Shell Ridge Open Space

Willow Spring Pond–Bramhall Pond, 7 sights

5.5 mi · ▲ 940 ft · 2 hr 18 min

Willow Spring Pond–Bramhall Pond, 7 sights is a 5.5-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Walnut Heights, CA. The route passes Willow Spring Pond and Bramhall Pond. It climbs 940 ft, with sections as steep as 16% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 50/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi217 – 574 ft · steepest grade: 16%5.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.88769, -122.01444
Nearest town Walnut Heights, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Willow Spring Pond–Bramhall Pond, 7 sights

5.5 mi · ▲ 940 ft · 2 hr 18 min

Elevation 218–574 ft

Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space

Trailhead: 37.88769, -122.01444

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SE.
  2. 200 ftBear left onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading E.
  3. 0.4 miTurn left onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading NW.
  4. 0.5 miPass Willow Spring Pond.
  5. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  6. 0.7 miTurn left onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading W.
  7. 50 ftPass Bramhall Pond.
  8. 250 ftTurn right onto Indian Creek Trail, heading S.
  9. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading NW.
  10. 250 ftBear right onto Kovar Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.4 miBear left onto Indian Creek Trail, heading W.
  12. 150 ftTurn left onto Summit Ridge Trail, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftSharp right onto Indian Creek Trail, heading NW.
  14. 0.2 miReach Willow Spring Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  15. 0.2 miSharp left onto Summit Ridge Trail, heading SE.
  16. 50 ftTurn right onto Indian Creek Trail, heading SE.
  17. 150 ftBear right onto Kovar Trail, heading SE.
  18. 0.4 miBear left onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading SE.
  19. 250 ftContinue straight onto Indian Creek Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.3 miTurn left onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading SE.
  21. 250 ftTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading S.
  22. 0.6 miTurn right, heading E.
  23. 0.7 miTurn right onto Sugarloaf-Shell Ridge Trail, heading E.
  24. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  25. 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

97% dirt3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:55 AMSunset 7:10 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.4 mi in (~14 min). Leave by 6:35 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:33 PM — 3 min before dark.

More sunset hikes nearby

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