Smackdown Loop

Nice views, partially shaded.

The smack down trail? Maybe on a bike I can definitely see the namesake. Lots of climbing overall for biking, for hiking it was more moderate than hard. Beautiful views of the bay, north bay, delta, lakes Anza and Briones. Just like Sibley, views of SF (when the fog moves off shore) and into the valleys to the east, I’m sure In winter, you can see the Sierra Nevada’s, like Sibley, someone attempted to do the rock maze in a old water tank ring. It was cool to see Tilden Park Golf to the west and Orinda CC to the east. Having played Tilden, I wasn’t aware of the great trails around it. As a horticulturist, we are so blessed with such diversity in the Bay Area, in fact, from north of Fort Bragg, all the way to Big Sur. Lots of blue gum groves, mixed in the Monterey pines and a few cypress peaking through, some beautiful old bay laurels, and coast live oaks, and a few stands of redwoods. Quite a selection of native shrubs and perennials on most the trail, except on the meadow canyon part, which was more oak and coyote bush. Plenty of shade in the morning. If you want some better views of SF and points west, in the summer, better to make it a afternoon hike. Quite a few adult and baby blue belly lizards, a few cottontail rabbits, but I think, with as many dogs as there was on the trail, most wildlife stays of the trails. Parking wasn’t bad, even when I left at noon, there were plenty of spaces. I parked at lone oak. Only one place the map (or me) got off track, better to stay on the pavement on the part, between Grizzly Peak rd, and lower big springs trail. Quite a few bikes on the trail, most everyone was wearing a mask or quick to cover when doing social distancing. A great 8-9 mile hike with great views and plenty of climbing and down hill treks. Definitely one to become a regular on my list. :)