Costa Peak–Black Oak Trail, 8 sights is an 11.5-mile out-and-back in Briones Regional Park near Orinda, CA. The route reaches Costa Peak at the turnaround, 5.8 miles in. It climbs 2,572 ft, with sections as steep as 31% grade. It scores 71/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
0 mi682 – 1,335 ft · steepest grade: 31%11.8 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Russel Peak Trail 37.91329, -122.15601
Nearest town Orinda, CA
Directions
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Costa Peak–Black Oak Trail, 8 sights
11.5 mi · ▲ 2,572 ft · 5 hr 7 min
Elevation 683–1,337 ft
Out & Back · Briones Regional Park
Trailhead: Russel Peak Trail · 37.91329, -122.15601
Weather Aug 4: sunrise 6:15 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
- Start on Russel Peak Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Mariposa Trail, heading NE.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Russel Peak Trail, heading E.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Briones Crest Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Seaborg Trail, heading NW.
- 1 miTurn left onto Crescent Ridge Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Old Briones Road Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miTurn left, heading W.
- 0.5 miBear left onto Black Oak Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miSharp left onto Mott Peak Trail, heading NE.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Abrigo Valley Trail, heading W.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Santos Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Briones Crest Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Service Road, heading SW.
- 0.2 miReach Costa Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Briones Crest Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Santos Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Abrigo Valley Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Mott Peak Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miSharp right onto Black Oak Trail, heading E.
- 0.6 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Old Briones Road Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Crescent Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Seaborg Trail, heading E.
- 1 miTurn right onto Briones Crest Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Russel Peak Trail, heading S.
- 0.9 miContinue straight onto Mariposa Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Russel Peak Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
59% dirt25% gravel16% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:15 AMSunset 8:16 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~5 min). Leave by 7:51 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:34 PM — 10 min before dark.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Russel Peak Trail Trailhead
- Buckeye Ranch Trail–Lafayette Ridge Trail, 4 sights 3.8 mi · ▲ 1,146 ft
- Crescent Ridge Trail–Mariposa Trail, 4 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 987 ft
- Lafayette Ridge Trail–Mariposa Trail, 4 sights 5 mi · ▲ 1,459 ft
- Sindicich Lagoon 1–Black Oak Trail, 6 sights 9.3 mi · ▲ 2,003 ft
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