Hikepost 002 - I'm (looking at lots of) Poppy(s)
Due to my tolerance for long transit journeys, (I regularly spend time on Point Reyes and that involves 3 counties, 3 different transit agencies, and 3 1/2 hours each way) I've managed to open up a large area of the SF Bay Area trail system to myself. Actually, transit hiking is kind of how I became a distance hiker - I learned that if you're willing to walk a couple extra miles each way through residential neighborhoods, county trails, etc, there are even more trails you can access.
These couple of little parks at the southern end of Mt Diablo SP have always been frustratingly just out of reach. The geography has always looked interesting - lots of very small very steep little hills - and it's right there!
So a couple of weeks ago, when I was browsing AllTrails, I noticed what appeared to be a superbloom of poppies at Shell Ridge. The photos were taken 1-2 days ago, so I decided it was finally time to make the trip. I plotted out a route from the nearest bus stop, which spent almost as much time getting to Shell Ridge as it did walking around in it.
From top left: 1. Stroadside bus stop location 2. Time to walk on a loud partially sidewalkless highway 3. Weird communications tower thing after climbing up through a residential neighborhood 4. Cattle gate thing at the top leading to Sugarloaf Open Space 5. Beautiful oak tree on a green hill at Sugarloaf Open Space 6. Combination municipal soccer field/high transmission power line zone 7. Residential neighborhood (with sidewalks this time) 7. Flyer for RATTLED - a rattlesnake avoidance training session for dogs 8. A lovely little urban path with a bridge through some trees
After almost a full hour of... that I finally made it to Shell Ridge. (Yes, this is a park you could easily drive to, if you're a cheater or someone who values their time). I pretty much immediately ran into a hillside covered in beautiful (and devastatingly invasive) black mustard.
Then for the next few miles I had endless beautiful, lush, green oak savanna all to myself. Despite being surrounded by development on all sides, the hills do a nice job of hiding all that and making the landscape feel endless.
ALT: oak trees on lush green hills, in beautiful light
I was almost to the Poppy Location, and passed a nice little pond. Suddenly - a weird sound I wasn't expecting. "SHH-SH-SH" I went through a mental rolodex of animals that make sounds and finally Realized. Turned around and sure enough, there was a small rattlesnake sitting in a figure 8 looking ready to strike. Real photo of this encounter:
Sorry to disturb your nap in the shade, little guy!
Finally, I made it to the poppies.
ALT: Lots and lots of orange California poppies on a hillside, glowing in the sun. There are areas that are taped off to aid in the restoration effort.
They were beautiful - a sea of glowing orange petals covering an entire hillside. It was also very much one of those types of things that are common in the Bay Area and other populous areas where it feels like someone standing is there with a megaphone going "EVERYONE WHO'S HERE TO HAVE A ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE LINE UP TO THE RIGHT". A bit like seeing a Siberian tiger but at one of those roadside attraction wildlife parks.
ALT: A sign showing where you can and cannot walk, and a sea of poppies with green tape in front of them
That being said, I don't want to sound ungrateful in the slightest! If it weren't for all the rules and taped off areas, this place would definitely be trampled to bits in 2 days from people taking photos. My hike in was many miles, but the poppies area is right off of a parking lot. It is actually part of an ongoing native plant restoration project! The volunteers over the years have done incredible work, and I can see myself joining in on one of their workdays.
If you are local and want to see the poppies for yourself next year, head here around mid-April or so. But please be respectful of the hard work that goes into keeping this place beautiful!