Resting on my laurels and having not explored a novel off-leash hike for a while, I decided to head to the East Bay in search of an alternative to the off-limits Mount Diablo State Park, which unfortunately allows no dogs on any trail. While the ridge peaks of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness are not nearly as tall as Diablo, they offer a similar landscape and stunning 360° views of the entire Bay Area.
Las Trampas, Spanish for “The Traps”, refers to the snares that were once set to catch Elk. You won’t see elk nowadays but deer are common, as are mountain lions and coyotes, both thankfully (mostly) nocturnal creatures. Las Trampas is apparently not as popular as other similar local preserves, as I did not run into a single person on my entire five-mile hike. But judging from the huge number of horse hoof prints, weekend riders from nearby equestrian stables take full advantage of these trails.
Otis and I hiked this wilderness on a weekday morning in mid-November, before any substantial rain had fallen. I note this because the trails obviously turn into deep, sticky, muddy tracks after winter rains, so your best bet for this hike is late fall or spring. Summer months bring unbearably hot weather to this microclimate, unsuitable for humans and most definitely for dogs.
Trail maps are available at the Bollinger Valley Staging Area. To retrace our beautiful and moderately challenging two-hour, five-mile hike, take the Elderberry Trail from the staging area parking lot, passing through several cattle gates near the start. (Cows and the resultant plethora of cow pies are everywhere in this park, so make sure your dog does not in any way harass these local inhabitants.)
After a two-mile ascent through steep open fields and shaded creek crossings, take a right onto the Rocky Ridge View trail (here’s where you’ll get your best views), which ultimately curves around back to the parking lot. If you and your dog are holding up after the often-steep ascent, take a detour loop along the Devils Hole and Sycamore Trails to explore the Wind Caves rock formations. Otis and I did not take this route today, but the formations look inviting, and we are sure to check them out next time.