Run the Mt. Diablo Foothill Loop
Walnut Creek, California
Details
Distance
6.2 miles
Elevation Gain
875 ft
Route Type
Loop
Description
Added by Kim Suarez
This is a great 10k for those of you looking to get some trail running experience. There is a lot of climbing, but the views are worth it! This trail winds up and down beginning at Castle Rock staging area in Walnut Creek and ascends through the Mt. Diablo Foothills.
Continue by car down Castle Rock Road until it dead ends at the beginning of the trail. Parking is usually easy to find. If full, there is another overflow lot about 500 ft back the way you came in.
You'll walk a good half mile down the trail before getting the main gate. As you're walking, you'll see a swimming pool, baseball diamond, volleyball courts, basketball courts, restrooms and picnic tables. Begin the 10k at the gate just past the picnic tables.
You will travel down Stage Rd. about 1.5 miles until you see Sunset Trail on your left. Keep an eye out because it's easy to run past. Make a sharp left and you'll find yourself on single track trail winding up through a narrow valley.
Once at the top of the single track, take a left and descend into another valley. Conserve your energy because a climb is coming up! Rest on the downhill immediately after and you'll find yourself in another valley.
You should be on Little Pine Creek Rd. as you ascend the final and largest ascent of the run. Stay to the left as the trail also veers off to the right. At the top, you'll begin your final descent back to Stage Rd. Catch Burma Road down to the right to start looping back down.
Once back to Stage Road, you'll need to turn left for about 0.25 miles before making a U-turn and heading back down Stage Road to the starting point.
Congratulations on crushing a challenging 10k!
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Run the Mt. Diablo Foothill Loop Reviews
this is a great 10k loop but i recommend running it during the spring, fall or really in the morning before it's 100 degrees.
5.0
So many things to do at Castlerock foothills. Trail running or biking down Stage road is great. Shaded so it's nice most anytime of the day. Quick out-and-backs are good, or you can add onto your mileage and adventure by adding loops that all connect like Wall Point, Little Yosemite (hiking only) and others. You can peel off and rock climb and Boulder rocks which adds a fun level of fitness to your hiking or running. Lots of nice nature to look at, and the trail follows and intersects a creek several times. Depending on season it will have water in it.
5.0
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Nearby
Castle Rock Trail
Southern Lime Ridge Loop
Sugarloaf Open Space Loop
Mount Diablo Summit Loop
Camp at Juniper Campground in Mount Diablo SP
Juniper to the Summit Loop Trail and Meridian Ridge
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