Description
A narrow valley and Bollinger Canyon Road bisect Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, creating two sections with dramatically different terrain for hikers. The eastern area, named Las Trampas Ridge, is comprised mostly of chaparral, and features a variety of trails for short, medium, and long loops. To the west, Rocky Ridge boasts grassland and pockets of woods clustered around creeks and ravines. Rocky Ridge abuts East Bay MUD lands, and with a EBMUD permit you can hike all the way from Las Trampas to the Chabot Staging Area on Redwood Road, a more than 10 mile trek. Most hikers will be content with a loop of 4-8 miles, particularly in spring, when the temperatures are still cool, and wildflowers cling to the grassy slopes of Rocky Ridge.
Many bay area outdoor enthusiasts do not equate wilderness with cattle. But at Las Trampas, cows graze the grassland in the nearly 4,000 acre wilderness area. The bovines keep the grass trimmed, but they also add their own special qualities to a Las Trampas hike. You'll find yourself dodging cow plops, and in winter and spring, trails are muddy. Since trudging uphill through slick mud is not fun, plan a Las Trampas hike when conditions are dry.
Trail Stats
