Fossil Hill–Bob Pond, 7 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 744 ft · 1 hr 58 min
Fossil Hill–Bob Pond, 7 sights is a 4.8-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Alamo, CA. The route passes Bob Pond, Willow Spring Pond and Bramhall Pond before reaching Fossil Hill at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It climbs 744 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 59/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Fossil Hill–Bob Pond, 7 sights
4.8 mi · ▲ 744 ft · 1 hr 58 min
Elevation 218–663 ft
Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space
Trailhead: Borges Ranch Trail · 37.88963, -122.00293
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Borges Ranch Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftPass Bob Pond.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading NW.
- 0.9 miPass Willow Spring Pond.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Bramhall Pond.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Indian Creek Trail, heading SW.
- 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 SE.
- 0.1 miContinue straight onto Indian Creek Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miTurn left onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading SE.
- 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading SE.
- 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 surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.2 mi in (~7 min). Leave by 6:43 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:29 PM — 7 min before dark.
Good to know
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
- 3 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 4.8 mi · loop · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 5.2 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 10.5 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 15.9 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
More from Borges Ranch Trail Trailhead
- Bob Pond–Twin Ponds, 6 sights 12.6 mi · ▲ 2,307 ft
- Sulphur Creek Pond–Bob Pond, 5 sights 2.5 mi · ▲ 474 ft
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