Sunol Regional Wilderness (Maguire Peak) 2015-07-10

Welch Creek Rd

An unsettled, cool, cloudy summer day set the perfect backdrop for our second hike at Sunol Regional Wilderness. We had hiked the Little Yosemite area in June. To hike Maguire Peak, it is best to park off Welch Creek Rd. Take the Calaveras Rd exit from Hwy 680. Welch Creek Rd is a small, narrow road on the left. The left turn is before Geary Rd. If you plan to hike here on a weekend, you must get a parking permit from the kiosk entrance in Geary Rd. 

Upper Maguire Trail

I had intended to park at the 0.72 mile marker and hike the Lower Maguire Peak Trail. That trail was closed off today. I continued ahead just past the 1.6 mile marker and hiked the Upper Maguire Peak Trail instead. A word of caution - Welch Creek Rd is very narrow, a single-lane road for the most part. Drive cautiously. The trail heads are not visibly marked. Pay attention to the mile markers. And off-road parking is very tight. Where I'd parked today, there was room for 3 cars at best. 

Upper Maguire Peak Trail (trail post #5) is a very narrow, single-track trail that winds up the mountains. When I say narrow, I really mean it this time. Little more than half a mile on this trail will get you to trail post #7 and Maguire Peak Rd. Turn right and continue up the wide fire road. From this point, I let Apollo off leash and he was delighted to lead the way to Maguire Peak.

During our earlier hike to Little Yosemite area, we met a few people. During the entire hike today, we met no one. It is not called wilderness for no reason! To have the entire place to yourself can be intimidating initially, but is absolutely liberating at the same time! 

Maguire Peak Loop Trail starts at trail post #8. I decided to do it counter-clockwise. Against the backdrop of dark and threatening clouds, the views of the mountains were gorgeous. As it climbs up, the dirt trail will slowly change character, and you will find sandstone and sedimentary rock formations. At the same time, San Antonio Reservoir will come into view on your right.

View from top of Maguire Peak

Nearly 3 miles into the hike, you will come to a spot with breathtaking views of the reservoir and mountains. There is a bench to rest and enjoy the scenery. But if you are up to it, you can climb the narrow trail right by the bench that takes you to the top of the peak. Apollo and I made the climb and it was well worth the satisfaction of scaling the highest point in this hike. 

From here, the loop trail starts going south. You will come close to the fence line marking the San Francisco Water District Land as the trail descends down to post #11. (If you'd taken the Lower Maguire Peak Trail, you'd have come to this spot.) You will complete the 3+ mile loop in a short while returning to post #8.

We retraced our way back from here on Maguire Peak Rd and Upper Maguire Peak Trail. Sunol Wilderness is open for cattle grazing and on our way back, we found a couple of groups of cows munching on the dry grass.

This hike is not necessarily very difficult. We climbed a little more than 600 feet and have done harder hikes. You must be prepared for solitude if you choose Sunol Regional Wilderness, especially the trails from Welch Creek Rd.

You will find some shade, but not a whole lot in this predominantly exposed hike. We completed the 6.5 mile hike in a respectable time of 2h:11m. We will certainly be back to this park a couple of more times to explore what more it has to offer.

More pictures from the hike today.
#Hiking #HikingWithDogs #SunolRegionalWilderness #MaguirePeak #EBRPD