Castle Rock Hike

 On a brisk and calm third day in January, John and Lucy (a three-year old sweet Vizsla) came along on one of our normal 2-hour off- leash hikes.  This one was into the Diablo Foothills.  These are some of my favorite trails that are just south of our city of Walnut Creek.

We reached this overlook from the Lavorna Staging Area of the East Bay Regional Park and hiked about three miles in from there to the above lookout.  Much of the Castle Rock area is still wild and scenic. 

With the millions of people living in the Bay Area, these hidden treasures are there for everyone to enjoy.  Few do.  That's ok with Bailey, Chloe and me.  Happy trails in 2016.

Just a Normal Sunday Morning

 The sun came up over the Mount Diablo range hills around 7:30 this morning.   We were out before it came up and the dogs enjoyed the upper 30 degree weather running the open spaces.  We parked at the Borges Ranch parking lot in Walnut Creek and headed out into the hills.

"Borges Ranch is an historic ranch originally owned by Frank Borges. The ranch includes a blacksmith shop, numerous outbuildings, a fishing pond, and farm equipment displays. It also features a barn and covered trellis available for group reservations. The original Borges house was constructed in 1901 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Borges Ranch offers parking and access to hiking on Shell Ridge. It is located off of Castle Rock Road, about 1/2 mile past Northgate High School."

 Bailey looks up one of the many valleys of Shell Ridge that we hiked this morning.

Up this valley this lone tree was catching the first rays of the morning sun.  The pictures do not capture the fire yellow color the tree gave off.

Chloe enjoying the fields before we dropped into the Castle Rock canyon.

 Bailey enjoying the cool air and the moist earth from a storm that blew through earlier in the week.

The trails got smaller as we entered the canyon that is over looked by the Castle Rocks.

 Near the end of the hike, we walked along this ridge that looked out over our city in the distance.

Just a normal Sunday morning twenty minutes away from our front door.

Hill Run with Vizslas

The hills are wonderful right now.  Just spent yesterday driving Interstate 5 down through the Central Valley of California.  As I drove hour after hour, you look around a the land is flat like much of the middle of the United States. 



A smell in the air.  Deer?  Yes, deer seen one minute later

 Made me happy with the choice we made years ago to settle in this area.

A hike for me is a run for Bailey and Chloe in these hills.

  Pictures from this morning's two hour hike / run in Castle Rock Regional Park, Walnut Creek, California.

The freedom to run

The picture entered into the HVF photo contest

One or both ears love to flip over.

"Big running" Vizslas

Today's walk was up in the Castle Rock Open Space.  Here the dogs had much more room to roam.

In these areas it is common for Bailey and Chloe to be many hundreds of yards away.

 

There is something that I really enjoy about watching my dogs run along a far ridge full-tilt. 

 This is the basis of the term "Big Running Dogs."

Some wonderful country to walk around in.

For enjoyment watch the below video with speakers on.  Make it full screen using the button on the bottom right corner.

Rock climbing with Vizslas

Before the rain came and the San Francisco 49er play off game started, Bailey, Chloe and I took a hike and climb into the hills of Castle Rock Regional Park.

Great walking and climbing in the Castle Rock area.

Higher and higher we climbed into the sandstone rock formations.

Bailey needed four paw drive for some of the climb.

From the top of one of the peaks.

Down from the peak.  Dogs loved the rocks.

As we walked back down, Bailey came across a couple covies of quail.  He held and then the birds flushed when I came close.

Directions on how to get to this hidden treasure:

http://redbirddog.blogspot.com/2010/03/hidden-treasure-castle-rock.html

O.K. completely off subject.  Excuse me but I am a Jeep nerd.

The last three pictures came from later today in an Oakland parking lot.

VERY RARE 1960 Jeep FC-150 pick up truck

http://www.jeepfc150.com/

81 inch wheelbase classy all wheel drive MINT CONDITION

1960 FC150 and 2006 Liberty Renegade parked next to each other

Hidden Treasure - Castle Rock

There is no better sign for a Vizsla owner than an "OFF LEASH AREA BEYOND THIS POINT."



http://www.ebparks.org/parks/diablo_foothills

To Reach The Park:
Exit I-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 (This lot closed during winter and wet weather). There is informal parking near the park entrance at the end of Castle Rock Road.