Ohlone Wilderness Trail - Hiking from Del Valle to Mission Peak
30 miles, 7,700’ elevation gain!
April 10-12, 2026
Not for the faint of heart: the first day of this East to West route covers 4,623’ elevation gain in 11.7 miles!
The magnificent Ohlone Wilderness trail is located between Fremont and Livermore and traverses one of the largest and most secluded swaths of publicly owned oak woodland left in the East Bay. The trail connects the parklands of Mission Peak Regional Preserve, Sunol Regional Wilderness, Ohlone Regional Wilderness, and Del Valle Regional Park.
Trip Notes
- This is a terrific local challenge and good training for anyone preparing for longer or more strenuous trips this season.
- Campsites allow for sunrise/sunset viewing from Mount Rose and Mission Peak.
- We will hike on dirt fire roads, single track trails, and a short section of paved road. The trail is open only to hikers and horseback riders.
- Each backpacker is responsible for treating their drinking water. There is no potable water along the Ohlone Wilderness trail. Non-potable water and vault toilets are available at each campsite.
- There is no cell service along most of the trail.
- Ohlone Trail permits are no longer required, which also means that trail maps are no longer provided.
- The Sierra Club embraces the Leave No Trace (LNT) principles of outdoor ethics. Please review these on the LNT website: http://www.lnt.org/.
- Dogs, alcohol, and campfires are not allowed.
Day 0, Thursday, April 9: Shuttle cars from Del Valle to Stanford Trailhead, camp at Del Valle Regional Park
Some drivers will shuttle cars from Del Valle to our ending location at the Stanford Avenue Staging Area (also called Mission Peak trailhead parking) at 1997 Stanford Avenue in Fremont (37.5042530, -121.9086434). The trip leader will provide parking passes. The Stanford Avenue Staging Area / Mission Peak trailhead parking lot is small, so we will likely park on Vineyard Avenue (exit parking lot and turn right onto Vineyard Avenue which is the first public road).
A campsite will be reserved for the evening at the Del Valle Regional Park Campground. Only 2 cars are allowed to park at a campsite. Extra cars will park in the overflow parking lot at the entrance to the campground.
Day 1, Friday, April 10: Meet at the Del Valle Visitor Center trailhead
11.7 miles, 4,623’ elevation gain
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-f074ab4?u=i&sh=sn5r0x
We will meet at 7:00am at the parking lot for the Del Valle Visitor Center. Note: if you enter Del Valle Visitor Center in Apple maps, it will bring you to the incorrect location, so either use Google maps, or enter the following coordinates: 37.5783579, -121.6965935.
Our hike will start with a steep climb from the Del Valle Regional Park and we will continue to climb into the Ohlone Regional Wilderness (see elevation profile below). Rose Peak, the centerpiece of the park, just 32’ lower than Mount Diablo, is a short hike from camp. Water will be available at the Trailhead, Stewart’s Campsite at mile 7, and at Maggie’s Half Acre Campsite.
Day 2, Saturday April 11: Hike from Maggie’s Half Acre Campsite to Eagle Spring Campsite
13.8 miles, 2,562’ elevation gain
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/maggie-s-half-acre-to-eagle-spring-c3a10ce?u=i&sh=sn5r0x
We will hike from Maggie’s Half Acre Campsite in the Ohlone Regional Wilderness, through San Francisco Water Department land and the Sunol Regional Wilderness, across more San Francisco Water Department land, and into the Mission Peak Preserve. Water will be available along the trail, including at the Sunol Backpacker’s Campsites, possibly at the Sunol Visitor’s Center, and the Eagle Spring campsite.
From camp, it’s a half a mile and 400’ climb to Mission Peak.
Day 3, Sunday April 12: Hike from Eagle Spring Campsite to Stanford Trailhead; car shuttle to Del Valle trailhead
3.9 miles, 446’ elevation gain and 2,000’ descent.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-c7ae910?u=i&sh=sn5r0x
We will fill up with water at the campsite for a short hike through the Mission Peak Regional Preserve down to the Stanford trailhead. We will then caravan back to the Del Valle trailhead.
Resources
Map: https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/Ohlone-Wilderness-Permit-Map-11x17.pdf
Description: https://www.ebparks.org/parks/ohlone
Description by Obi Kaufmann, Bay Nature magazine: https://baynature.org/article/an-ode-a-map-and-details-about-the-ohlone-regional-wilderness-trail/
Description by Modern Hiker: https://modernhiker.com/hike/ohlone-regional-wilderness-trail/
Ohlone Wildflower Photo Guide: https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/ebrpd_ohlone_wildflowers.pdf
Ohlone Wild Plant Photo Guide: https://www.ebparks.org/sites/default/files/ebrpd_ohlone_plants.pdf
Ohlone Calflora Plant List: https://www.calflora.org/entry/wgh.html#srch=t&nplace=Ohlone+Regional+Wilderness&fmt=photo&inma=t&y=37.5272&x=-121.7223&z=12&lpom=d
About San Francisco Water District Land: https://www.sfpuc.gov/about-us/our-systems/regional-watersheds
Sunol Visitor’s Center:
Hours: Fri: 10am-2pm, Sat & Sun: 8:30am-4pm
1895 Geary Rd.
Sunol, CA 94586
(510) 544-3249
Del Valle Visitor’s Center
Hours: Saturday, Sunday, and most holidays, 10am to 4pm
7000 Del Valle Road
Livermore, CA 94550
(510) 544-3146
Level: Strenuous (3ET)
Signup Instructions: Please R.S.V.P below and acknowledge liability waiver. The trip leader will contact you to start the approval process and provide further information.
Bring: Individual commissary. Participants bring their own food, cooking equipment, and water treatment devices. Participants need to furnish their own overnight backpack gear. The leader will send a detailed equipment list to approved participants.
Signup Restrictions: Leader approval required for participating.
Carpool: Getting from and to the trailhead is the sole responsibility of each participant. The leader will provide a trip roster to all approved participants to facilitate ride sharing. We recommend that drivers and riders agree in advance on costs.
Note: Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants.