101 Hikes in Northern California. Matt Heid
an isolated island of bedrock.
Stay by the marsh and loop east around the small hill before returning to Bayview Trail, passing a many-branched coast live oak along the way. Continuing on the paved path, you soon reach a junction where another paved trail splits right for the Alameda Creek Trail. Here you go left up dirt Red Hill Trail, climbing steeply to the top of the first hill before dropping down to a junction with Nike Trail, named for the Nike missile site that was situated on these hills between 1955 and 1959 to protect the United States from Communist invasion. Continuing straight, the trail ascends Red Hill, high point of the park, where your best views are had. Descending Red Hill, return to the visitor center by bearing left on Soaproot Trail and left again on wide Quail Trail.
Nearest Visitor Center Coyote Hills Visitor Center, 510-544-3220, is open Wednesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Additional Information ebparks.org/parks/coyote_hills
HIKE 13 Bob Walker Ridge
Highlight Remote Diablo Range wandering
Distance 5.8 miles
Total Elevation Gain/Loss 850'/850'
Hiking Time 3–4 hours
Recommended Maps Morgan Territory Regional Preserve by East Bay Regional Park District, USGS 7.5-min. Tassajara
Best Times October–May
Agency Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Difficulty
DEEP IN THE FURROWS of the Diablo Range, Morgan Territory Regional Preserve protects a little-trod landscape of rolling hills, oak-studded grasslands, and quality views. On many days, your only companions will be the looming massif of nearby Mount Diablo, the nodding blooms of spring wildflowers, and the many cows that graze the grassy woodlands.
The park gets its name from Jeremiah Morgan, an early pioneer who settled here in 1857 and hunted grizzly bears in the surrounding hills. The East Bay Regional Park District acquired the first parcel here in 1976, expanding its holdings during the 1980s and early 1990s to nearly 5,000 acres. Today old ranch structures belie the area’s past; mountain lions, golden eagles, and a variety of other wildlife proclaim its future.
The Hike loops through the east half of the preserve, descending first along a shady creek corridor before circling around through oak woodland and open grasslands on a series of wide fire roads. The trip reaches its northernmost point below Bob Walker Ridge, where excellent views of Mount Diablo can be enjoyed from idyllic picnic spots. Water is available at the trailhead.
To Reach the Trailhead Take Interstate 580 to the North Livermore Ave. exit, head north on North Livermore Ave. for 4 miles, and turn right on Morgan Territory Rd., 0.5 mile beyond the point where North Livermore Ave. curves west and becomes Manning Rd. Follow twisting and one-lane Morgan Territory Rd. 5.5 miles to the signed trailhead on the right.
Description From the trailhead (0.0/2,030'), look for Mount Diablo to the north, your regular companion and landmark throughout the hike. To begin the journey, head out past the weathered ranch buildings and immediately bear left on singletrack Coyote Trail. The open grassland begins its transition to woodland and you soon pass the hike’s first oak on your left. Parasitic clumps of mistletoe dangle from the branches of this large valley oak; recognize the tree by its large, deeply lobed leaves. Continue left on Coyote Trail as Condor Trail (your return route) splits off to the right (0.1/2,000').
The trail winds past a small pond and beneath twisting coast live oaks, which can be identified by their spiny leaves that bend under at the margins. The route drops steeply into a shady ravine populated by mossy bay trees and small oaks. Maidenhair ferns line the moist north-facing slopes. During the descent, you regularly cruise along the edge of two ecosystems. The drier world of blue oaks and manzanita is visible just above, while buckeyes, black oaks, and bigleaf maples grow in the lush environment below.
The occasional switchback leads you past Mollok Trail on the left (0.9/1,520'). Watch for baseball-sized buckeye seeds littering the ground as the gradient eases in the ever-wider drainage. Mature blue oaks cling to the hillside above you. Recognize these drought-deciduous trees by their smaller leaves and smooth, wavy leaf margins. The mottled trunks of a few sycamore trees appear in the creekbed below as the trail curves right to leave the drainage and crosses through a gate into open fields. The trail initially runs along a barbed wire fence but quickly becomes indistinct—traverse upward toward the right side of the field to reach Stone Corral Trail near the top (1.6/1,480').
Bear right on the wide dirt road and gently rise through blue oak woodlands, soon passing through another gate. You steadily traverse upward, passing numerous sandstone outcrops, before curving left to reach the junction with Volvon Loop Trail (2.3/1,780'). Follow Volvon Loop Trail, which immediately passes Eagle Trail on the left and then a small cattle pond ringed with cattails. The hike now cruises along the fields below Bob Walker Ridge; several use paths branch right to attain its rocky and tree-studded prow. A strong advocate for land protection, Bob Walker was a prolific photographer and played a major role in the expansion of Morgan Territory. He died in 1992 at the age of 40, but his 30,000 images of the East Bay region continue to inspire.
Near the end of the ridge, a pleasant knoll offers exceptional views northwest of the twin summits of Mount Diablo (Hike 14). The view northeast stretches toward the Delta area, where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers merge in a broad wetland area. The cities of Antioch and Pittsburg line its shores. A collection of wind turbines marks the low rise of Grizzly Island near the confluence of these two mighty rivers.
Mount Diablo looms in the distance as a hiker heads into Morgan Territory.
Continuing, the trail wraps around the ridge, heads south, and crosses shadier, more tree-covered slopes. Intermittent views look southeast toward Los Vaqueros Reservoir. Remain on Volvon Loop Trail as Valley View Trail splits left (3.0/1,770'), followed shortly by a connecting path. The trail climbs briefly, levels out in nice blue oak woodlands, and reaches another junction (3.5/1,840'). Continue straight on Volvon Trail, which passes the south junction for Valley View Trail on the left (3.8/1,840') and then quickly forks. Bear left on Blue Oak Trail, which undulates through shady and mature forest punctuated by twisting snags and other crusty specimens. Bear right on Hummingbird Trail (4.5/1,960') to quickly return to Volvon Trail, where you turn left.
Looking north toward Mount Diablo and its eastern foothills
The trail now encounters a scrubby chaparral community, highlighted by the appearance of thick chamise, and soon reaches Prairie Falcon Trail on the right (4.8/1,960'). This short side loop is a worthwhile diversion, a singletrack path that winds over to a good vista down-valley before returning to Volvon Trail (5.3/1,970'). Bear right and quickly right again on Condor Trail, which rises briefly before descending to the earlier junction with Coyote Trail (5.7/2,000') by the trailhead.
Nearest Visitor Center This preserve doesn’t have a visitor center. For general information, try 510-544-3060 or the visitor center at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, 925-544-2750.
Nearest Campgrounds Mount Diablo State Park has 3 year-round campgrounds with a total of 56 sites. 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