Fossil Hill–Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint, 9 sights
10.5 mi · ▲ 1,634 ft · 4 hr 19 min
Fossil Hill–Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint, 9 sights is a 10.5-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Rock City, CA. The route passes Pine Pond, Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint, Willow Spring Pond and Bramhall Pond before reaching Fossil Hill at the turnaround, 5.2 miles in. It climbs 1,634 ft, with sections as steep as 25% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 73/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Fossil Hill–Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint, 9 sights
10.5 mi · ▲ 1,634 ft · 4 hr 19 min
Elevation 218–1,013 ft
Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space
Trailhead: Buckeye Trail · 37.87547, -121.96355
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 97°F / low 73° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
- Start on Burma Road, heading NW.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Stage Road, heading W.
- 50 ftPass Pine Pond.
- 1.2 miTurn left onto Buckeye Ravine Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miPass Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading N.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading W.
- 0.9 miPass Willow Spring Pond.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Indian Creek Trail connector, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Indian Creek Trail, heading S.
- 0.4 miPass Bramhall Pond.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading NW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Kovar Trail, heading SW.
- 250 ftReach Fossil Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Indian Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Indian Creek Trail connector, heading SE.
- 0.1 miTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading E.
- 0.3 miTurn right, heading E.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Buckeye Ravine Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Stage Road, heading E.
- 1.2 miSharp left onto Burma Road, heading E.
- 0.7 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
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~3 min). Leave by 7:53 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM — 12 min before dark.
Other ways to reach this destination
- 4.8 mi · loop · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 15.9 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 4.8 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 5.2 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 3 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
More from Buckeye Trail Trailhead
- Pine Pond–Buckeye Trail Loop, 3 sights 3.1 mi · ▲ 608 ft
- Diablo Foothills Regional Park Viewpoint–Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint, 5 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 910 ft
- Sentinel Rock–Pine Pond, 5 sights 9.1 mi · ▲ 1,818 ft
- Sugarloaf Hill–Buckeye Ravine Viewpoint, 9 sights 12.5 mi · ▲ 2,188 ft
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