Sunol Regional Wilderness Area

Lovely hike and water running. Brought my dogs and they enjoyed it. Watch out for ticks.

Today I spent 3hrs there, taking the very general trails to little Yosemite area! You can follow below brief direction
1. Old green barn visitor center, to pick up a brochure with map
2. cross a wooden bridge
3. Indian joe nature trail then split off to canyon view trail
4. Canyon view trial
5. turn right to ohlone road, heading to little Yosemite

I had a day off work and wanted to get outside and explore a new area. The Sunol Regional Wilderness Park is less than 30 minutes from my house, so I decided to check it out.
It had rained the day before, so the trails were still wet but all clearly marked and easy to find. There were a few other groups there, but everyone was spread out so you still felt like you had a part of the park to yourself.
I’ll definitely come back again, especially in the spring and summer to enjoy the sunset when the days are longer

«What I love most about rivers is: you can’t step in the same river twice,» — sang disney Pocahontas in the song «Just Around the Riverbend»
And what I mean by that is that going hiking during different times of the year can have drastically different changes in how you hike or what you see. The river/​creek that runs through Sunol is in full swing, with water rushing through that can actually sweep you up. The first time I came was last year, during the drought and it was a a small sad trickle. However now there is so much water that the waterfall «little yosemite» is almost non existent because the water just fills up that small area completely, there is no where for the water to fall. It is still extremely beautiful though and better than seeing no water. Getting down to the waterfall is very, very muddy and even though I hiked when it was PACKED, like mission peak type of packed, no one went down to the waterfall because it was muddy and the waters were too fast and rocks too slippery.
If you aren’t hiking to see little yosemite, there are a number of other trails as well! And again, the rain has made this place into a green beauty! No longer dry and brown. So really, any path you choose is a beautiful one!

This is a beautiful park and with the rains we have had recently ‘little yosemite’ looks gorgeous and quite rapid! I said a little prayer to thank the Gods for the rain while here as the serenity of the landscape in contrast to the powerful gush of the water made our hike precious!
This park is great for families especially those with dogs. We were here with 4 dogs — 2 labs and 2 poodles and all of them loved running by the creek and enjoyed the co of other dogs and dog lovers
The vistas this park provides are spectacular and the main trail itself is wide and easy to do for anyone in the family– children n grandparents! We walked about 7 miles and in 2 hours felt that we were all set to face the week ahead with positivity n gratitude!

This place is a local gem. Miles upon miles of trails with some of the most scenic views that can be found in the Bay Area. Not nearly as crowded as mission peak, this is a great escape from the masses that provides multiple different trails to explore. Add to the fact that weekdays are totally free, and you have a winner. The only negative thing that I can say is that the singletrack trails are off limits to us mountain bikers:(all in all, this is a great place to hike with friends and family of all ages.

On Black Friday this year, I followed REI’s advice and joined the #OptOutside movement. Instead of braving the mad crowds in the malls, I sought tranquility at Sunol Regional Wilderness Area (SRWA). I’ve known about this place for years but there were always other things to do (aka excuses) so I had never made it out here until now.
The drive to SRWA is pretty straight forward. The easiest route from San Jose is to go north on Hwy 680. Take the Hwy84/​Calaveras Rd exit and head south. Left on Geary Rd. There’s a small stretch with a single lane at which only one car can fit through. So watch out.
There are quite a few trails to choose from. If you want, you can hike all the way to Mission Peak. On this visit, my goal was to explore the Little Yosemite Area. Unfortunately, it was dry. So sad to witness the drought taking its toll. The canyon view was still amazing though. The trails here were not as well marked as those at some other parks that I’ve been to. The restrooms were not clean. Toilet paper was all over the floor. Nevertheless, I was really drawn to the picturesque surroundings and willing to overlook the drawbacks. In fact, I think I’ll opt outside more often and check out the other trails here. It’s good for the mind, body and soul.

