AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Mount Diablo State Park

Haystack Hill–Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint, 8 sights

14.6 mi · ▲ 3,297 ft · 6 hr 31 min

Haystack Hill–Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint, 8 sights is a 14.6-mile out-and-back in Mount Diablo State Park near Cowell, CA. The route passes Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint and Bob Pond before reaching Haystack Hill at the turnaround, 7.3 miles in. It climbs 3,297 ft, with sections as steep as 27% grade. It scores 79/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.

Elevation

0 mi381 – 1,283 ft · steepest grade: 27%14.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Red Road 37.89837, -121.98835
Nearest town Cowell, CA
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Directions

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Haystack Hill–Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint, 8 sights

14.6 mi · ▲ 3,297 ft · 6 hr 31 min

Elevation 380–1,282 ft

Out & Back · Mount Diablo State Park

Trailhead: Red Road · 37.89837, -121.98835

Weather Aug 3: Mostly clear, high 101°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

  1. Start on Red Road, heading SE.
  2. 0.3 miTurn right, heading S.
  3. 3 miTurn left onto Little Pine Creek Road, heading SE.
  4. 300 ftSharp right onto Falcon Road, heading NW.
  5. 0.7 miTurn right onto Sunset Trail, heading S.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right onto Stage Road, heading NW.
  7. 0.9 miTurn left onto Buckeye Ravine Trail, heading NW.
  8. 0.3 miPass Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint.
  9. 250 ftTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading N.
  10. 0.6 miTurn right onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.1 miPass Bob Pond.
  12. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hanna Grove Trail, heading N.
  13. 450 ftBear left onto Costanoan Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.3 miSharp right onto Flat Top Trail, heading NW.
  15. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  16. 0.1 miReach Haystack Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  17. 0.4 miSharp left onto Costanoan Trail, heading S.
  18. 0.2 miBear right onto Hanna Grove Trail, heading E.
  19. 450 ftContinue straight onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.3 miTurn left onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading S.
  21. 0.6 miTurn left onto Buckeye Ravine Trail, heading SE.
  22. 0.4 miTurn right onto Stage Road, heading E.
  23. 0.9 miTurn left onto Sunset Trail, heading SE.
  24. 0.4 miTurn left onto Falcon Road, heading N.
  25. 0.7 miSharp left onto Little Pine Creek Road, heading NE.
  26. 300 ftTurn right, heading E.
  27. 3 miTurn left onto Red Road, heading NW.
  28. 0.2 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/buckeye-ravine-viewpoint-sulphur-creek-pond-out-back-4-lakes-25-km-2141

Trail surface

40% dirt60% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 101°F62°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity32%
Hourly temperature
105°60°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 91°63°
Wed 90°55°
Thu 98°56°
Fri 103°62°
Sat 103°60°
Sun 102°59°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.8 mi in (~27 min). Leave by 7:29 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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