Shell Ridge Open Space

Willow Spring Pond–Twin Ponds, 6 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 630 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Willow Spring Pond–Twin Ponds, 6 sights is a 4.1-mile out-and-back in Shell Ridge Open Space near Alamo Oaks, CA. The route passes TwinPonds, Twin Ponds and Willow Spring Pond. It climbs 630 ft and is mostly dirt. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi335 – 705 ft4.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Borges Ranch Trail 37.88051, -121.99975
Nearest town Alamo Oaks, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Willow Spring Pond–Twin Ponds, 6 sights

4.1 mi · ▲ 630 ft · 1 hr 41 min

Elevation 334–704 ft

Out & Back · Shell Ridge Open Space

Trailhead: Borges Ranch Trail · 37.88051, -121.99975

Weather Aug 3: Clear, high 99°F / low 67° · precip 0% · wind 2 mph · sunrise 6:14 AM · sunset 8:16 PM

  1. Start on Borges Ranch Trail, heading NW.
  2. 500 ftBear left, heading NW.
  3. 0.2 miPass TwinPonds.
  4. 50 ftPass Twin Ponds.
  5. 50 ftTurn left onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading N.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading N.
  7. 0.2 miSharp left onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading NE.
  8. 0.9 miPass Willow Spring Pond.
  9. 0.1 miBear left, heading N.
  10. 0.3 miTurn left onto Indian Creek Trail connector, heading N.
  11. 0.1 miTurn left onto Indian Creek Trail, heading S.
  12. 400 ftReach Willow Spring Pond, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  13. 450 ftTurn right onto Indian Creek Trail connector, heading E.
  14. 0.1 miTurn right onto Briones to Mt. Diablo Regional Trail, heading N.
  15. 0.3 miTurn right, heading SE.
  16. 1.1 miSharp right onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Twin Ponds Loop Trail, heading SW.
  18. 50 ftTurn right onto Borges Ranch Trail, heading S.
  19. 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 surface

96% dirt1% paved3% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 99°F67°
Precip0%Wind2 mphUV8Humidity30%
Hourly temperature
100°65°
Sunrise 6:14 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 8:16 PM
Tue 91°66°
Wed 90°56°
Thu 97°55°
Fri 102°60°
Sat 102°58°
Sun 101°57°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.1 mi in (~2 min). Leave by 7:54 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:33 PM — 12 min before dark. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Other ways to reach this destination

More from Borges Ranch Trail Trailhead