90. Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Trails

Length:	11.5 miles round trip
Hiking time:	6 hours
High point:	1,250 feet
Total elevation gain:	1,400 feet
Difficulty:	moderate
Season:	year-round
Water:	bring your own
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Richmond
Information:	East Bay Regional Park District

Stroll alongside scenic Wildcat Creek, then climb Wildcat Peak to enjoy spectacular views of the Bay Area.

From I-80 northbound in Richmond, take the Amador/Solano exit, then go east on Amador Street. Drive three blocks, then turn right on McBryde Avenue and go 0.5 mile to the trailhead at Alvarado Park. From I-80 southbound, take the McBryde Avenue exit and go east on McBryde Avenue until it dead-ends at the trailhead.

Wildcat Creek Trail promptly climbs on an old paved road that eventually becoames dirt. Continue straight at a signed trail junction at 0.5 mile. At 0.9 mile sprawling Wildcat Creek canyon appears on the right. Large coast live oak and mature California laurel coat the canyon sides, and alder and willow cover Wildcat Creek.

The first union with Wildcat Creek occurs near a wooden bridge amid eucalyptus trees at 2.1 miles. Continue straight, then begin a brief climb at a signed three-way intersection a few yards farther. Note that you can substantially shorten your trip here by going left onto Havey Canyon Trail for 1.2 miles to Nimitz Way Trail.

The main path remains mostly flat over the next 2 miles past a sequence of gullies choked with willow and blackberry bushes; all empty into Wildcat Creek during winter and spring's wet months.

At 4.1 miles, and a few yards before reaching a duck pond called Jewel Lake, bear left onto the unsigned Wildcat Peak Trail next to two signposts (one is labeled "9"). Your climb commences through a eucalyptus forest and then open chaparral. Be sure to follow sign arrows with drawn pictures of the peak at the numerous intersections.

Reach the peace grove platform atop 1,250-foot Wildcat Peak at 5.6 miles, and admire extensive views: Mount Diablo towers to the east beyond San Pablo Reservoir, and to the west you'll see Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island, the Golden Gate, the San Francisco skyline, and San Francisco Bay. Choose one of the numerous footpaths and head north down to the obvious asphalt intersection of Conlon and Nimitz Way Trails, where you go north on Nimitz Way Trail.

Scattered Monterey pine and coyote brush adorn the open grasslands along this ridgetop path. At 8.2 miles, stay on Nimitz Way Trail as it goes left and becomes a dirt road. When you pass a corral at 8.5 miles, bear left, then right 100 yards farther onto the signed San Pablo Ridge Trail. This secluded dirt road climbs a few knolls, which provide pleasing panoramas of rolling hills and the Bay Area.

Bear left onto Belgum Trail at 10 miles. The path gives great vistas of San Pablo Ridge behind you and San Francisco Bay ahead. Cactus, eucalyptus, and palm trees precede a right turn onto the signed Wildcat Creek Trail at 10.9 miles, which returns you to the trailhead.