I love me some Lime Ridge. Why it's taken me so long to review this beautiful open space is beyond…read moreme. But I'll tell ya that I hold this place near and dear to my heart. This is one of my local faves. The hiking trails seem to the endless. In late winter and early spring, the hills are so amazingly green that it looks fake. I've hiked here during all seasons, day and night. It's always beautiful here, even in the dead of hawt ass summer. I just LOVE dem hills! The hillsides cannot be touched at Lime Ridge. My favorite trail to hike here is the California Riding and Hiking Trail. I usually start at the intersection of the Ygnacio Canal and Contra Costa Canal Trail near Citrus Ave. This trail starts off with a long and steep hill. Many runners train on this hill to increase their endurance. I love it because it challenges me. I'll usually start here and loop around through a couple of other trails. What's nice is that you can go on for miles or just get a short quick hike in. There's so much versatility. The best time to come is during the spring. The spring greens and bright wild flowers and so abundant during this time. Plus, it won't be scorching hot like it is during the summer time. If I do decide to hike here in the summer, it's usually early in the morning or right before sunset. There's absolutely no shade on these trails, so take precautions and bring lots of water. Also, the summertime can bring bugs and those bloodsucking mosquitoes. Bug spray in the summer as well as sunscreen will keep your skin happy. Lately, the trails have been much busier because of quarantine. However, people respectfully keep their distance on the trails and many also wears masks as well. I tend to stick to the same trails which don't seem to be as busy as the ones that are located deeper into Walnut Creek. Either way, it's still worth a visit because the trails are so versatile.

Hiked Sat 3/13/21 at Lime Ridge Open Space, 47 min drive from my house in Fremont. Free parking in…read moremedium size parking lot & on the street. Across the street is Boundary Oak Golf Course where we used their bathrooms (by Taphouse) cuz none at Lime Ridge. We turned Right at Ohlone Trail gate, passing houses in Walnut Creek. Saw a nice pond with lots of water, climbed up, was on private property land, had to go under the fence to get on park land. Did Manzanita Trail, Lime Ridge Trail, went by a bench and near it is summit marker elev 1,986, Blue Oak Trail, Ohlone Trail, went under tunnel, Lone Oak Trail, Savannah Trail, saw Bayberry Pond (was Dry), went through a lower tunnel, Blue Oak Trail. Ohlone Trail & Ygnacio Canal Link if u climb up a few time and keep going you'll find a labyrinth! We saw it didn't go down to walk it, that would have been nice! Blue Oak Trail to Ohlone Trail back to car. Long day we started 9:10am finished 3:30pm.

Only for hiking. No park, no bathroom, just dirt paths…read moreThought it was somewhere my grandchildren would be able to enjoy.

This place has such an amazing view! It's a great place to go for a quick reset! If you are…read morevisiting or exploring Pleasant Hill, it's a must see! Be prepared for a short hike to get to the view, and I wouldn't go if it's raining.

Beautiful walk in the middle of the city. Can cut through from downtown to other areas of town.read more

I've been Yelp friends with Jennifer N for years. She an avid traveler and hikes everywhere…read more Me? The Four Seasons is how I camp. So when I look for a trail to walk about, I turned to Jennifer's reviews. Creek Walk is perfect for me. Flat, paved, sometimes shaded, and actually quite beautiful. A good mix of the great outdoors and suburbia. The walk has helpful signage and virtually impossible to get lost. While I'm not big on ruffing The Great Outdoors, Jennifer and I share the the same obsession going to the gym. According to check-ins, she's got to be the Duchess of every 24 Hour Fitness in Contra Costa County! 5 stars for my Yelp pal!

I was able to snag a parking spot at the staging area (there aren't a ton of parking spaces…read more However, people park along the road). I did the self guided tour Volcanic tour. We wanted a more of hike, so after the tour we ended up doing a big loop. For those who might have reactive dogs, there are a ton of off leash dogs.

"Popular Trail in a Spooky Location."…read more The staging area is on Old Tunnel Road in Orinda. There's also an entrance to the Sibley Park close by. There's only a few spaces at the actual staging area, but on the road to the service yard, there's a lot more spaces. I believe the road to the service yard is where the old tunnel used to be, but I think there's nothing to see there. The day that I visited, there was a sign that said the trail was closed--darn I missed it! The trail was actually in good shape--just a portion of the trail was washed out. But don't worry, I didn't go down the hillside. Along the trail, there are no facilities or water, so be sure to bring lots of water. The trail takes you up to Grizzly Peak Boulevard. If you keep going, you will end up at Tilden, near the steam trains. So overall, I'm glad I hiked this trail. At least once, anyway.

In 1974, Walnut Creek residents passed a measure to protect some of its open space for future…read morerecreation. If they hadn't done that, then Sugarloaf would be filled with McMansions. Instead, this former walnut orchard is a medium-sized preserve where you can get a breather. Or really exercise and get out of breath. It's not the great adventure that Shell Ridge is, but it's good enough. It doesn't take much to see it all. It's the workout, views, and break from the normal routine that count. Trails go up to the top of the ridge, where you have a gorgeous view of I-680 traffic. Turn around, though, and you have a better view of the city and Mt. Diablo. Sugarloaf has more amenities that add value. Next to the large parking lot is a large picnic area, which works well for 50 people. Surprisingly, you can also camp here, just make a reservation with the Parks & Rec office. Amphitheater that's rarely used. Be warned that there's little shade when you get beyond the walnut trees. Water is never far away, but be prepared. Enjoy yourself.