To be updated…
Sunol Regional Wilderness Area is, as you can guess, geared for hikers. There are also backpackers going to the Ohlone Wilderness, equestrians, and a few mountain bikers. Like Big Yosemite, 95% of the park is roadless, so to experience the park, you need to get away from your car and your cell phone (which doesn’t have a signal here anyway).
But we weren’t here to hike. Sunol had a big event here, a Hootenanny (no, Hooters did not send down their girls from Dublin). This was a big ranch 100 years ago, how did they have fun? We saw how: a big tent with a live bluegrass band and a dance caller who introduced a lot of reels, places to make bandannas and corn husk dolls, demonstrations of rope making and barbed wire, a history booth, and kid games from the previous century. My wife found out that the main family who owned this land had 11 kids, all who lived here until the 1950s, so it was quite busy. The big green barn and visitors center were part of that family. I was wondering if my 3^rd-​grade daughter would have a fun time, but she was; she had a big grin on her face most of the time.
Now, for the active people: the most famous feature is Little Yosemite. I went here years ago, and it looks nothing like Big Yosemite. It’s still pretty, though. I want to try the trails, go to the top of some of the hills. There’s only one place for water, at the Visitors Center, so fill up those water bottles. EBRPD has also contracted with a stock company to provide guided horse rides on some of the trails, and I want to try that too, or at least sign the girl up for one. (You can save the $ 5 fee by taking the road *before* Geary, Welch Creek Road, and using one of those trailheads. It’s many miles from there to the Visitors Center, if that matters to you.)
When I do more hiking here, I’ll post an update. Camping is usually available, but as of this writing, the Calaveras Dam is being rebuilt, so no camping for now. Stay tuned. ..

There’s no waterfall. There’s barely a creek. The water in my water bottle was probably the largest water mass in the vicinity. This is October 2015. There’s a drought, wasn’t expecting much.
If you’re trying to get to the alleged «waterfall» in Little Yosemite, enter the park, drive all the way to the end. You’ll see a gate for Camp Ohlone. Go past the bridge and follow the main trail. Don’t be tempted to follow any little trails near the water. After about three quarters of a mile, you’ll have arrived at your destination! Landmarks include picnic tables and an outhouse. This area connects to multiple other trails, or you can head back. Getting to Little Yosemite is less than a mile, and relatively flat.
Exhibit A of difficulty: I only saw parents and their five year old children on this trail.
Shade: little, bring sunblock
$ 5 entrance fee

I had to work in San Ramon office on Tuesday and I know it is free, so I decided to hike the Little Yosemite trail before heading home,
The trail isn’t too tough, only few up hills. There are two trails, the main one is paved, the smaller one is some what hidden, and more rural. I took the main road up and took the hidden path back
There were so little water, I actually missed the Little Yosemite by a mile (I continue walking to the other end of the trail). Still a very good hike.
Bonus for having a water station near the main entrance.

Rather disappoint with the drought here in California. Arrive at 10 am paid $ 5 fee at the door to get in. Took the trail that takes you to little Yosemite. About 2 miles in you hit the spot. It was horrendously hot and remember it’s only 10am. OMG. Everything was so fried up you. If you’re coming here for the falls don’t. Save your time.

First time today since we aren’t active people and we need to find a place which is a bit easier than Mission Peak (lol). Found this place by my sister’s friends, decided to come here this morning. We paid $ 5 fee for the entrance. It was a bit confused at first since we were there so early and there was no one.
Took the trail, really easy and relaxing. The little waterfall which called Little Yosemite; it took around 15 – 20 minute walk from the bridge/​entrance near the parking spot to Little Yosemite. It was so beautiful and refresh touching the water. We brought our camera and took so many nice shots, we’re so glad we did come here.
We will definitely come back next time and recommend our friends to this place.

