Carr Ranch

Go on a long hike at Carr Ranch Trail in Contra Consta County

Hiker on a trail with beautiful green hills and wildflowers on the grasses at Carr Ranch in Contra Costa County

{March 16, 2023 Update: Given the recent weather, please check ahead before visiting sites to check on any trail closures, and be mindful that mud and debris hazards are possible if visiting after storms. Exercise good judgement and caution for safety.}

Can’t decide between an epic hike or a relaxing nature walk? The 8.3-mile Carr Ranch Trail loop in the East Bay’s Contra Costa County has you covered for both! With 2,000 feet of elevation gain through fields of spring wildflowers, this is the perfect hike for rugged adventurers with a soft side.

View of a water reservoir that cattle are surrounding at Carr Ranch in Contra Costa County

From the Rancho Laguna parking lot, walk to the southeast corner of the park. Scan the QR code on the trailhead billboard to purchase a trail permit, and then head out on the Rancho Laguna Trail.

Hiker standing at a trail sign with green rolling hills and trees in the background at Carr Ranch in Contra Costa County

Hiker sitting on her backpack taking a break at Carr Ranch Loop in Contra Costa County

Hiker going up at trail at Carr Ranch in Contra Costa County

Turn left onto Rocky Ridge Trail, a path best explored in the early morning, when the fields are covered in dew. As the sun comes over the hilltops, the white and purple wild radish flower sparkles everywhere. Hikers may not even realize they’re summiting the first hill of the journey: a 1,000-foot vista point. Of note, while the wild radish flower here looks beautiful, it’s actually an invasive plant that’s a real challenge in the Bay Area because it crowds out native plants.

California Poppy on a trailside at Carr Ranch Loop in Contra Costa County

Wildflowers at Carr Ranch in Contra Costa County

Continue along Rocky Ridge Trail as it descends toward Buckhorn Creek. After a quick break to search for frogs and California newts in the water, turn left onto the Carr Ranch Loop Trail. A steep ascent lies ahead, but some beautiful stretches with bright orange poppies ease the journey. Follow all trail signs for the Carr Ranch Loop until you emerge on the ridgeline to a series of open hilltops with gorgeous views of the surrounding Diablo Range.

Continue along the loop as it passes through cow pasture and fields of sunny buttercups. Patches of clover cover the ground, providing a cushion to weary feet. After a two-mile descent, turn left to complete your loop and return to the Rocky Ridge Trail.

Retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Rancho Laguna Park is located at 2101 Camino Pablo, Moraga. From Moraga, take Canyon Rd. south, then turn left onto Camino Pablo. Continue for 1.7 miles, then turn left into the park. A $3 trail permit can be purchased at the trailhead. Dog-friendly!

Story and photos by Poe Casavant.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View