After two months of isolation, where my mum and I only hiked in the nearby nature preserve, we decided to celebrate the beginning of the relaxation of these regulations by venturing just a bit farther out to Sunol Regional Wildness. This regional park in Alameda County, located in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area, is home to rolling hills, abundant wildlife, and a beautiful oasis dubbed "Little Yosemite." Parking was plentiful and available across multiple parking lots at the park's main entrance, which can be accessed via Geary Road. While parking normally costs $5, we were happy to find that this fee had been waived for Memorial Day Weekend.
While I regret not taking photos of this particular encounter, about 5 minutes out of the parking lot we encountered a whole flock of baby turkeys with their mother. They were quite small but apparently big enough to fly, and the entire family was flying and jumping about from branch to branch in a big oak tree. It was quite a charming spring scene. From the parking lot, we decided to hike the most direct route to Little Yosemite, as it was already close to lunch time and we planned to have our picnic there. This walk only takes about 20-30 minutes and the rolling slopes are minimal.
You'll know you've reached Little Yosemite when you see the warning sign about not drinking alcohol, etc besides a path that goes down to the river. It is a little bit of a scramble to get down, but manageable even for young children as long as you provide the proper assistance to ensure everyone gets down safely. The area is expansive - not just composed of one swimming hole but lots of amazing pockets of crystal clear water amongst giant granite boulders. You can take a left to some of the main areas, or a right as we chose to do to travel a little further downstream. A short distance away, we each jumped about 8 feet off a boulder to access to the perfect picnic spot.
We laid our picnic blankets out on the big granite slab pictured above. The area we found had a practically private pool, a magical oasis, which my sister and I swam in. I was hot from the trail (there isn't a lot of shaded areas along the Sunol trails - they are best for spring rather than summer), so I took a dip before re-joining the fam to eat my sandwich.
After lunch, I read tarot cards for everyone with my new deck. For anyone curious, this is the Ethereal Visions: Illuminated Tarot Deck by Matt Hughes. The deck's illustrations are inspired by the Art Nouveau, Pre-Raphaelite and Symbolist Movements.
One of the remarkable things I found about the river was just how clear the water is. Fish, both small and larger than I expected to find, danced in the river. Pond skaters flitted and jumped across the glassy surface. And perhaps the most beautiful sight were the orange dragonflies and blue damselflies that darted in and out of Little Yosemite's crystal pools. From birds to butterflies to other creatures large and small, Sunol Regional Wilderness is an incredible place to take in earth's natural beauty.
Beyond the beauty of Little Yosemite, Sunol offers miles upon miles of hiking trails to enjoy. For a challenge, take the Canyon View Trail, where you will climb up steep hills, dodge roaming cattle, and even clamber up boulders. For a full overview of Sunol's trails, see the park's map here.
From rolling, golden hills, to turquoise water & sparkling granite, this park is the epitome of California's natural beauty.
As always, if you have any questions about visiting Sunol Regional Wilderness, please feel free to leave a comment below.
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