Ohlone Wilderness, Williams Gulch

Last Saturday was a particularly mild January day, so I went out to a park that I've long wanted to visit: Ohlone Regional Park. Part of the appeal of this park is that it is so remote. Here is a blurb from the EBRPD website:

You have to hike or ride horseback to see this magnificent 9,737-acre parkland, accessible only by way of the Ohlone Wilderness Trail. Its centerpiece is 3,817-foot Rose Peak, just 32 feet lower than Mount Diablo. Surrounding Rose Peak are grassy ridges, profusely flowered in season. The abundance of wildlife includes golden eagles, mountain lions, and tule elk. 

Murrietta Falls, the tallest waterfall in the Bay Area can be found at this park, but the hike to get there is a real butt-kicker, and the waterfall is only seasonal--there is no guarantee that you will actually see it once you've gone all the way out there. On my hike on Saturday, I only went about halfway to Murrietta falls, to the scenic Williams Gulch. It was such a pleasure!

I estimate that I hiked about 6 miles in this in-and-out route, climbing at least 1,500 feet. Although the park rangers recommended that I start on the Ohlone Wilderness Trail from Lichen Bark Picnic area on the western shore of Lake Del Valle, I opted instead to take the Vallecitos Trail from the family campground. Be advised that parking there is a little tricky. I parallel parked along the road, because the lot there is for campers only. I really liked the single-track Vallecitos trail: it was one of my favorite parts of the hike, and I would go back to Del Valle just to do this leg of the hike!

Vallecitos trail winds through a fairly steep valley, and the trees on either side offer nice shade. Once you intersect with the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, be sure to sign in. Note that you need to purchase a wilderness permit, but they are only $2 per person and they are good for a year (plus the permit is also your map).

This portion of the Ohlone Wilderness Trail was the hardest portion of the hike because of its steepness; both going up and coming down were hard. I brought a hiking stick for this hike, and I was really glad that I had it specifically for this section. After I made it to Boyd Camp, the hike was really not that bad. The Sycamore Flats area was gorgeous, and I loved how dramatically the landscape changed as I descended from the ridge top of Rocky Ridge to the deep valley of Williams Gorge.

Even with the tough section from the sign-in to Boyd Camp, I really loved this hike and I would do it again. I kind of feel like it might be doable to go all the way to Murrietta Falls as long as I pace myself and start off early enough in the day. I was surprised at how well traveled this hike was considering its remoteness. There were plenty of people who were either on their way to or coming back from the falls. I guess that people were really hoping to see the waterfall after a week of rainy weather!

As a side note, this trail is really only appropriate in the winter and early spring. Because so much of it is exposed, and because it can get so hot out here, it's just not safe to hike this strenuous hike during the warmer months.