AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Shell Ridge Open Space

Sulphur Creek Pond–Deer Lake Loop, 6 lakes

4.7 mi · ▲ 650 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Sulphur Creek Pond–Deer Lake Loop, 6 lakes is a 4.7-mile loop in Shell Ridge Open Space near Walnut Heights, CA. The route passes Willow Spring Pond, Bramhall Pond, Deer Lake and Sulphur Creek Pond. It climbs 650 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 52/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi305 – 840 ft4.9 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.88932, -122.01902
Nearest town Walnut Heights, CA
Google Maps Apple Maps

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Sulphur Creek Pond–Deer Lake Loop, 6 lakes

4.7 mi · ▲ 650 ft · 1 hr 54 min

Elevation 304–841 ft

Loop · Shell Ridge Open Space

Trailhead: 37.88932, -122.01902

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

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading NW.
  3. 50 ftPass Willow Spring Pond.
  4. 0.8 miPass Bramhall Pond.
  5. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  6. 0.4 miTurn right onto Ridge Top Trail, heading N.
  7. 100 ftContinue straight onto Corral Spring Trail, heading NE.
  8. 0.4 miPass Deer Lake.
  9. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SE.
  10. 50 ftSharp left onto Ginder Gap Loop Trail, heading SE.
  11. 50 ftPass Sulphur Creek Pond.
  12. 250 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading S.
  13. 0.4 miBear left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SE.
  14. 50 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading SE.
  15. 350 ftTurn right onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SE.
  16. 0.7 miTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.7 miSharp left, heading W.
  18. 0.1 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/sulphur-creek-pond-bob-pond-out-back-8-lakes-8-km-d9eb

Trail surface

94% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 101°F63°
Precip0%Wind4 mphUV8Humidity31%
Hourly temperature
105°60°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 91°63°
Wed 90°55°
Thu 98°56°
Fri 103°62°
Sat 103°60°
Sun 102°59°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.5 mi in (~49 min). Leave by 7:07 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Walnut Heights, California