Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Northern California - Matt Heid - Страница 32

HIKE 15 Eagle Peak

Highlights Flowers, oaks, and a secluded summit

Distance 4.0 miles

Total Elevation Gain/Loss 1,800'/1,800'

Hiking Time 3–4 hours

Recommended Maps Mount Diablo, Los Vaqueros, and Surrounding Parks by Save Mount Diablo, USGS 7.5-min. Clayton

Best Times February–May

Agency Mount Diablo State Park

Difficulty

FROM A SEA OF rippling grassland rises Eagle Peak, a little-visited summit below the ramparts of Mount Diablo.

The Hike climbs to the summit of Eagle Peak (2,369') from the northern boundary of Mount Diablo State Park, ascending on Mitchell Rock Trail before returning via the Eagle Peak and Coulter Pine Trails. While the hike can be done year-round, spring is the time to come as the land is carpeted green, wildflowers bloom, and temperatures are most ideal. Sections of the trail are exposed, making sun protection crucial most of the year. Ticks and poison oak are of particular concern in the brush along much of the route. Crowds are minimal. Water is available at the trailhead.

To Reach the Trailhead Take the Ygnacio Valley Rd. off-ramp from Hwy. 680 in Walnut Creek and proceed 9 miles east on Ygnacio Valley Rd. to Clayton Rd. Turn right and in 1 mile turn right again on Mitchell Canyon Rd., proceeding 2 miles to the lot at the road’s end. There is a day-use fee of $10 per vehicle.

Description From the parking lot (0.0/640'), begin by the fire gate and information sign and start up Mitchell Canyon Rd., bearing left onto Mitchell Rock Trail at the immediate junction. Stay on the wide trail as you pass two junctions for Bruce Lee Trail before turning right on singletrack Mitchell Rock Trail (just past the second Bruce Lee intersection). In season, abundant wildflowers liven the ground here and throughout the hike—look for California poppies, yarrow, paintbrush, lupine, irises, orange bush monkeyflower, yerba santa, blue dicks, Ithuriel’s spear, and the endemic Mount Diablo fairy lantern.

As you climb upward into thick forest, note the increasing number of pine trees. Two pines are found in this area, both producing massive cones with sharp hooks on the scales. Gray pine is the more common, abounding throughout California’s foothills and easily identified by its wispy character. Its upper half, often drooping slightly to one side, tends to fork into a multitude of small branches with no clear center trunk. Its long grayish needles come in groups of three and give the tree its name. Coulter pine, on the other hand, is straight, stout, and considerably less common than gray pine, occurring only in the Coast Ranges from Mount Diablo south. They are at the northernmost limit of their range here and can be identified by their single trunk, long stiff needles (also in groups of three), stouter appearance, and gargantuan cones. Coulter pine cones are the largest known, giant loaves 12–14 inches long that easily weigh several pounds.

As you climb steadily, your views north of the creeping edge of suburbia continue to improve until you reach an open rock platform (0.6/1,080'). Directly across Mitchell Canyon, noisy Lone Star Quarry digs up diabase for use in roadbeds and foundations. Continuing up the trail, you ascend to a small saddle below Twin Peaks. As you traverse below Twin Peaks to attain the ridge, the Sacramento River Delta appears to the north and the broad expanse of the Great Central Valley peeks out east over the hills. An eagle eye can discern the confluence of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. Once on the ridgeline, views open up of the Mount Diablo massif—both North Peak (3,557') and the summit (3,849') are visible. From Twin Peaks (1.5/1,733'), Eagle Peak is clearly seen up the ridge.

Descending briefly, the trail passes a junction for Eagle Peak Trail (your return route) and then makes a steep, brushy, view-rich climb up the ridgeline to just below the summit, where a series of final switchbacks brings you to the top (2.3/2,369'). Bear right on Eagle Peak Trail on your downhill return from the summit to take a much steeper and more direct route to the bottom than Mitchell Rock Trail. Dropping above Back Creek canyon, the trail cuts sharply back before passing over a scree gully below Twin Peaks. As you continue to descend, an increase in pines and poison oak marks the approaching junction with the Coulter Pine Trail (3.4/780'). Bear left and enjoy the gentle ramble through flowers and oaks and rippling grass that returns you to the Mitchell Rock Trail and your trailhead.

Nearest Visitor Center Mitchell Canyon Ranger Station, near the end of Mitchell Canyon Rd., is open weekends 8 a.m.–4 p.m. during spring and summer, and 9 a.m.–3 p.m. in fall and winter. For general information, call 925-837-2525.

Nearest Campgrounds There are no park campgrounds accessible from the north side of Mount Diablo State Park, but 3 year-round campgrounds are accessible from the south side: Juniper Campground, the largest, is along Summit Rd.; small Junction Campground is by park headquarters; and Live Oak Campground can be found on Mount Diablo Scenic Rd./South Gate Rd. (all campgrounds $30). Reservations are recommended for weekends; visit reserveamerica.com or call 800-444-7275.

Additional Information mdia.org, savemountdiablo.org, and www.parks.ca.gov