Category: Martinez Hills

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Toyon Canyon Trail – Briones

Grade A
6.5 Miles

Combination motorcycle ride and hike today. Road a couple of the 3 Bears, turned around at San Pablo and went to the Briones Pine Tree trailhead off Alhambra Valley Road. This was my first time entering Briones from this location. Very pleasant day!

Great view of a hawk that flew directly over my head as I was heading back. I was side hilling on slope above Alhambra Valley and he came down from above then immediately caught an uplift of the valley wind and effortless rose at least 40 feet in a second or two. It was something to watch!.

https://caltopo.com/m/0KUG

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Thru-hike in the Martinez Hills

Bob and I did one of my favorite local hikes today. We parked my car on Franklin Canyon Road – not far from John Muir’s House, and then took Bob’s truck to the parking lot by the cemetery.

The hike is only a few miles as the crow flies and a wonderful 3 miles on foot. It starts with a thumper climb up to the Ridge and then it is a leasurly stroll to Muir’s House.

On the way up to the Ridge that were located on the path where clearly something was making its way onto the path from the steep ravine to our left. The marks were made when the ground was still wet…cougar?

On the Ridge we saw a flock of swallows zipping in and out of small canyon.  Feeding and maybe a tryst or two.  We also saw a flock of a dozen white Pelicans fairly high up and heading west.

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Benecia Bridge

Out and back across the bridge on the bike path. A bit noisy but pretty cool.