Trips are my tipple. And I hadn’t been tipsy from a trip for a while because of the covid19 pandemic and the orders to stay home and save lives. But I broke that fast when we made a short tailored-for-the-pandemic trip when I turned “four-0” earlier this month. It was with a short stay at a vacation rental not very far from home and a little hike through Franco Ranch Loop Trail.
Franco Ranch Loop Trail runs through the foothills of the Diablo Mountain Range in Alamo California. It’s a short quick hike around a ridge — a 1.5-mile hike mostly through fire roads and it seemed just right for a hike in the time of a pandemic.
It was a summer evening in early August that we put on our masks and did that hike which is considered to a ‘moderate’ one. It took us a while to find the trailhead. And if you’d like to hike this way I’ll tell you how to find your way there, at the end of this post.
This trail begins at the foot of one of the hills of the Diablo Mountains, goes by the side of some homes, past a couple of rolling hills and a ranch, and loops back to another part of the residential area where you began the hike.
Since it was a summer evening, it was a pleasant hike through the hills lit by evening light. The hills were a lovely golden and the dry grass and dry wildflowers were outlined against the glow of the soft light from the setting sun. And we also spotted some deer silhouetted against those engilded hills.
Things to know for the hike on Franco Ranch Loop Trail
- Your navigation system will most probably take you to a spot between two houses with no signs of a trail. After 2 tries and then deciding to give up the idea of a hike we were driving (dir.) when we passed a sign that said ‘trail X-ing’ so we slowed down and thought we‘d give it one more try. This time we spotted the place to begin the hike.
- The trailhead is at the intersection of Rudgear Road and Sunburst Court. You’ll spot a trail that goes up the hill. (See map below — I’ve marked out the trail on a screenshot of Google Maps.)
- Since there isn’t a lot of shade here, hiking in the middle of the day might be a tiring affair.
- It is a hike through the hills so make sure you carry some water.
- There are no restrooms here so you might want to make sure to take care of nature’s calls before you set out on the hike.
- It was a pretty deserted trail on the Tuesday evening that we were out on it. So it seemed perfect for a hike during covid19 times. We passed only 1 biker and saw another couple on another trail that seemed to cross this one.
- When you leave the trail, you’re going to find yourself at Benham Court.
- Make sure you wear your masks because at the end of the trail you are going to be walking through a part of the neighborhood so chances are that you will be passing a few people. So let’s wear it for the people who let us hike through their area.
Linking to —
Our World Tuesday
&
My Corner of the World
More: Bay Area Hikes
Diablo Range on TftT
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Hello,
What a great hike, love the deer and pretty views! Take care, enjoy your day and week ahead!
The deer were a great surprise. (We spotted a few more, later)
Thank you, Eileen.
You too — have a great week. 🙂
That evening light is magical.
Oh yes! It seemed to turn those dry hills into golden ones. 🙂
Thank you for coming this way. 🙂
Great to know that you can have a little away-from-home time to whet the travel appetite.
Worth a Thousand Words
Oh gosh! We need a little something to keep us sane, no? 😀
I hope you are doing well, M. 🙂
Take care.
Beautiful trail! Gorgeous photo of the deer and the golden scenery.
-Soma
Hi Soma,
The light did make it all so much better. 🙂
Thank you for coming this way.
WOW! Such a scenic trail! Love the gorgeous photos!
🙂
Thank you, Veronica. 🙂
very beautiful views
🙂
Thank you for visiting, Tanza.
It looks like a great place for a serene walk–once you find it!
I’m so excited to see you at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!! Thanks for linking.
It was nice and quiet too, so it seemed just right for the times.
Thank you for hosting, Betty. 🙂
Liked taking this hike with you through your lovely photographs. Autumn is already in the air. Decades ago I was in the Walnut Creek area. It was beautiful then, and I see it is still just as beautiful now.
Hi Yvonne,
It was a pleasure to take you along. 🙂 Can’t wait for fall. It’s been too hot here, this summer (the past few summers have been like this, actually). 😐
However, the hills sure looked gorgeous in the evening light. 🙂
Thank you for coming this way, Yvonne. 🙂
Wonderful pictures! Here you only wear a mask when going into shops. And even that is no use because… people keep the distance ant the checkout. But pass you by very closely otherwise.
So, your hike sure is a lovely sight!
It reminds me a bit pf Le Petit Prince with the hay, too, awww, so golden!
For most of the hike, we didn’t need the masks. We needed it only for the last leg of it. And I don’t mind wearing one if it means I can go out hiking, at least. 🙂
It was great to be outdoors after a lowwwwng break.
You take care, Iris. 🙂
This seems like a pretty trail.
It’s very dry and brown around here in the summer. However, it sure was very pretty in the evening light. 🙂
What a beautiful loop. I love walking through such undulating tracks with rolling meadows, the golden grass reminds me of Maharashtra in winters…
It was. And the light seemed to add to the effect. 🙂
Oh, Maharashtra gets this dry in the winters? Nice to know, that.
Awesome pics. Great post.
Thank you, Rupam. 🙂
Have a good week.
That was a lovely virtual hike for us thanks to you. Beautifully captured.
Thank you for tripping along, Magiceye. 🙂
Thanks, again.
All those trips that you take and the ones that make you tipsy, make me too, for want of a better word, tipsy! You have a real wanderer’s soul.
Haha! I like the sound of that, USP. 🙂
So glad!
It’s always great to hear from you. I hope you’ve been doing well. 🙂
Welcome to the fabulous 4 zero! I hope 2021 will be kinder to us traveling souls!