This morning after my coffee and newspaper rituals, I headed over to the regional open space near my house. Since is was such another spectacular sunny and still morning (when will we finally get some rain?), I wanted to take advantage of the colors and lighting and shoot off some photos before the autumn haze made its way back into the valley. This trail is a fairly steep climb from the valley floor to the top of one of the ridges, but its a short hike up and back and can easily be done in an hour. Of course, if you want to enjoy the beautiful vistas, oaks, and meadows, you might need a little more time. Come take a quick look...
Parking is no problem - just park along Morgan Drive...
It's pretty much just straight up the hill...
Along the way you get various views of the neighborhood below and Mt. Diablo...
Oak trees, young and old, line parts of the trail...
But watch out where you step...this is afterall happy California cow territory...
Sometimes the fields are full of grazing cattle - I only spied one...
As you approach the top of the ridge, the views get more spectacular...
That's San Ramon Valley below with the Bishop Ranch office complex...
The sky was deliciously photogenic with its wispy clouds...
This is almost at the top and end of the trail...
All around you you'll see the classic California landscape...
Heading back down the trail...
The last of the remaining oak leaves...
Taking a break under an oak tree...
The bark of the oak tree...
Looking straight up at the oak tree canopy...
Fallen leaves along the trail...
Back at the street and the entrance to the park...
This is a great place for a quick but vigorous hike. It definitely gets your heart pumping! Next time I'll come back in the late afternoon so that I can shoot off photos in different lighting. 
1 comment:
I grew up as a boy hikeing these hills before it was a park. Still so beautiful. Thanks for posting.
Post a Comment