The Rocky Ridge View Trail
This is the most popular hiking loop in Las Trampas. It climbs to the high, narrow Rocky Ridge, which has some great views of Bollinger Canyon and the Oakland Hills. All the really good scenery is on top of the ridge, though; the rest of the loop is pretty mundane.
Click map to show all roads and trails
Part of the Oakland Hills and Pleasanton Ridge trail map from Redwood Hikes Press (second edition, 2017)
Here’s the trailhead location in Google Maps and Google Street View.
From the parking lot at the end of Bollinger Canyon Road, climb the steep Rocky Ridge View Trail, which is a paved service road for the antennas on top of the ridge. Near the top of the hill, the road leaves the park and enters EBMUD property at a gate; a permit would be required to continue past the gate. Instead, take the bumpy singletrack trail to the left.
Up to this point there haven’t been any really good views, but as the trail climbs, some great views of Bollinger Canyon open up.
Bollinger Canyon from the Rocky Ridge View Trail
The trail is narrow and looks like an unofficial track. It runs next to a dirt road on EBMUD property, separated by a fence. It would be a lot easier to walk on the road, but then it would be necessary to climb over a gate to get back onto the Rocky Ridge View Trail.
The singletrack trail eventually ends, giving way to a dirt road that runs slightly to one side of the ridge.
The Rocky Ridge View Trail
After an intersection with the Devils Hole Trail, the ridge gets much narrower and the views improve dramatically. This is the most scenic part of the trail.
The Rocky Ridge View Trail
The Rocky Ridge View Trail
Turn onto the Elderberry Trail to descend off of the ridge. The great scenery ends as the trail descends through patchy woods; there are a few views, but nothing really noteworthy.
The Elderberry Trail
The Elderberry Trail
© 2018, 2023 David Baselt
