Tramp at Trampas

Adventure hike in Las Trampas

Epic East Bay views: check! Terrain with just enough challenge to keep things interesting: check! Wildflowers blooming on spring green hills: check and check! Yep, you’ll wanna tramp Las Trampas for a richly scenic 6.2-mile (round-trip) loop that goes up and down across two ridges (and one valley!) through the eastern side of the park.

You will start and finish your hike on the Chamise Trail as it switchbacks through a cattle pasture, where the friendly giants may require you to pause your trek as you coax them off the trail. As you climb, you’ll pass the Mahogany Trail on your right. But keep left and stay on the Chamise Trail, so that you can save the most difficult and possibly slippery portions of this trail for uphill pushes. Be sure to enjoy the views of the rock formations and the hills to the south as you reach the top of the first climb.

After connecting with the Corduroy Hills Trail, you will have to scramble over a few boulders with scrub on either side (this is the most technical portion of this hike and is about 50 feet of trail). The next few miles are filled with spectacular views of Mount Diablo as you descend through shaded forest and open grasslands filled with a variety of wildflowers and butterflies.

The final push of this hike is a difficult uphill dirt section (approximately half a mile), so be sure to bring enough water and take some breaks as needed. The majority of the climb is through shaded forest, and after passing the top, you’ll hike along a creek that looks inviting enough to dip your toes in after the long climb. A final short ascent will bring you back to the Chamise Trail, where you can head back to the trailhead. Stamp for Trampas!

This loop follows the trails in this order when traveling clockwise around the loop: Chamise, Las Trampas Ridge, Corduroy Hills, Madrone, Virgil Williams, Del Amigo, Sulphur Springs, Trapline, and Mahogany. Make sure to pay attention to the trail markings as this loop does intersect multiple other trails. You can find a trail map at the parking lot or on the official site for Las Trampas Regional Wilderness. Park either in the Las Trampas Staging Area (map; bathrooms and water located here) or, to save 0.4 mile of additional distance, at the Chamise Trailhead parking lot. Be sure to have plenty of water with you for this hike. This is a moderately trafficked trail and is dog-friendly although some rock scrambling is needed.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View
  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View
  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View