Willow Spring Pond & Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
3.4 mi · ▲ 719 ft · 1 hr 30 min
Willow Spring 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 Alamo, CA. The route reaches Willow Spring Pond at the turnaround, 1.7 miles in. It climbs 719 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 67/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Willow Spring Pond & Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
3.4 mi · ▲ 719 ft · 1 hr 30 min
Elevation 341–625 ft
Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space
Trailhead: Foothills Trail · 37.87935, -122.00827
Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM
Bikes allowed on the whole route · Horses allowed on the whole route
- Start at the trailhead, heading W.
- 0.2 miBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading N.
- 1 miTurn left onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading NW.
- 0.5 miReach Willow Spring Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1 miBear right, heading S.
- 0.2 miArrive 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 6:49 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:26 PM — 10 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint
Good to know
- Bikes allowed on the whole route
- Horses allowed on the whole route
Other ways to reach this destination
- 3.4 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 4.1 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 5.5 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 10.3 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
- 15.5 mi · out & back · via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail
More from Foothills Trail Trailhead
- Borges Ranch Trail & China Wall Road via Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail 4 mi · ▲ 480 ft
- Sugarloaf Hill Benchmark–Franco Ridge Loop Trail, 4 sights 6 mi · ▲ 955 ft
- Franco Ridge Ridge Trail via Franco Ridge Loop Trail 2.1 mi · ▲ 491 ft
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