Completed: May 20, 2023 | Elevation: 1,840′ | Trail: Vista Grande Road | Distance: 1.1 miles
Our last hike in the Sunol Regional Wilderness was Vista Grande. We had already finished hiking to Flag Hill and Maguire Peak so were grateful for the short distance needed to get to it.
From our parking spot near the trailhead for Upper Maguire Peak, we continued farther along Welch Creek Road until we reached the 2.7 mile marker, which was also pretty much the end of the road. There was a small parking area with two other cars already parked.
The trailhead sign across the road indicated 0.50 miles to Vista Grande Overlook but the map showed it as being much shorter. We proceeded along the trail which was an old road and walked steadily uphill, admiring the pink wildflowers lining the hill side. We eventually crested onto a grassy meadow and saw a large tree and bench. This was the overlook with sweeping views of the Sunol wilderness.
We had to keep walking, though, as the overlook was not the highpoint, and the actual peak was farther up the trail. It was about 0.20 miles to where Vista Grande was marked on our AllTrails map. From our vantage point, it was less of a peak and more of a bump on the hill. I snapped a photo from the top and we turned around.
It was close to four o’clock by the time we were back in the car. It had been a full day but didn’t feel long, probably because we were able to break up the hiking and give ourselves a break in between each one. It would have been a different story if it had been one continuous day of hiking.
As we drove out on Welch Creek Road, it wasn’t long before we left behind the remoteness of the Sunol Regional Wilderness and found ourselves in traffic on Highway 680, a reminder that while it’s easy to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area, it’s just as easy to get back home.
Find an overview of our Sunol Regional Wilderness hikes here.
Follow our progress bagging the Bay Area’s Nifty Ninety here.
Coda
The Sunol Regional Wilderness was possibly one of my favorite areas to hike. Of all the places we’ve been to so far as part of our quest to tackle the Nifty Ninety, it truly felt remote, with few people encountered on the trail. Even the trails themselves, overgrown with thistle and grass, didn’t seem well-trodden. This is definitely a place to go for some peace and solitude.
Additional Info
- Parking along Welch Creek Road requires a permit that can be obtained at the park entrance located on Geary Road.