Spring begins in Sunol Regional Wilderness

The East Bay Regional Park District has a lot to offer. 65 parks, 98,000 acres, 1,150 miles of trails. I've enjoyed hiking in many of them over the years. I even shot my first film in one of them. On Friday, the first day of spring, Kim and I discovered a new one, the Sunol Regional Wilderness.

This is the perfect time of year to explore these parks, while the round, grassy hills are still an iridescent green under deep blue skies, slopes busting out with wildflowers, creeks and streams full of water, sun not too hot, a light, cool breeze blowing by late afternoon. We took the Canyon View Trail because the brochure promised a "gentle rise in elevation" and we needed a mild walk rather than a strenuous hike, as the pictures suggest.

The trees, trail, flowers and hill views were lovely enough, but the gem of the park was the rocky canyon on the Alameda Creek called Little Yosemite. We plan to return during the summer and try to sneak a dip, though the water will likely be reduced to a trickle by then. It'll still be worth the trip...
"Little Yosemite"

By the banks of the Alameda Creek.
On the way out, Flag Hill.