Join the Grateful Dads East Bay Chapter on their monthly kid friendly hike.

April's hike is in Sunol:

Grateful Dads – East Bay Chapter

Hike # 72

Sunol Regional Wilderness

Canyon View Trail to Little Yosemite

Sunday, April 11, 2009, 1:00pm – 4:00pm

Bedrock mortars used by Native Americans for pounding acorns that were found in the area are reminders of Sunol’s first inhabitants.  For the past century, however, the land known today as Sunol Regional Wilderness was used almost exclusively as ranch land.  Under the East Bay Regional Park District’s multi-use land management policy, cattle continue to graze in the 6,858-acre wilderness.  In fact, in places along the Canyon View Trail, hikers sometimes must share the hiking trail with the cattle.  The Canyon View Trail leads from the meeting area (see directions on next page) to a scenic rocky gorge called Little Yosemite.  We will then follow the Camp Ohlone Road back to the picnic area.  The first mile of this trail is a gentle elevation change of about 430 feet, and the rest of the way is an even more gentle descent down through Little Yosemite (where we’ll have a snack break) back to the picnic area.  The entire hike is between 3.0-3.5 miles, will last about 3.0-3.5 hours.  Hikers with baby joggers will find the first third of this trail challenging, as some parts of the trail are narrow, steep and rocky.  I would not recommend baby joggers if they can easily be left behind.

SCHEDULE:

1:00pm SHARP – meet up and head out.  If you’re late…catch up to us!

DIRECTIONS

From Pleasanton, take I-680 south to the Calaveras Road/CA-84 exit (about 17 miles from Castro Valley).  Turn left on Calaveras Road.  Go about 4.4 miles to Geary Road and turn left.  There is a sign for the park a this intersection.  Geary Road dead ends at the park entrance at about 1.5 miles.  It will take about 25-30 minutes to get here from Castro Valley, so plan accordingly in order to make our 1:00pm SHARP start.

Once you enter the park, drive straight back to the picnic area, and we will meet up by the tables near the Alameda Grove (see map).  Look for my car, a green and tan Subaru Outback.  We will meet up at this location, then walk back toward the park entrance, and cross the steel footbridge to get on the Canyon View Trail.  Follow this trail up the hillside, as it gradually heads away from the Alameda Creek.  Those of you who are hiking at a faster pace than the rest of us can take a short diversion on the Indian Joe Nature Trail, which makes a short loop away from and then back to the Canyon View Trail.  At the Little Yosemite area there are restrooms and a picnic table, which can be used for a diaper changing station.  This is also a good spot for a snack/water break.  At the end of the hike we will return to the meeting place in the picnic area. 

ANY QUESTIONS:

EMAIL: amueller@uspropertyadvisors.com

Allen Mueller (510)432-8322 (cell)

WEB:  www.gratefuldads.com