Great drive in and a dog treat to help ease the pain of the $ 7 entry fee (for our furry passenger, at least) — not a bad start!
Sunol is a lovely place with a nice trail. It’s very easy, nothing crazy, and leads you to a cozy spot called Little Yosemite. This is the perfect place for you and/​or your four legged kids to cool down on a hot day. That said, the trail does get hot. There is very little shade (read: basically none), so make sure to layer on some sunscreen before heading out.
If you want to park close to the trailhead, keep driving after you enter. That isn’t really clear when you arrive (unless you’re flipping through the map while driving — I hope not!), so don’t park in the first lots unless you want to walk farther. We did, and it was fine. Walking on a gorgeous day is nothing to complain about. :)
*Note: There is NO cell service starting about 5 minutes outside of the park entrance. If you’re meeting people, meet up beforehand and drive in together.

Best place to hike so far! We absolutely loved it. Gotta take your kids and friends here.

Moderate hike with great scenery about an hour out of downtown SF.
The hike itself is relatively easy, but when we went (early June) it was so hot I’m upgrading it moderate difficulty. The actual temp was in the low 80s but the heat index must have been much higher because when I licked my lips my tongue actually felt cool. Bring water and plenty of sunscreen.
From the parking area take the Indian Joe trail and then fork right to get on the Canyon View trail. Both wind uphill through beautiful golden grassy hills with excellent views of the surrounding hills and valley below. Follow the sign pointing right to Little Yosemite to get to the river, where you’ll find much needed shade and some nice places to sit on the rocks by the bubbling water.
Once you’ve rehydrated head back up the river bank to the road and turn left to follow it back (the easy way down, you can obviously also retrace your steps) to the parking lot and your car.

Fairly easy hike with a great view of greenery.
Been here a couple times now. Although I never really went deep into the trail, the part of the hike I’ve seen was nice. There is this part of the hike where you can go into this boulder area and climb around. It’s cool because there is a stream that runs through the rocky/​boulder area which makes for a great view and experience. If you’re lucky you’ll be able to find a little waterfall as you continue to adventure the area. Parking was $ 5 and $ 8 if you have a dog with you. It was easy to find parking too.
This place would be a 5 star place but as we were hiking through the boulder area, I saw some coors light cans, broken glass, cigarette butts, and graffiti on the rocks. Most likely punk ass kids.

Great place for a hike. The first part of the hike isn’t too bad, but afterwards if you’re continuing on, it gets tougher. The sucky part of the plain lands is no shade! So if it’s a hot day, make sure you bring enough water to stay hydrated! Don’t forget to bring extra water for your pooch too! A lot of hikers bring their loyal companions on the trip, and all the dogs we met were super friendly! I love dogs!!! There’s also a neat little hang out area, I guess it’s known as little Yosemite? Not sure if we made it there, but it was pretty quaint area to take some pictures.
Anyway, overall good hike, nothing too steep or excruciating. There is a parking fee of $ 5 and $ 8 if you have a dog.

I just love this place!
Parking is usually free, but some times, it does cost five to pay. Definitely worth it though.
Oh! And anything you want to say via cell to someone, make sure you do it before you get into the park, because most places here don’t get service.
To the best part, there are a ton of trails here that you can explore and hike around. You can take a stroll (not much of a hike but rather a walking trail) over the bridge to little Yosemite. I love this part of Sunol. The water is cold, but jumping around on the rocks and taking a quick dip can be so much fun on a hot day.
They also have other trails closer to the entrance. My favorite trail is flag hill (I think that is the name of it). It’s a steeper climb, but definitely not anything like mission peak. It has shady areas and a great lookout when you get to the top.
It is a great place to picnic or bring the family for a hike. Or a significant other. Or just a friend. So much fun!

