Completed: March 8, 2023 | Elevation: 1,763′ | Trail: Round Top Road (Out & Back) | Distance: 1.5 miles
The hike to Round Top, the remnants of a 10-million-year-old volcano (who knew!), is short and relatively easy with just over 300′ of elevation gain, and Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is open until 10:00 P.M. between March and October. Both factors combined made it feasible to squeeze this Nifty Ninety in after our hike to Mount Wanda. It was also only a 30-minute drive to Sibley from Martinez and in the general direction towards home.
This was another park that we had never been to. I don’t think I was even aware it existed. It was beautiful drive to the preserve through the hills of Oakland. Along the way we admired the endless views and the magnificent homes that had front row seats to those views. We pulled into the parking lot around 5:30, just as others were also arriving, likely after work, to walk dogs and get in some exercise.
We started on Skyline Trail, paralleling Round Top Road, which we would eventually take to the summit. At 0.22 miles the trail crossed a road and we mistakenly turned onto it before realizing that it led up to the Water Tank. We made our way back to the trail and continued for another level 0.18 miles through the woods before we arrived at the intersection with Round Top Road.
We followed the asphalt for about a quarter of a mile before it dead-ended at the EBMUD building and towers that sit on the top. Aside from the structures, there wasn’t much else on the summit, including no views.
We didn’t linger too long, and turned around to make our way back, this time following the paved road all the way down, past a large meadow, to the parking lot. We finished this hike shortly after sunset, the light turning dusky as we exited and headed for the highway home.
Follow our progress bagging the Bay Area’s Nifty Ninety here.
Coda
We spent less than an hour at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, and barely scratched the surface, but the geological history of the area certainly warrants another visit where we can spend more time learning about and exploring the volcanic features of the park.