Acalanes Ridge Recreation Area

Amazing place to visit for a small hike. The area isn’t too big so you won’t get lost. Normally when there is enough precipitation there will be a lot of vegetation. Really dry this year. Great for hikes, walks, biking. Make sure to bring a full suspension bike and be ready for all the steep steep climbs! The view is phenomenal. And will never get gold.

This is a great place to go for a quiet hike. Went early on a Sunday and felt like the only person there! The trails are marked every once in a while and to start off take a look at the map. We kinda of followed the trail for awhile and then wondered around for awhile easily finding our way back. I think this place is best to just explore on your own without making too much of a plan. The grass is really overgrown and so I wouldn’t recommend walking off the path you might run into some critters or snakes. Overall I think I would definitely return here!

I was hoping to see starry starry night at the top where the concrete arrows are, but I guess it was covered in graffiti. I saw remnants of it but nothing much. The hike is relaxing though, walking along the ridge. Didn’t see any rattlers so that was a plus… just a slightly big lizard.

SPRING IS COMING EARLY THIS YEAR!
At least that’s what the Punxsutawney Phil said on Saturday. Yes, the little rodent has given all the non-​lovers of winter hope for warm weather, coming soon.
I celebrated Groundhog’s Day 2013 by going on the «Big Rodent Day Hike» sponsored by the City. I heard about it through an activities guide that my parents and other WC residents receive from the Recreation Division. It’s an annual group hike through the Acalanes Ridge Open Space. Our informative leader, Ranger Weidman, is a Penn. native, and even wore a Groundhog hat to keep with the spirit!
He pointed out edible plants and even though it was suggested we take them home to wash them, I tried them all right there. He set up sandbags to give us an idea of the size of groundhogs and we found these as we hiked. I’m glad they were full of sand because protected groundhogs are HUGE!
The hike was beautiful. I had no idea these paths were off of Larkey (and I lived on Larkey Lane when I was born!) Mom probably knew we would have more fun at Larkey Park! Our guide walked us through a gorge with a bridge over Putnam Creek. We carefully avoided the rampant poison oak but still managed to interact with plants such as the California Bay and the Golden Fern. We walked past EBMUD’s Larkey Reservoir and filled our reuseable water bottles at the drinking fountain.
The event invitation had mentioned delicious groundhog ribs would be served at the end of the hike. Fortunately for the fuzzies, we were given chocolate groundhogs (and they were delicious!) We all wrote haikus before parting ways, except for one lady who didn’t understand the concept of syllable counting.
In closing, my haiku:
Groundhog nature hike
Walking with husband and friends
Tasty rodent ribs
For more information on the hoggies:

Went to the Bacon Avenue entrance, it was a big disappointment. It’s an easy walk, hills aren’t steep, but the whole time you are in between houses, looking over the freeway, walking past trash and dog poop and broken glass. As you walk you get closer to the freeway. We walked about 20 minutes in and then decided we weren’t enjoying this location and left. I think we’ll try a different area and see if it’s better, as there are lots of trails and entry points in this recreation area, with south and north areas.

Walnut Creek continues to pleasantly surprise me with the variety of Open Space that it offers within its City Limits. Thanks to Mayor Bob’s Walks and Gayle’s CERT Volunteers, I now had to pleasure of hiking around Shell Ridge (starting at Howe Homestead and ending at Borges Ranch), Lime Ridge, Sugarloaf Ridge, and now Acalanes Ridge.
My Acalanes Ridge Hike was part of Mayor Bob’s 2^nd Saturday Walks (the August one will be through Rossmoor) and started in Larkey Park with ~30 fellow travelers. It was a decent climb up and with a spectacular 360 Degree view at the Top. What I love about the Bay Area is the ability to be anywhere, hop in the car, take off on foot, and be in the middle of nowhere inside in around 10 minutes. This hike was no exception, although the Top might be a little shorter hike from the Lafayette side.
There’s also a small satellite Acalanes Ridge Open Space to the South that’s next on my list. Then of course there’s all those nearby and yet unexplored East Bay Regional Parks and Mt. Diablo State Park trails. Maybe a membership in the Orinda Hiking Club is in our future?

At first, it looked pretty lame, but as you get higher on the path and go through the cattle gate (don’t forget to close it behind you!), there are some really great views. It is way too close to houses, but if you look in certain directions, you can at least create the illusion of being far away from the maddening crowd, albeit temporarily. And it’s free. Watch out for the cow pies!