Sunol, Sunol, Sunol. What magic is bestowed on this wonder of a place! I’ve been hearing about the «Little Yosemite» hike for some time now, and I’ve finally been given the opportunity to see what all the fuss is about. Now, I’ve never been to actual Yosemite National Park, but if it’s as beautiful as Sunol — And I know it must be much more — then I think I should pack up and go tomorrow.
Weekdays are free parking, just a side note. And the trail we took was only 1.5 miles one way, 3 mile loop! It’s a great place to explore. You have access to many different trails… I believe we stayed on the fire road for the most part, but my friend and I made many offtrail trips to the creek and these awesome rocks.
If you park at the visitors center (which is basically the very first parking lot once you enter), they’ll definitely tell you which directions to take. There are several picnic areas as well, so as many others have suggested, bring your lunch! And enjoy the scenery.

$ 5 entrance fee, FYI. I paid in cash.
So I went on the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. Yeah, yeah I know you need a permit to hike on this trail but I like to break the rules without even knowing it. Idk.
As you might have guessed, I was the only one on this trail, there was absolutely NO foot-​traffic. Because of the permit restriction. Totally dangerous because if I got hurt, it would be no bueno. They do have a sign-​up sheet at the entrance of the trail but it was full & people started writing on the sides so there was no point in even signing in.
The trail starts off slow, not too much of an incline, then it slowly starts to incline. You get to a gate & cross the street to continue the trail. That is where the incline starts & doesn’t end for what seemed like FOREVER!
I don’t even know how far I went. The views were gorgeous but I was a little scared because there was no one else on the trail, I kept thinking that there was going to be someone hiding out & going to kidnap me or something.
I finally turned around since I was hiking FOREVER to no end in sight.
There are a lot of flies on this hike, so annoying –_​–
I got back to my car & decided to drive deeper into the park & found where more cares were at. I’m guessing this is the RIGHT TRAIL I should have been on. lol. Next time, next time. I shall visit what everyone keeps referring to as «Little Yosemite.»

If you want a great creek, a beautiful oak savanna with top notch photo opportunities and a large plethora of hikes, Sunol Regional Wilderness is the place for you. It is a gem that is becoming unhidden as you read. It is already a popular camping spot and the trail along the creek is pretty popular too. There is a gorge called Little Yosemite further up the creek although the gorge is not as crowded as Yosemite. Sunol Regional Wilderness, like Muir Woods and other popular hiking places in the Bay Area has trails that few people explore but are just as lovely as the crowded trail.
Directions: Take 680 to the Calaveras Rd. exit in Sunol. Go up Calaveras Rd and make a left on Geary. You will be in Sunol Regional wilderness and there will be signs directing you around the place.
The hikes: I have only hiked here once but I will talk about that one hike. We started on a wide road and walked under an oak covered bridge. There were fences around to keep out the cows. We looked at the oak savanna covering the hills which can give some good photo opportunities. We followed the creek but the fire road did not really go into the shade which was unfortunate. It was not a cold day. We thought it would be 70 but as always, it is warmer inland. Soon, a trail intersected on the left and we took it. We turned left at the next intersection too. The views opened up quickly and we could see the whole valley. For a bit, the trail was right on the cliff but it flattened out quickly. We could see a meadow, more oak savanna and a large rock formation. It was on the other side of the meadow. After spending time looking at the oak trees on the top of the hills, we continued through the oak savanna.
Then we stopped due to some unexpected creatures blocking our trail. No, it was not a mountain lion, it was cows. Being city people, we did not know whether to walk through them or around them. We tried walking through until one cow mooed loudly and pointed its horns at us which sent us back quickly. Finally, we went around them up a not so flat hill and ran down it to get to the trail. The first thing we did was check for ticks of course.
The trail went downhill steeply back to the parking lot and fortunately, we had no more encounters with the cows. We did see others from the trail. The hike itself and the whole atmosphere gets four stars but the heat and the cows prevented the review from receiving four stars. Also, in the summer, it should be crowded near the river but we saw no one on the trails away from the river. That definitely is an asset. My only main complaint is that the cows here need to have better manners and understand that they should not be roadblocks.