Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area, Walnut Creek, 8 Miles Moderate Hike
Details
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.
Level: Moderate
Total Distance: 8 mile loop
Hiking Time: 4.5 hours
Elevation Change: 1,243 feet
Parking Fee: Free
Official Trail Use: No Dogs
Facilities: Restrooms located off the parking lot.
PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GO BEFORE YOU ARRIVE SO WE CAN START ON TIME.
Recommended Map:
https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/diablo_foothills_map.pdf
• 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.
GPS Coordinates
37.895733, -121.996468
Nearest street address
1033 Castle Rock Road Walnut Creek, CA 94548 United States
If you have the Waze app installed on your phone, click this URL:
http://waze.to/?ll=37.895560, -121.99645
&navigate=yes
Just click 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: Plan to arrive 15 minutes early to find parking, and walk to the trail head.
Carpooling: We will use this link for carpooling:
https://groupcarpool.com/t/vm652z
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 using the 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.
FINDING US IN THE PARK:
Exit l-680 on Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek and drive east. After about three miles turn right on Walnut Avenue. After about two miles turn right on Oak Grove Road, then bear right onto Castle Rock Road and follow it to the Orchard Staging Area on the right. There is informal parking near the park entrance at the end of Castle Rock Road.
Once past the entry kiosk, drive on the park road to the parking lot nearest the gated entrance to Hotel Trail (go straight past the first parking area on the left, then turn left where the road splits -- there are some nice shady spots near the restrooms). Park in the parking lot next to the restrooms. Look to the end of the parking lot to find us.
HIKING DIRECTIONS:
=> Get into the Castle Rock Trail - 700 ft
=> Turn right onto the Diablo Scenic Trail then go -0.37 mile
=> Turn left onto the Shell Ridge Trail, keep right to the trail and then go - 0.9 mile.
=> Turn right at the Fairy Lantern Trail junction then go -0.4 mile.
=> Turn left onto Briones to Mt Diablo Regional Trail for 2.2 miles.
=> Turn left onto Wall Point Road for 0.5 mile.
=> Turn left onto Dusty Road for 0.5 mile.
=> Turn left onto Stage Road Trail for 2.2 miles.
=> Turn left onto the Castle Rock Trail for 0.8 mile to return to the starting point.
PLEASE READ THE EVENT DESCRIPTION ABOVE BEFORE POSTING A MESSAGE.