AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Shell Ridge Open Space

Haystack Hill–Sulphur Creek Pond, 10 sights

6.1 mi · ▲ 976 ft · 2 hr 31 min

Haystack Hill–Sulphur Creek Pond, 10 sights is a 6.1-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Walnut Creek, CA. The route passes Deer Lake and Sulphur Creek Pond before reaching Haystack Hill at the turnaround, 3.1 miles in. It climbs 976 ft, with sections as steep as 17% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 42/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi217 – 791 ft · steepest grade: 17%6.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Indian Creek Trail 37.90014, -122.04285
Nearest town Walnut Creek, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Haystack Hill–Sulphur Creek Pond, 10 sights

6.1 mi · ▲ 976 ft · 2 hr 31 min

Elevation 218–791 ft

Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space

Trailhead: Indian Creek Trail · 37.90014, -122.04285

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM

  1. Start on Indian Creek Trail, heading SE.
  2. 0.2 miSharp left onto Summit Ridge Trail, heading NE.
  3. 50 ftTurn right onto Indian Creek Trail, heading E.
  4. 150 ftBear right onto Kovar Trail, heading SE.
  5. 0.4 miBear left onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading E.
  6. 0.1 miBear left onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading N.
  7. 0.4 miTurn right onto Ridge Top Trail, heading NW.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto Corral Spring Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.4 miPass Deer Lake.
  10. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftSharp left onto Ginder Gap Loop Trail, heading SE.
  12. 100 ftPass Sulphur Creek Pond.
  13. 150 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading S.
  14. 0.4 miBear left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SE.
  15. 50 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading SE.
  16. 500 ftTurn left onto Flat Top Trail, heading SE.
  17. 0.2 miSharp right, heading N.
  18. 0.1 miReach Haystack Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  19. 0.4 miTurn right onto Costanoan Trail, heading SW.
  20. 500 ftBear left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading S.
  21. 50 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading S.
  22. 0.4 miBear left onto Ginder Gap Loop Trail, heading NW.
  23. 300 ftSharp right onto Ridge Top Trail, heading NW.
  24. 50 ftContinue straight onto Corral Spring Trail, heading NW.
  25. 1 miBear left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading NW.
  26. 50 ftTurn left onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading NW.
  27. 0.4 miBear right onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading SE.
  28. 0.1 miBear right onto Kovar Trail, heading S.
  29. 0.4 miBear left onto Indian Creek Trail, heading W.
  30. 150 ftTurn left onto Summit Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  31. 50 ftSharp right onto Indian Creek Trail, heading NW.
  32. 0.1 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/haystack-hill-sulphur-creek-pond-out-back-3-lakes-10-km-a3ff

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:55 AMSunset 7:10 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.0 mi in (~95 min). Leave by 5:14 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:49 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

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