. Check with the park for current information.

Additional Information ebparks.org/parks/sunol

Calaveras Reservoir is visible in the distance.