AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Shell Ridge Open Space

Fossil Hill–Sulphur Creek Pond Loop, 8 lakes

4.8 mi · ▲ 772 ft · 1 hr 59 min

Fossil Hill–Sulphur Creek Pond Loop, 8 lakes is a 4.8-mile loop in Shell Ridge Open Space near Waldon, CA. The route passes Fossil Hill, Bramhall Pond, Willow Spring Pond and 2 more. It climbs 772 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi217 – 840 ft5.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Corral Spring Trail 37.90399, -122.03251
Nearest town Waldon, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Fossil Hill–Sulphur Creek Pond Loop, 8 lakes

4.8 mi · ▲ 772 ft · 1 hr 59 min

Elevation 218–841 ft

Loop · Shell Ridge Open Space

Trailhead: Corral Spring Trail · 37.90399, -122.03251

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 101°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 4 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

  1. Start on Corral Spring Trail, heading W.
  2. 200 ftBear left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SW.
  3. 50 ftTurn left onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading S.
  4. 0.4 miBear right onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading S.
  5. 0.2 miTurn left onto Kovar Trail, heading SW.
  6. 150 ftPass Fossil Hill.
  7. 50 ftBear right onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading SE.
  8. 0.4 miPass Bramhall Pond.
  9. 350 ftTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading NE.
  10. 0.5 miPass Willow Spring Pond.
  11. 0.1 miTurn right, heading SE.
  12. 0.9 miTurn left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading E.
  13. 0.7 miTurn left onto Costanoan Trail, heading W.
  14. 350 ftBear left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading E.
  15. 50 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.3 miPass Sulphur Creek Pond.
  17. 450 ftBear left onto Ginder Gap Loop Trail, heading NW.
  18. 300 ftSharp right onto Ridge Top Trail, heading W.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Corral Spring Trail, heading W.
  20. 0.5 miPass Deer Lake.
  21. 0.4 miThe loop closes 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/fossil-hill-sulphur-creek-pond-out-back-11-lakes-9-km-c640

Trail surface

96% dirt4% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 101°F63°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity36%
Hourly temperature
105°60°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 90°64°
Wed 89°56°
Thu 98°56°
Fri 103°62°
Sat 103°60°
Sun 102°59°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~52 min). Leave by 7:04 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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Other ways to reach this destination

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