Trail Map of Ohlone Wilderness Trail

Difficult: 29.1 miles, Multiple days

Overview: Ohlone Wilderness Trail is one wicked walk: 28 miles in two days with over 7,600 feet of elevation gain. But it's worth the strain as you soak up amazing vistas, scout for wildlife and marvel at being in such a remote locale so close to a huge metropolis. (Large raptors like eagles and hawks can often be spotted swooping down on their doomed prey).

Parks form the trailheads at both ends of the trail: Mission Peak Regional Preserve in Fremont on the west and Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore on the east. The trail passes Rose Peak, the highest accessible point in Alameda County, and traverses Sunol Regional Wilderness, one of the East BAy's premiere hiking destinations. Trails can get crowded on weekends at Mission Peak and Sunol, but the rest of time you'll have the trails largely to yourself (and a few grazing cattle.)

Late winter and early spring are the best times to go because the temperatures are cool, the hills are green and the wildflowers are in bloom.

Tips: This hike is not for rookies, though conditioned day hikers looking to try backpacking should be able to do it over three days.

Mind your water supply: Water troughs are at strategic locations from Del Valle to Sunol, but there is no water between Sunol and the Stanford Avenue terminus of the trail. It's wise to filter or purify the water.
Weather in winter and spring can take brutally cold turns: many backpackers have been snowed upon in March and April.

Parking on the Fremont end of the trail is fraught with risk of having your car broken into. It's better to call somebody to pick you up.

What to bring:
Overnight camping gear -- backpack, shelter, sleeping bag, cooking kit. The less you carry, the less you'll suffer, so take only what you know you'll need.
Water filter or purification tablets.
Sun screen -- there's very little shade on this trail.

Fees, reservations
Hikers must buy a permit, which is printed on an excellent map of the entire trail. It's $2 at the Del Valle entrance or $2.50 online or by mail.

Reserve your campsite as early as possible: sites fill up weeks in advance in the springtime. Call 888-327-2757 and dial option 2. Backpacking fee is $5 per night per person (fees may have gone up since this was written).