Haystack Hill–Bob Pond, 8 sights
13.6 mi · ▲ 2,481 ft · 5 hr 46 min
Haystack Hill–Bob Pond, 8 sights is a 13.6-mile out-and-back in Mount Diablo State Park near Rock City, CA. The route passes TwinPonds, Twin Ponds and Bob Pond before reaching Haystack Hill at the turnaround, 6.8 miles in. It climbs 2,481 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 76/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Haystack Hill–Bob Pond, 8 sights
13.6 mi · ▲ 2,481 ft · 5 hr 46 min
Elevation 493–1,752 ft
Out & Back · Mount Diablo State Park
Trailhead: Trail Through Time · 37.85019, -121.93391
Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 97°F / low 63° · precip 0% · wind 8 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Trail Through Time, heading NW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Wall Point Road, heading NW.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Secret Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Wall Point Road, heading NW.
- 2.2 miContinue straight onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miBear left, heading N.
- 1.3 miBear left, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear right, heading NW.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading NW.
- 450 ftBear left, heading NW.
- 0.2 miPass TwinPonds.
- 50 ftPass Twin Ponds.
- 350 ftTurn left onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading NW.
- 0.3 miPass Bob Pond.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Hanna Grove Trail, heading N.
- 450 ftBear left onto Costanoan Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miSharp right onto Flat Top Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miSharp right, heading SW.
- 0.1 miReach Haystack Hill, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.4 miSharp left onto Costanoan Trail, heading N.
- 0.3 miBear right onto Hanna Grove Trail, heading SW.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading SE.
- 0.5 miContinue straight onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading S.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading SE.
- 1.6 miContinue straight onto Wall Point Road, heading E.
- 2.2 miTurn left onto Secret Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Wall Point Road, heading E.
- 1.1 miBear right onto Trail Through Time, heading NE.
- 500 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 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 7:55 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:32 PM — 13 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Trail Through Time Trailhead
- Curry Point & Trail Through Time via Wall Point Road 1.5 mi · ▲ 344 ft
- Holey Rock–Curry Point, 5 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 1,419 ft
- Curry Point–Black Hawk Ridge Road, 4 sights 5.5 mi · ▲ 1,124 ft
- Emmons Canyon Trail & Trail Through Time via Wall Point Road 6 mi · ▲ 1,225 ft
- Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail–China Wall Road, 3 sights 8.9 mi · ▲ 1,493 ft
- Pine Pond–Dusty Road, 4 sights 9 mi · ▲ 1,703 ft
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