BMHS Sunol Regional Wilderness Hike

Event Organizers:
Kosta Achin
k.x.achin@gmail.com
(408) 517-5427
Black Mountain Hiking - Sunol Wilderness - Last of the Wildflowers
Date & Time: Saturday May 17, 2025 9:00am - 4:00pm
Level: Moderate (2B) 6 mi, 1400 ft gain
Meet: Enter Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve (1895 Geary Road, Sunol, CA 94586, GPS coordinates for parking: 37.515887, -121.832111). At the entry kiosk pay $5 (day) parking fee. If possible, park on the left, near the Visitor Center, our meeting place.
Description: A moderately-paced hike near the end of the spring-wildflower season. Starting at the Old Green Barn Visitor Center parking lot, we will proceed approximately southeast following the Canyon View trail, located next to Alameda Creek. There, as we walk along, we should see what is left of Vetch, Yarrow, Chinese Houses, Blue-Eyed Grass, and California Poppies as well as other wildflowers. Perhaps there will still be some green grass along the way. Then following the Cerro Este Road trail, which is drier in spots, there will be Sage, Stick Monkeyflower and Morning Glory. Where the trail intersects Cave Rocks Rd is our high point as well as our lunch spot. This is a great viewing point with Calaveras Reservoir, Mission Peak, the valley with the barn way down at High Valley Camp, all visible. After lunch, we will descend down Cave Rocks Rd, where we will see Lupine and other wildflowers, and take either Indian Joe Creek Trail or Hayfield Rd back to the Visitor Center, losing altitude as we go and enjoying the scenery,
Natural History: Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve is the place to go to learn more about the Preserve: its history, its inhabitants, recreation opportunities, events and more. Poison oak, ticks and rattlesnakes make their homes in the park, so learn to identify them and steer clear of them.
Wear/bring: Sturdy hiking boots/shoes, minimum 1L water, layered clothing, snacks, lunch, sun protection, basic first aid kit, completed medical form, hiking poles (optional).
Note: There is no cell-phone service in much of the park, especially at the lower elevations such as at the Visitor Center. For that reason, this is considered a backcountry hike where a medical form is required.
Signup Instructions:

1. Signup for this hike via Sierra Club site ONLY (the Meetup site is for people to coordinate carpool amongst themselves. Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants). Hike is limited to 12 individuals.
2. Please provide emergency contact name and phone number as well as your email and phone contact information when you signup.
3. Complete, print and bring with you the required medical form for this backcountry outing. You will show me that the form has been completed and then you will stow it in your own first aid kit. In the event of a medical emergency, the form will be given to first responders, so include information that they should be aware of when providing you with emergency medical treatment.

Join our email distribution list: If you would like to be on our email list to receive our hike announcement and cancellation notice, please sign up here.

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Sierra Club guide for our hike outings: Neither vaccinations nor masks are required. If you are experiencing any COVID symptoms, are sick, or have recently tested positive for COVID do not hike with us on this day. Every participant is responsible for reporting these conditions to the leader if symptoms develop after the hike. We will then notify the other participants.
Cancellation conditions: Any rain