Completed: May 20, 2023 | Elevation: 1,360′ | Trail: Flag Hill Trail (Out & Back) | Distance: 2.74
This was the first Nifty Ninety peak that we tackled in Sunol Regional Wilderness. While it’s possible to make this hike a loop, we opted for an out and back on Flag Hill Trail, primarily to save some time as we had two other peaks to complete before the end of the day.
From the parking lot just past the visitor center, we found the start of the trail near the picnic tables and across a short footbridge over Alameda Creek. This first section of the trail, about .30 miles, was tree-lined and shady as it ran parallel to the water.
At the first junction, we turned right to head up hill. The trail bobbed in and out of the shade, through a few muddy sections, before emerging on a grassy field. From here we began our steady climb along the flank of the hill.
An hour later we were greeted at the top with a stone sign for Flag Hill. A little farther up the trail, there was a bench from where one could enjoy the sweeping views of the hills. We lingered a little longer, exploring the nearby rock outcropping, before turning around to retrace our steps back to the car.
Feeling sufficiently warmed up, we were ready to hike our next peak: Maguire Peak.
Find an overview of our Sunol Regional Wilderness hikes here.
Follow our progress bagging the Bay Area’s Nifty Ninety here.
Coda
This was a short hike worth the cardio, with great views of the Sunol wilderness and beyond. A few portions of the trail had thistle growing on both sides; I was glad I was wearing long pants, but Chris was in shorts. While there were a few shady areas, mainly at the beginning of the hike, most of the trail was exposed. We were lucky that it was on the cooler side when we hiked this trail.
Additional Info
- The entrance fee is $4