What we’re about
Welcome to the most popular hiking group in the Bay Area. We like meeting new people and respect the environment at all times. Bay Area Hiking and beyond.
Interested in spending more time on the weekends in nature? Want to explore more of the Bay Area? Are you an afternoon person? Like to walk at a moderate pace? This may be the group for you! This Meetup is great for beginner or intermediate hikers. We will host a hike most Saturdays and Sundays. The hikes will average about five miles -- some shorter; some longer. Most hikes will be in the Bay Area within 90 minutes of Palo Alto in Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Monterey and Marin counties, although some will be farther away, e.g., Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: The organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts in this group are not professional guides. The function of the organizer is only to organize the trip. each person who signs up for a trip/meetup/ or outing is responsible for his or her own safety and the safety of his or her guests. By signing up for a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you are aware and have made your guests aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with any outdoor activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers and event hosts of this Meetup group from and against any and all liability arising from your and your guest's participation in the group activities. Our hike organizers are not responsible for your safety, these are always “Hike at your Own Risk” events.
By accepting membership in this group you acknowledge you have fully read, understand, and agree to the above.
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Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Briones RP 7.5 Mile Moderate HikeBear Creek Staging Area, Lafayette, CA
SIGN WAIVER HERE: https://www.sleeplateandhike.com/waiver-signing-form/
For us to hold our large events at local parks, the local parks require us to carry insurance for our events. To participate in our events, please sign this waiver (required by our insurance underwriter) for each event. Please do so online prior to arriving (works on mobile)Level: Moderate
Total Distance: 7.5 miles round-trip (loop)
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Elevation Change: 1300 feet
Facilities: bathrooms at trailhead/parking lot
Sleep Late and Hike Dog Policy: No Dogs Learn More
Expect some mudBreaks: we will take a snack break about halfway through and short breaks as needed to keep the group hiking together. We wait at all intersections.
Please read our tutorial for hiking in the sun:
https://www.sleeplateandhike.com/tutorials/how-to-hike-in-the-sun/Recommended Map:
https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/briones_map.pdfGPS Coordinates for meeting place:
https://goo.gl/maps/RQyxrs1nbuQ7G8sA9Degrees Decimal Format for Google Maps:
37.9263697, -122.1605936Nearest street address: 1611 Bear Creek Rd, Lafayette, CA 94549
Getting there:
Please use the Google maps link at the top to plan your own route from your home. And, download the PDF map below onto your phone before you start, or print it out.
NOTE: If possible, use the GPS coordinates when driving as the nearest street address may be a couple of miles away on some of our trips in some GPS maps.
Meeting place
Bear Creek Staging Area, Briones Regional ParkParking: 111 spots. $3 per vehicle (when kiosk is attended)
Carpooling
We will use this link for carpooling:
https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/ai6d0oHiking Map:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/map-1160453--75Hiking Directions:
Start your hike on Old Briones Road, a gated dirt road that leads from the parking area at Bear Creek Staging Area.Head west toward the main entrance where you came in and into the first parking lot on the right. Find the Abrigo trail head on the right.
After 0.8 miles you will arrive at the falls. Look and listen carefully and you may spot Abrigo Falls dropping 15 feet over a rock face into a narrow, cavelike canyon. The waterfall is nearly hidden, and if the stream isn’t flowing strong, it can be difficult to spot. It’s located at the point where the trail makes a short, steep climb. When the trail makes a hairpin turn to the right and moves toward the creek, you are almost there.
After 0.14 miles, at the junction with Mott Peak Trail take a right to enter Mott Peak Trail for 0.49 miles for a junction with Black Oak Trail. Stay to the left, heading towards Mott Peak keeping Mott Peak (1424 ft) to your right for 0.36 miles for a junction with Briones Crest Trail.
Turn right, onto Briones Crest Trail for 0.31 mi to meet up with Lagoon Trail, passing by the Sindicich Lagoons on either of the trail.
Stay to the right on Briones Crest Trail for another 0.25 miles to arrive at a junction with Old Briones Road Trail, turning right for 0.10 miles to get back onto the Briones Crest Trail on the other side of the road by turning left.
Take Briones Crest Trail for 0.78 miles to pass by Briones Peak (1483 ft) on your left to arrive at a junction with Table Top trail. The right branch is Briones Crest Trail and 0.04 miles on the left is a junction that after 0.37 miles will take you to Spengler Trail. Go straight avoiding both turns to get onto Table Top Trail for 0.70 miles for a junction with the end of Spengler Trail.