Sugarloaf Open Space was mentioned in a prior review as being one of "Walnut Creek's best kept…read moresecrets". I can agree with that HALF-heartedly; yes, it's very secluded and it's not a well known open space. However, it doesn't offer much as far as scenic views are concerned. There are a few decent views of other trails on the hills and Mount Diablo, but other than that... the only other thing that one might call "exciting" about this trail is that you can see the 680 freeway. Not sure about you, but that's not all that exciting to me. What Sugarloaf DOES offer is a mix of great short but heart pumping trails that will work those gluties. I started off on the Ridge top trail which began with a small but steady incline. The whole trail is a mix of hills that go up and down, but it's nothing strenuous. Those hills will get you though, and soon you will feel it all throughout your legs and backside. What made it a little more challenging for me was the high heat and minimal shade along the trails. I would recommend coming in the early morning to beat the heat because it will definitely slow you down. And with minimal shade, you will be making a few more water stops than usual. There are a few benches along the way, but they are few and far between. The Ridge Top Trail is a little over a mile long and ends behind the back of a residence. You'll reach the end when you see a gate and a private residence trail. Ridge Top intersects with many other small trails, most of which will take you back down to the entrance. I wanted to continue the hike and decided to take the Bottom Spring trail. The trail will take you along side the 680 freeway and it also ends behind a residential area. Warning: only about 1/3 of this trail is actually fully paved. The rest of it consists of very uneven terrain! I would suggest wearing good shoes for ankle support if you choose to hike this trail. However, I have to add that it was really quite boring... nothing really to see except for the 680 freeway. I wouldn't recommend taking the Bottom Spring trail unless you really want to explore, but it was really annoying because I had to slow my speed to watch where I stepped. One fun observation though, were all of the dragon flies that I saw. I must have seen about 20 of them roaming around and it was really neat. I didn't see the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge trail until after I was done hiking, but that trail is probably way more exciting that the others that I tried. Overall, it's decent and there weren't many people at all on this trail... I'm talking only TWO other people, and one guy wasn't even hiking; he was just chilling on the bench. If you like super secluded trails, then this one might be for you. I would be open to coming back to hike the Sugarloaf to Shell Ridge trail, but otherwise I think I'll choose local options before Sugarloaf.

We came here a couple weeks ago after a story time at the library, as luck would have it, 4H was…read moreonsite. The young man was so kind to my toddler, he not only explained to her what he was doing, he let her feed some of the animals. My little was over the moon and keeps telling me how she wants to go feed animals again.

A local favorite! Old Borges Ranch is a peaceful step back in time hidden right in the Northgate…read morearea. It's well-known for being a great educational spot for kids to interact with farm animals like rabbits and goats, but don't stop at the ranch fences. The spring hiking here is incredible. The hills turn a vibrant green, and the atmosphere is so serene that it's just you, the birds, and the occasional cow. The trek through the different ecosystems is beautiful, and the panoramic views at the top are worth every step. A perfect escape for anyone looking to trade the city sounds for rolling hills and fresh air.

"Now I know why there were no other bikers."…read more In past years I started at the far eastern end. Today I started from the northwest Trailhead, which is just off Carquinez Scenic Drive. There's a nice staging area there, which has room for plenty of cars. Plus it also has a restroom there. The trail itself is covered for much of the way going up to the top. For hiking, I can see how it would be a pleasant trip. Not so much for biking. Today, I was planning to bike on this trail, but I did not realize how narrow and steep it was. I did not see any other bikers, and I think I know why. Oh well, I got some exercise pushing the bike up tough sections. When you get up to the top, it's much easier.

Lovely trail several minutes from "downtown" Martinez. Can be a bit strenuous for some with some…read moreuphills, but a great place to take in views of the water (we could see our neighborhood in Benicia...sort of) and Mount Diablo. Vault toilet at the trail head. This is our go to spot when we don't want to drive all the way to the Lafayette reservoir or to the Berkeley hills trails.

Hidden gem - full sun trails…read more This hidden gem as a small car park so it is not the ideal spot for large gatherings that you may want to organize. However it is a great point for some beautiful trials that I recommend you undertake in late fall or winter as they are in full sun and it feels very hot. Epic views from the top worth your while.

"Cute Little Park--just ask for TP"…read more This is a surprising little gem with fun, interesting trails. There are two levels of parking. The lower parking is just a few spaces, near the restroom. The upper area has far more. There are several gorgeous trails, especially in the springtime. The day that I visited I went up to Mulholland Ridge Open Space. It's a bit of a steep hike but completely doable. For those interested in geocaching, there are several geocaches in the park. They have restrooms on the lower level, but they're pretty rustic. They appear to have no toilet paper. Other than that, they're really great restrooms.