{"id":691,"date":"2022-02-16T19:44:20","date_gmt":"2022-02-16T19:44:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dayvetrips.com\/?p=691"},"modified":"2022-07-24T15:36:49","modified_gmt":"2022-07-24T15:36:49","slug":"sunols-little-yosemite-and-a-dog-mayor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dayvetrips.com\/?p=691","title":{"rendered":"Sunol’s “Little Yosemite” and a Dog Mayor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Early Spring is a great time to explore the East Bay, because the hills are green with new growth and the weather is often perfect for a semi-strenuous hike. On this Day’ve Trip, we went to the Sunol Wilderness and hiked a 6.5 mile loop up about 1300 feet and back down again (See trail map below). This is a classic East Bay hike because it takes you through shady oaks, along seasonal streams, to amazing rock outcroppings and along picture-worthy ridge tops, and down into a perfect stream bed known in a somewhat grandiose manner as “Little Yosemite”. When you’re done, you can stop in the little town of Sunol and check out “Bosco’s Bones and Brews<\/a>” and learn about the Labrador – Rottweiler mix that served as the town’s mayor from 1981 to 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Road There:<\/span><\/strong> Start by heading to the Visitor Center of Sunol Regional Wilderness at 1895 Geary Rd in Sunol, CA. It’s about 30 minutes from us in Danville, about 30 minutes from San Jose, and about 55 minutes from San Francisco. Click here for a Park Map<\/a>. If you are adventurous on the way, try driving down Palomares Rd from Castro Valley where it starts at I-580 and goes south to Sunol and Highway 84. You’ve probably never been on that road, and you’re missing something! It’s a great winding road that runs the ridge and through the forested area between Hayward and Pleasanton. The Road Less Travelled!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We started our hike just inside the Park gates ($5 entry fee, waived this time of year). We parked near the sign for Flag Hill trail and started our hike by crossing the stream bridge and turning right for Indian Joe Creek Trail. This is a great winding trail through the shade, about 1.4 miles up to Cave Rocks (don’t run left onto Hayfield Rd, but once you see it, you are almost to Cave Rocks). <\/p>\n\n\n