Don Castro and Five Canyons Loop

This was a milestone hike for me: my 149th and 150th parks visited! I opted to do this hike, recommended by the EBRPD for their 2019 Trails Challenge, a moderate 5-mile hike that links the two parks together via the Chabot-to-Garin Trail. It was a really different hike than what I normally do because it wanders in and out of a lot of suburban space in Castro Valley. I don't know that I would do this specific trail again, but I definitely plan to visit both of these parks separately in the future. They are very different from each other, but both Don Castro and Five Canyons are really wonderful parks. Click "read more" to see more photos from my adventure.

Swim lagoon at Don Castro

View from Five Canyons

California newts

EBRPD map of the hike

I really liked both of these parks, but I don't feel like the connector trail is really necessary. Don Castro's chief feature is its amazing swimming lagoon, but the easy trail around the lake is really nice to do as well. It was really quite beautiful to hike along the shore through the groves of eucalyptus all covered in ivy.

The best part of my hike through Five Canyons was easily the lush section along the Shady Canyon Trail which was shaded by sycamores and bay laurels. In contrast, the hike up to the ridge top was exposed and really steep, and it  mostly followed along a paved utility road for the EBMUD to get to the water tower. That part of the trail wasn't all that nice, but once I descended down into the Shady Canyon, I could see how special it was.

The traffic noise from I-580 was considerably less in Shady Canyon, and I could really enjoy the calls of the birds. In the creek, there was a love-knot of California newts who were evidently going through a mating season. I would have never guessed that they would do this in June, when it is typically quite dry. It was really cool to see, and I have never seen that before! They were so playful, swimming all around each other, cuddling and climbing on top of one another.  Two of them really looked to be hugging. I have decided that newts are cute.

Even though you never forget how close you are to human development (you are walking through suburbs behind apartment complexes from time to time), it still need managed to feel wild and special. The whole time I was hiking Five Canyons, I only saw two other hikers. If I were to come back to this park, I think that I would park along the street on Canyon Terrace Drive and then make a loop between Shady Canyon and Deer Canyon Trails (map here). Another option might be to park at Gold Ridge Dr. and then take Newt Pond Trail uphill to where it links up with the Chabot-to-Garin trail, hiking into Garin Park. This part of the trail looks like it would actually be quite nice. Perhaps I will try that second option next spring when the wildflowers are blooming.

When I finished my loop back to Don Castro, I went swimming in the lagoon. The facilities were so nice. I already know that I will be taking my young daughter back here later this summer. She will love it!

I feel lucky that this milestone hike was so successful, even though it is a far cry from what I would normally look for and want in a hike.