Las Trampas Rocky Ridge Loop CA
• 4-star hike
• 4.6 mile loop
• Easy difficulty | Gain 1,090 feet
• Danville, CA | San Francisco Bay Area
• Driving Directions: Trailhead
Well-defined trails in the Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
Wildflower lovers will love the springtime scenery of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, but when the blooms have faded this East Bay park still has plenty to marvel at. Eagle-eyed hikers in autumn and winter will spot birds of prey amongst the gliding turkey vultures, and there's also the chance of a golden eagle sighting.
You'll be immediately aware that there's some elevation gain to this trail, and in fact this clockwise route up the westerly slope gets all of the hill climbing out of the way in one go. When you arrive at the Upper San Leandro watershed gate, hang a left and take the single track trail to the ridgeline. The watershed is off-limits without a hiking permit.
Rocky Ridge Loop Rocky Ridge Loop 4★4.6 mi, Loop, Easy, Gain 1090 ft
Trailspotting Map at AllTrails
From the top of Rocky Ridge it's easy to forget that you're barely a stone's throw from the towns of Danville and San Ramon, and you can delight in the rolling scenery of the park below and distant views of the San Francisco Bay.
Follow the ridgeline south while admiring the scenery, but watch out for white patches of rock exposed in the trail. It's not rock, but actually clumps of shell fossils, which illustrate that everything around you was once below sea level. Return to the trailhead and complete this loop by returning along the gently descending and partially shaded Elderberry Trail.
Note that the heat of the summer months in East Bay parks is not kind on hikers and Las Trampas is no exception since most of the trails are exposed and offer little shade.
Mount Diablo's massiveness makes itself known above the Las Trampas ridgeline.
Tangents:
• Trail Links: Official, Public Map at AllTrails
• Facebook Group: Comment on this article
San Francisco's Best Hikes
For great Bay Area trails check out Trailspotting's Best Hikes of the San Francisco Bay.
For great Bay Area trails check out Trailspotting's Best Hikes of the San Francisco Bay.
