AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Shell Ridge Open Space

Willow Spring Pond–Twin Ponds, 9 sights

10.3 mi · ▲ 1,560 ft · 4 hr 13 min

Willow Spring Pond–Twin Ponds, 9 sights is a 10.3-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Alamo Oaks, CA. The route passes TwinPonds, Twin Ponds, Willow Spring Pond and Bramhall Pond. It climbs 1,560 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi217 – 869 ft10.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Wall Point Road 37.86265, -121.97848
Nearest town Alamo Oaks, CA
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Willow Spring Pond–Twin Ponds, 9 sights

10.3 mi · ▲ 1,560 ft · 4 hr 13 min

Elevation 218–869 ft

Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space

Trailhead: Wall Point Road · 37.86265, -121.97848

Weather Aug 3: Mostly clear, high 100°F / low 67° · precip 0% · wind 6 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Wall Point Road, heading SE.
  2. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.3 miBear left, heading W.
  4. 1.3 miBear left, heading NW.
  5. 0.1 miBear right, heading W.
  6. 100 ftContinue straight onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading NW.
  7. 500 ftBear left, heading NW.
  8. 0.2 miPass TwinPonds.
  9. 50 ftPass Twin Ponds.
  10. 200 ftTurn left onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading NW.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading NW.
  12. 0.2 miSharp left onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading N.
  13. 0.9 miPass Willow Spring Pond.
  14. 0.1 miBear left, heading NW.
  15. 0.7 miPass Bramhall Pond.
  16. 150 ftTurn left onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading W.
  17. 250 ftTurn right onto Indian Creek Trail, heading NW.
  18. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading N.
  19. 250 ftBear right onto Kovar Trail, heading NW.
  20. 0.4 miBear left onto Indian Creek Trail, heading W.
  21. 150 ftReach Willow Spring Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  22. 150 ftBear right onto Kovar Trail, heading W.
  23. 0.4 miBear left onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading SE.
  24. 250 ftContinue straight onto Indian Creek Trail, heading SE.
  25. 0.3 miTurn left onto Fossil Hill Trail, heading SE.
  26. 250 ftTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading SE.
  27. 0.6 miTurn right, heading NE.
  28. 1.1 miSharp right onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading E.
  29. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading S.
  30. 50 ftTurn right onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading SE.
  31. 0.5 miBear right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading SE.
  32. 1.6 miContinue straight onto Wall Point Road, heading E.
  33. 0.3 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/willow-spring-pond-willow-spring-pond-out-back-8-lakes-10-km-5d2c

Trail surface

94% dirt6% unspecified

Weather

Mostly clearTemperature 100°F67°
Feels like84°Precip0%Wind6 mphUV8Humidity23%
Hourly temperature
100°65°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 91°67°
Wed 91°57°
Thu 97°55°
Fri 102°60°
Sat 102°58°
Sun 101°57°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.1 mi in (~33 min). Leave by 7:23 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Parking lot at the trailhead

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Wall Point Road Trailhead

Hikes near Alamo Oaks, California