Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Whelk Pond–The Shade Tree, 9 sights
7.4 mi · ▲ 1,566 ft · 3 hr 15 min
Whelk Pond–The Shade Tree, 9 sights is a 7.4-mile out-and-back in Morgan Territory Regional Preserve near Tassajara, CA. The route passes Frog Pond, The Shade Tree, Treebeard and Whelk Pond. It climbs 1,566 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 93/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: genuinely wild.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Whelk Pond–The Shade Tree, 9 sights
7.4 mi · ▲ 1,566 ft · 3 hr 15 min
Elevation 1,363–2,072 ft
Out & Back · Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Trailhead: Volvon Trail · 37.81848, -121.79476
Weather Sep 4: Fog, high 66°F / low 52° · precip 6% · wind 11 mph · sunrise 6:41 AM · sunset 7:34 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start at the trailhead, heading N.
- 200 ftTurn right onto Condor Trail, heading NE.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Coyote Trail, heading NE.
- 50 ftPass Frog Pond.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Condor Trail, heading NE.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Volvon Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftPass The Shade Tree.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Prairie Falcon Trail, heading N.
- 100 ftBear right onto Volvon Trail, heading NW.
- 0.2 miPass Treebeard.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Hummingbird Trail, heading NW.
- 400 ftBear right onto Blue Oak Trail, heading NE.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Miwok Trail, heading E.
- 0.7 miSharp left onto Manzanita Trail, heading SE.
- 1.2 miTurn right onto Valley View Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftPass Whelk Pond.
- 0.8 miReach Whelk Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 300 ftBear right, heading NW.
- 0.7 miTurn left onto Manzanita Trail, heading SW.
- 1.2 miSharp right onto Miwok Trail, heading SE.
- 0.7 miTurn right onto Blue Oak Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Hummingbird Trail, heading W.
- 400 ftTurn left onto Volvon Trail, heading SW.
- 0.3 miBear left onto Prairie Falcon Trail, heading S.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Volvon Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftBear right onto Condor Trail, heading SE.
- 0.3 miContinue straight onto Coyote Trail, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Condor Trail, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left, heading S.
- 150 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 1.2 mi in (~29 min). Leave by 6:44 PM for the 7:34 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
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 Volvon Trail Trailhead
- Cowlick Look–The Shade Tree, 9 sights 2.3 mi · ▲ 171 ft
- Charlie's Tree–Frog Pond, 5 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 1,150 ft
- Frog Pond–Condor Trail, 4 sights 3.9 mi · ▲ 527 ft
- Roger Epperson Ridge Overlook–Charlie's Tree, 6 sights 7.8 mi · ▲ 1,892 ft
- Deciduous Rex–Mount Dad, 7 sights 8.3 mi · ▲ 2,112 ft
- The Shade Tree–Treebeard, 7 sights 8.8 mi · ▲ 1,654 ft
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