Staying to the right on Table Top Trail arrive once again at Briones Crest Trail. Stay to the left for 0.29 miles to arrive at Sunrise Trail on the left. Stay to the right for 0.11 miles for a junction with Crescent Ridge Trail. Stay to the left on Briones Crest Trail for 0.52 miles to arrive at Seaborg Trail.
Take SeaBorg Trail for 1.03 miles to arrive at the hikers-only Bear Creek Trail, taking a left for 1.06 miles to arrive at your starting point.
PLEASE READ THE EVENT DESCRIPTION ABOVE BEFORE POSTING A MESSAGE.
- Almaden Quicksilver to Mount Umunhum 16.8 Mi Difficult HikeAlmaden Quicksilver County Park - Woods/Hicks entrance, San Jose, CA
SIGN WAIVER HERE: https://www.sleeplateandhike.com/waiver-signing-form/
For us to hold our large events at local parks, the local parks require us to carry insurance for our events. To participate in our events, please sign this waiver (required by our insurance underwriter) for each event. Please do so online prior to arriving (works on mobile)
CARPOOL REQUEST COMMENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED DUE TO THE LARGE SIZE OF THE GROUP. Please read below how to carpool.
Distance: 16.8 miles, out and back.
Hiking Time: 8 hours
Elevation Gain/ Loss: ± 2,825 feet
Difficulty: Difficult
Requirement: While moving, hikers must be able to hike at a minimum speed of 2.5 mph (24 minutes per mile).
Lunch and breaks: We will take a 15 minute lunch break. There will be occasional short breaks as needed.
Sleep Late and Hike Dog Policy: No Dogs Learn More
Please read our tutorial for hiking in the sun:
https://www.sleeplateandhike.com/tutorials/how-to-hike-in-the-sun/
Facilities:
Restroom across Hicks Road at the Sierra Azul parking lot.DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Google Maps Link:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hZeztjE8dg5qVUYn9?g_st=ipcPlease use the Google Maps link above to familiarize yourself with the trip and explore various route options from your home. Zoom in all the way.
NOTE: The GPS locations below and the map link above are accurate enough to find us by looking around with your eyes when you get there. Don't be shy, say "Hello" and introduce yourself when your get there.
(Most Cars) GPS Degrees Minutes Seconds Format:
37°10'31.1"N 121°51'44.2"W(Google Maps) GPS Degrees Decimal Format:
37.1753056,-121.8622778Recommended Maps:
Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve Map:
https://www.openspace.org/sites/default/files/maps/map_SA.pdfAllTrails Map:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/almaden-quicksilver-to-mount-umunhum-42e77b6?p=-1&sh=pyl4xm&utm_medium=map_share&utm_source=alltrails_viralityCARPOOLING:
We will use this link for carpooling:https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/4m2vgr
Please sign up here.
CARPOOLING MANNERS:
Please refrain from trying to negotiate your carpool in the comments, as it is equivalent to sending multiple "Reply All" emails to everyone.
Please start your carpool quest, by first adding yourself to the carpool link above.
Then, use the contact info provided by the driver or rider in the link above to contact them directly and privately.
Please be considerate of others and resist the urge to "Reply All".
Thank you for understanding.HIKING DIRECTIONS:
Start at the Hicks/Woods Road Parking Lot ->
Take the short trail north of the parking lot and cross Hicks Road onto Mt Umunhum Road to the Jacque Ridge parking lot on the right (0.2 mi) ->
Straight onto Woods Trail (2.7 mi) ->
Left onto Barlow Road (1.9 mi) ->
Right onto Mount Umunhum Trail (2.9 mi) ->
Right onto unnamed trail until reaching the old radar tower and Mount Umunhum summit (0.5 mi) ->
LUNCH BREAK (15 minutes) ->
Circle counterclockwise around outer trail around the summit, turn right and go downstairs to the Mount Umunhum parking lot (0.3 mi) ->
Turn left and cross Mt Umunhum Road onto Mt Umunhum Trail (0.1 mi) ->
Turn right to stay on Mt Umunhum Trail and return to the starting point using the same trails in the reverse direction (8.0 mi).PLEASE READ THE EVENT DESCRIPTION ABOVE BEFORE POSTING A MESSAGE.
