On a chilly February day, a long hike didn’t seem like such a great idea, but a quick walk through nature did! With the weather being a little rough, we went looking for a short walk in nature to fit in between the rain clouds. What we ended up doing was a quick hike to Little Yosemite in Sunol Regional Wilderness!
While I don’t quite see the similarity to the actual Yosemite, Little Yosemite is a cool spot! With a nice waterfall and pretty views across the lush, green, hills, this hike is quick and easy, but does offer some really nice views in a condensed package!
Miles/Elevation:
2.1 miles
203 feet vertical gain
About Sunol Regional Wilderness:
Set in the rugged hills of the East Bay, Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve is run by the East Bay Regional Park District. Still used as grazing land today, much of the area of Sunol Preserve has been used as ranch land for the last 100 years. At an area of 6,859 acres, Sunol Preserve hosts a number of outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and even backpacking.
Getting To The Trailhead:
Located about 35 minutes from San Jose, and about 50 minutes from San Francisco International Airport, Sunol is a pretty accessible park. If you are looking for a scenic drive, the route from Milpitas via Calaveras Road is an awesome option, but will add a significant amount of time to your drive. The Little Yosemite Trail begins from the main parking lot at the end of the road into Sunol.
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
Here are a detailed set of directions from the park’s website:
“From Fremont, drive north on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road (near the town of Sunol.) Turn right at the exit onto Calaveras Road and proceed about four miles to a left turn onto Geary Road, which leads directly into the park. (If you find yourself driving uphill on a narrow winding road you’ve missed the Geary Road turnoff.) To reach the Old Green Barn take the first left after the park entrance.
From the Oakland-Berkeley area, drive east on I-580 to the junction with I-680. Take I-680 south and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the Sunol exit. At the bottom of the exit turn left onto Calaveras Road and proceed as noted above.
From the Walnut Creek – Danville area, drive south on I-680 and exit at Calaveras Road/Highway 84 just south of the Sunol exit. Proceed as noted above.
There is no public transit to Sunol Regional Park.”
The Little Yosemite Trail:
From the parking lot, follow the road as it turns to gravel and crosses Alameda Creek. The trail begins by traversing through an open meadow. To the right, a tree covered slope heads up towards Calaveras Road, while on the left the hills of Sunol form the horizon.
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
The first little section of hiking has decent views but nothing crazy; however new views do open up quickly. After the first quarter mile or so, the trail begins a long left turn, and once this happens southward vistas begin opening up. You’ll be climbing above Alameda Creek, so the creek will be beneath you while the rolling East Bay Hills fade into the distance.
As you round the corner, the views once again evolve. This time, you will now have unobstructed views looking up Alameda Creek to the east. Once the trail turns fully east, you are almost at Little Yosemite!
Little Yosemite kind of sneaks up on you and comes out of nowhere! I was expecting to look up at the waterfall, but you actually need to look down! To reach the base of the falls, descend down from the main trail down a steep unofficial use trail. At the bottom of the hill, you’ll be able to look directly at the falls!
The falls aren’t massive or incredible by any means, but it is certainly a pretty spot. The water tumbles through a dense boulder field as it cascades through the Little Yosemite area. Immediately following a rainstorm maybe you would get some serious water, but I don’t think this would ever be a massive waterfall. In fact, I’d guess this creek runs close to dry in summer and fall!
Little Yosemite is a pretty spot, though I don’t know why exactly it’s called Little Yosemite! I didn’t really see anything that resembles the national park, but it was pretty at least.
The hike out takes you back along the same trail as the hike to Little Yosemite, so just backtrack to the trailhead. It’s a short and sweet walk out, but you do still get some decent views! Unless you spent time walking backwards, you probably won’t have seen the view looking west, and with the afternoon light it looked pretty cool!
After a very short hike out, we were done! This is a really short hike, but for what we were looking for, it fit the bill perfectly!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 8/10
Keeping in mind this is a 2 mile hike, it’s pretty good. Is this the best hike in Sunol? Definitely not. Does this hike compare favorably with pretty much any longer hike in the Bay Area or otherwise? No it doesn’t. However, if you’re looking for a really quick and easy 2 mile hike that has nice views, a well made trail, and is easily accessed, it’s one of the better options in the East Bay.
Pros:
- Good views
- Well made trail
- Waterfall
Cons:
- Gets busy
- No great views
- Lacks the “wild” feeling
Alternative Hikes:
When To Hike To Little Yosemite:
Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve is a 4 season destination; however, each season will give you different conditions. Winter will provide the coolest temperatures, but winter generally will have the most rain, and therefore the most mud. Expect winter days to be anywhere from the 50s to the 70s. Spring is a bit warmer and a bit drier, and would be an awesome time to visit. Summer is the hottest month, and conditions could easily reach into the 90s or 100s on extreme days. Fall will yield cooler temperatures as the season progresses, but has the biggest fire risk.
When choosing a time to visit, one unique thing to consider is the condition of the vegetation. The grass covered hills spend all of summer and fall looking burnt and brown as the summer and fall are the driest months. Winter and spring to me are the best months to visit Sunol as the hills turn a beautiful green as the rain comes. Beware of mud after heavy rain days, but for me, winter and spring are the best times to visit.
Links For Further Reading:
Little Yosemite – California | AllTrails
East Bay Regional Park District: Sunol
Sunol Regional Wilderness: Bay Area Hiker
Best trails in Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve, California
