Danville Has Best Hike In Contra Costa County: SF Chronicle

DANVILLE, CA — This likely won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who’s been to Danville, but the town contains the best hike in Contra Costa County, according to reviewers on AllTrails.

The San Francisco Chronicle dug through a staggering 850,000 AllTrails reviews of more than 3,000 local hiking routes, and found the highest-rated trails in each of the nine Bay Area counties.

In Contra Costa, users were most enthusiastic about a loop in Mount Diablo State Park that joins the Back Creek, Falls, and Donner Canyon trails, giving it an average rating of 4.7 out of 5. The six-mile hike loops through grassy hillsides, oak trees, and waterfalls in the spring. After a steep scramble, the hike turns into a ridge along a creek, offering panoramic views of the mountain and valley. Reviewers say the hike is best in the spring, when the valley explodes with colorful wildflowers.

“Beautiful spring hike! A couple muddy spots, short stream hops and lots of green! Flowers are starting to bloom and the spring breeze is a treat,” wrote one reviewer.

Reviewers are equally impressed with nearby trails. Camille to Sulphur Creek in Alamo came second, while the Coyote, Highland Ridge, Volvon, Manzanita, Miwok, Blue Oak loop came third.

Here are the winners in the other counties:

• Alameda: Stream, Fern, French, Redwood Peak and West Ridge Loop, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, Oakland
• Santa Clara: Los Trancos Trail via Steep Hollow Trail, Foothills Nature Preserve, Los Altos Hills
• San Mateo: Ace Trail to Pedro Point, Pedro Point Headlands, Pacifica
• San Francisco: Crosstown Trail
• Marin: Dipsea to Ben Johnson Trail Loop via Stinson Beach, Muir Woods National Monument
• Sonoma: Pomo Canyon Trail to Red Hill, Sonoma Coast State Park, Occidental
• Napa: Conn Peak via Alta Hennessey and Shoreline Loop, Saint Helena
• Solano: Homestead, Tuleyome Peak and Blue Ridge Loop, Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve, Winters