If you want to go
Facilities: Restroom, running water, information kiosk available at Old Borges Ranch. Cost: Parking, access, free. Map/brochure: The best online printable trail map of the region is at www.ebparks.org — click on Diablo Foothills. Map/brochures are in boxes at trailheads at regional parks. Dogs: Dogs are allowed on trails at Old Borges Ranch Trailhead, Shell Ridge Open Space, Diablo Foothills Regional Park, Castle Rock Regional Recreational Area. Dogs must be leashed at Castle Rock. Dogs can run off leash at other areas if they are under voice command. No dogs are allowed on the trails at Mount Diablo State Park, even if you enter from an adjoining park where dogs are permitted. Trail users: Hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding are allowed on most routes; trail rules vary by respective park management agency, city of Walnut Creek, East Bay Regional Parks, Mount Diablo State Park. Nearby trailheads/staging areas: There are 15 staging areas and trailheads in the region where trails are connected in contiguous park complex. Annual trail closure: Castle Rock Trail through Castle Rocks is closed through July 31 to protect nesting raptors. Contacts: Old Borges Ranch Interpretive Center, (925) 943-5899; Shell Ridge Open Space, city of Walnut Creek, (925) 943-5800; www.walnutcreek.org — under “Local Attractions” click on “Open Space,” then in list, “Borges Ranch and Shell Ridge.” Adjoining parks: Diablo Foothills Regional Park and Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area, (510) 544-3086, or through regional park headquarters at (888) 327-2757, option 3, ext. 4526, www.ebparks.org; Mount Diablo State Park, (925) 837-2525, www.parks.ca.gov.
HOW TO GET THERE
From San Francisco to Walnut Creek: Take the Bay Bridge east 6.4 miles (stay to the far right) to the split and Interstate 580. Bear right on I-580 (stay to the far right) and go 1.5 miles to the exit for Highway 24. Take Highway 24 and go 13.4 miles to Walnut Creek (stay left) and take Interstate 680 north. Continue on I-680 for 0.4 of a mile to the exit for Ygnacio Valley Road. Take that exit. From Walnut Creek to Old Borges Ranch: At the exit for Ygnacio Valley Road, continue to the bottom of the ramp, turn right on Ygnacio Valley Road and continue 2.2 miles to Walnut Avenue. Turn right on Walnut Avenue and go 1.6 miles to the roundabout. At the roundabout, take the first exit onto Oak Grove Road, go 100 yards, and then continue onto Castle Rock Road and drive 1 mile to signed right turn to entrance road to Old Borges Ranch. Turn right and drive 0.7 of a mile to parking and trailhead. Distances: 6 miles from downtown Walnut Creek, 15 miles from Benicia, 20 miles from Berkeley, 23 miles from Dublin, 30 miles from downtown San Francisco, 41 miles from San Rafael, 47 miles from San Mateo.