- Pleasanton Ridge 6.4 Mile Moderate HikePleasanton Ridge Regional Park, Sunol, CA
SIGN WAIVER HERE: https://www.sleeplateandhike.com/waiver-signing-form/
For us to hold our large events at local parks, the local parks require us to carry insurance for our events. To participate in our events, please sign this waiver (required by our insurance underwriter) for each event. Please do so online prior to arriving (works on mobile)
CARPOOL REQUEST COMMENTS ARE NOT PERMITTED DUE TO THE LARGE SIZE OF THE GROUP. Please read below how to carpool.Distance: 6.4 miles, Loop.
Hiking Time: 3.5 hours
Elevation Gain: 1600 feet
Difficulty: Moderate
Official Trail Use: Dogs allowed
Facilities: Restrooms and water at trailhead.
PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GO BEFORE YOU ARRIVE SO WE CAN START ON TIME. THE GROUP IS TOO LARGE TO WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO USE THE RESTROOM IN THE PARK.
Please read our tutorial for hiking in the sun:
https://www.sleeplateandhike.com/tutorials/how-to-hike-in-the-sun/RECOMMENDED MAP:
https://www.ebparks.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24388
MEETING PLACE: Parking lot at trailhead.
• Please use the Google Maps link above to familiarize yourself with the trip and explore various route options from your home. Zoom in all the way.
• The GPS locations below and the map link above are accurate enough to find us by looking around with your eyes when you get there.
(Most Cars) GPS Degrees Minutes Seconds Format:
37°36'53.1"N 121°52'54.0"W
(Google Maps) GPS Degrees Decimal Format:
37.614761, -121.881671
The Waze App will route around "restricted access" roads, unlike the Google Maps app, using the same map data as Google Maps. Therefore, Waze also owned by Google, is recommended over the Google Maps app.
If you have the Waze app installed on your phone, copy and paste this URL into your phone's browser:
http://waze.to/?ll=37.614761,-121.881671&navigate=yes
Just click on it. It will open Waze and start navigating to the trail head.
• As always, it is good practice to confirm the night before that any app you use takes you to where you expect by comparing the destination with what is posted above on your PC/Mac
• Most street addresses provided are approximate, and may be up to a couple of miles from the hike location. Use GPS coordinates when driving, if possible.
Parking:
Parking at trailhead.
Plan to arrive 30 minutes early to find parking, and walk to the trailhead.
Carpooling: We will use this link for carpooling:
https://www.groupcarpool.com/t/3m5f9t
Please sign up here.
CARPOOLING MANNERS:
Please refrain from trying to negotiate your carpool in the comments, as it is equivalent to sending multiple "Reply All" emails to everyone.
Please start your carpool quest, by first adding yourself to the carpool link above.
Then, use the contact info provided by the driver or rider in the link above to contact them directly and privately.
Please be considerate of others and resist the urge to "Reply All".
Thank you for understanding.
SUMMARY:
This beautiful 5,271-acre parkland is on the oak-covered ridge overlooking Pleasanton and the Livermore Valley from the west. It is planned as the core of a Ridgelands Regional Park to be acquired over a period of many years. Parkland development has been intentionally limited to preserve the pastoral atmosphere. The park occupies Pleasanton Ridge and beyond. To the northwest it spills down off Pleasanton Ridge into upper Kilkare Canyon, where it continues up onto Sunol Ridge.
HIKING DIRECTIONS:
We will use these mile markers:
1 2 5 8 9 13 15 17 20 19 18 16 10 5 2 1
Starting at the parking lot (1), continue onto Woodland Trail (2, 5) for 1.02 miles. Continue straight onto Oak Tree Trail (8) for 0.39 miles. Turn right onto Thermalito Trail for 2.41 miles (9, 13, 15, 17, 20). Turn right onto Ridgeline Trail for 0.33 miles. Turn right onto a short spur to the top of the ridge (19). We will take a break here. Go back down the spur, turning right onto Ridgeline Trail again (18, 16, 14) for 1.2 miles. At mile marker 14, continue left on Ridgeline Trail for 0.43 miles. At mile marker 10 continue straight for 0.26 miles. At mile marker 5 continue right for 1.02 miles onto Woodland Trail again, back to the parking lot (2, 1).
PLEASE READ THE EVENT DESCRIPTION ABOVE BEFORE POSTING A MESSAGE.
