Distance: 7.8 miles
Type: Loop (description assumes counterclockwise direction)
Elevation gain: 1,978 feet
Difficulty: Challenging
Hiking time: Four to seven hours
Trail surface: Unpaved with some rocky, uneven terrain
Trail access:
Ringtail Cat: Hikers and horses only
Madrone and Las Trampas Ridge: Hikers, bikers, and horses
Corduroy Hills: Hikers only
Best seasons: Fall, winter, and spring (conditions in winter can be muddy if there is a lot of rain)
Hours: Opens at 8 AM; closing time varies by time of year
Managing agency: East Bay Regional Park District
Trailhead location: Ringtail Cat Staging Area, Alamo
Dogs allowed: Yes
Madrone Trail. Photo by Karen Bakar
Overview
Marked by steep ridges, rugged terrain, and a vast network of trails, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness Preserve offers hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders a true sense of wilderness despite its proximity to the bustling 680 corridor.
This challenging 7.8-mile loop hike within the northern portion of Las Trampas is one of the best, most adventurous ways to experience the park’s diverse landscape.
Spectacular vistas of Mount Diablo and the entire East Bay give way to shaded woodlands, and oak trees abound on rolling hills. It’s hard to beat the varied scenery along these four trails!
With an elevation gain of nearly 2,000 feet, the route takes you past three peaks—Las Trampas, Vail, and Eagle. Luckily, it’s not straight up and down; the elevation changes are spread out, with steep parts not too long and broken up by flatter sections.
Madrone Trail, Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve. Photo by Karen Bakar
When to Go
Except for the hottest days of summer, this hike has year-round appeal. Winter and spring boast vibrant green hills, while autumn hues make it especially pretty in November and December.
If you do go on a hot day, be sure to bring extra water, wear a hat, and apply plenty of sunscreen.
What to Bring
Sturdy hiking shoes and poles are strongly recommended. When the weather is dry, loose gravel can make it hard to maintain solid footing in some areas, and after a good rain, the trails can be muddy.
Some of the trails—especially Ringtail Cat and Corduroy Hills—are narrow and overgrown in places, so long pants and gators (or at least tall socks) are good protection against scratches and poison oak.
Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve. Photo by Karen Bakar
Description
The trailhead for this hike is at the Ringtail Cat Staging Area, at the end of Hemme Ave. in a residential neighborhood of Alamo. Spots are usually available in the small parking area, but if not, you can park on the street.
The hike begins on the Ringtail Cat Trail. For the first 0.4 mile, the path is flat and pleasantly shaded as you wind through woods along a dry streambed.
After you pass through a cattle gate and walk over a small wooden bridge, you’ll come to an intersection and signpost. Turn sharply left to stay on the Ringtail Cat Trail.
You’ll begin to ascend steeply, weaving through a grassy hill dotted with blue oaks. The trail here is not always well-defined, and you’ll notice the paths diverging in spots. Don’t worry, they all lead to the same place!
Ringtail Cat Trail. Photo by Karen Bakar
About a mile in, Ringtail Cat Trail ends at another signpost, and you’ll turn right onto the Madrone Trail. This is where the loop part of your hike begins, going in the recommended counterclockwise direction.
For the next two miles, you’ll continue to climb gradually, meandering through shaded woodlands before reaching a nice bluff with a bench. This is a good spot to rest and enjoy the views.
Not long after the bench, you’ll come to an intersection. Continue straight and then veer slightly left onto the Las Trampas Ridge Trail (not to be confused with the Las Trampas to Briones Trail, which turns to the right).
In a short distance, the trail crosses park district land that is closed to the public, but access is allowed for trail use through cattle gates.
Las Trampas Peak is about halfway (four miles) into the hike, and at 1,827 feet is the highest point in the park. You can take a short offshoot to reach the summit before rejoining the trail.
For the next mile or so, you’ll enjoy a wide path that undulates with the ridgeline. To your right is the western edge of the park, and to your left, unobstructed views of Mount Diablo.
With full exposure, this part of the trail can be hot, although it becomes shadier as you approach your next turn.
About five miles into the hike, after Vail Peak, turn left onto the Corduroy Hills Trail and go down the wooden stairs.
Closed to bicycles and horses, this beautiful trail is narrow and steep, snaking through sandstone and chaparral. Be on the lookout for poison oak!
Madrone Trail, Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve. Photo by Karen Bakar
The Corduroy Hills Trail climbs up and over large rocky outcrops that form Eagle Peak, then flattens as you hike along a relatively shaded and narrow ridge.
The last part takes you down a broad but steep hillside with stunning views of Mount Diablo. The trail here can be hard to follow, so GPS comes in handy.
At the bottom of the hill, turn left onto the Madrone Trail, and follow it around the bend until you reach the intersection with the Ringtail Cat Trail.
This junction officially closes the loop you started earlier in the hike. Take a right onto the Ringtail Cat Trail and follow it back downhill to the staging area.
Note: Toward the end of the hike, there are two places where the Ringtail Cat Trail turns sharply to the right. Make sure you take the second one where there’s a trail sign. The first sharp right does not have a sign and will take you back up the hill.
View from Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve. Photo by Karen Bakar
