Completed: March 18, 2023 | Elevation: 1,702′ | Trail: Brushy Peak to West Side Loop Trail | Distance: 4.5 miles
It took us a little over an hour to get from Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, where we had completed the hike to Rose Hill, to Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. We were trying to complete the hikes in the two parks located farthest from us, and so far we were on track.
We had never been to this preserve before and based on my research it didn’t seem like we would be able to legally access Brushy Peak unless we signed up for a guided tour through Livermore Area Park & Recreation District (LARPD). While East Bay Regional Park District owns and operates the larger southern portion of the preserve, the peak is actually located in a resource protected area owned by LARPD. Various articles seemed to suggest that there were unofficial trails to the top so our plan was to scope things out and play it by ear.
As we approached the Laughlin Ranch Staging Area we saw several cars along the road, and were concerned we might not find parking, but fortunately, we found a space in the lot. There’s no fee to park there.
We headed out on Brushy Peak Loop Trail, with the windmills looming high on the hill above us to the right and a creek running fast to our left. Past the pond the trail turned muddy. There were small stretches of dry ground, but mud was the prevailing material until we arrived at a gate that was now surrounded by water. There was almost no way to keep the boots dry (or clean) at this point.
From here we followed the trail as it made a sharp left up the hill. We were now looking back towards where we had come from. Everything was a lush green, with pops of color from the wildflowers, a stark contrast to what it would look like in a few months.
We rounded a curve and could see Brushy Peak in the distance.
At the 2 mile mark we headed up a spur to have a look. We could see the fence line and debated whether to follow it to see how far below the peak it ran when I remembered reading about an approach from the southwest, so we made our way back to the main trail and continued our hike. As we got closer to the trees and rocks, almost directly south of the peak, we saw a bootleg trail to the right. It led us up towards the trees and then went alongside the fence for several yards. There was a group of people chanting and performing a ceremony under the trees to the left. They didn’t seem to notice us. We eventually reached a section of fencing that had a lock on it. We had come as close as we could.
We headed back down while enjoying views of the windmills and Livermore in the distance.
We stayed on Brushy Peak Loop Trail, following a creek that was overflowing with water. At the junction, we turned left onto West Side Loop Trail. There was a section where the trail had given way to a sinkhole, further signs of how much water this area had received. Soon the parking lot came into focus. We had one last muddy segment to navigate before we finally made it back to the car.
Follow our progress bagging the Bay Area’s Nifty Ninety here.
Coda
This was a new park for us. I think it’s on the smaller side, tucked into the corner where Highway 4 and Interstate 580 meet, and not likely one that we would visit unless we happened to be in the area. Having said that, the trail, which wound through grasslands, tree-topped hills and rock outcroppings, made for an enjoyable hike through beautiful landscape that we often see on our drives through the East Bay but all too often don’t stop to appreciate.
