Sulphur Creek Pond & Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
3.4 mi · ▲ 848 ft · 1 hr 33 min
Sulphur Creek Pond & Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail is a 3.4-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Walnut Heights, CA. The route reaches Sulphur Creek Pond at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It climbs 848 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 64/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Sulphur Creek Pond & Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
3.4 mi · ▲ 848 ft · 1 hr 33 min
Elevation 358–841 ft
Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space
Trailhead: 37.88769, -122.01444
Weather Aug 3: Mostly clear, high 101°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 9 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
- Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
- 200 ftBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading E.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading NE.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Costanoan Trail, heading NW.
- 350 ftBear left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Sulfur Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 300 ftBear left, heading N.
- 0.3 miReach Sulphur Creek Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftBear right onto Costanoan Trail, heading SE.
- 350 ftTurn right onto Ridge Top Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading W.
- 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
- 50 ftArrive 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 1.1 mi in (~42 min). Leave by 7:14 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:00 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Other ways to reach this destination
More from this trailhead
- Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail & Twin Ponds Loop Trail Loop 2.1 mi · ▲ 363 ft
- Franco Ridge Loop Trail 2.3 mi · ▲ 410 ft
- Foothills Trail via Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail 2.5 mi · ▲ 451 ft
- Bob Pond–Twin Ponds, 6 sights 2.6 mi · ▲ 447 ft
- Twin Ponds–TwinPonds, 5 sights 2.7 mi · ▲ 458 ft
- Franco Ridge Ridge Trail & Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail 2.9 mi · ▲ 474 ft
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