Wildflowers and waterfalls are the star spring attractions in Little Yosemite, a scenic gorge on Alameda Creek in Sunol Regional Wilderness. On a 3-mile round trip along the Canyon View Trail, you’ll traverse open meadows studded with wildflowers, walk through woods and encounter dramatic serpentine and basalt outcrops along the crashing creek.
Sunol’s wildflower season starts in March and peaks in April, and by early May you can expect to see mule ears, bright purple California delphinium, violet lupine, tiny bluedicks and hot-pink elegant clarkia.
Swimming isn’t allowed in the Little Yosemite area (it’s too cold for that in springtime, anyway), but you and Rowdy can boulder-hop and enjoy a picnic with the sound of water rushing all around.
Sunol, at almost 7,000 acres and one of the largest parcels in the East Bay Regional Park District, holds many other rewarding trails for you and Rowdy to explore. Stroll over to Indian Joe Cave Rocks to watch rock climbers doing their thing, scan the sky for golden eagles or challenge yourself on an 8-mile round trip to the 1,688-foot summit of Maguire Peak. Some paths are shared with equestrians, so be sure to leash up in their vicinity.
Photo Credit: @murphythecollie
