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Carquinez Regional Shoreline Carquinez Overlook Loop Trail (east of Crockett) Though most of the trails in this park offer splendid views across the eponymous strait, the Overlook Loop is hundreds of feet above the water, and the experience of walking it has more grandeur than intimacy.But as a wheelchair user I appreciated the relatively level trail. Usually, to hike the ridge tops one must first undertake a serious climb. The Bull Valley Staging Area is just a small gravel parking lot, with no designated disabled spaces, and an inaccessible pit privy. From it the Overlook Trail goes northeast up a small rise and then levels off curving east along the hillside above Carquinez Strait. The trail is dirt, and medium rough, but the magnificent views appear immediately, and if you can tough it out to the turnaround, it rewards you with an overlook indeed of Benicia, Martinez, and their bridge. After that there is a steeper stretch where the transverse slope is particularly severe; if this is a concern it might be well to retrace one's steps rather than complete the loop. Very little will be missed by doing this. |
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A picnic table is provided in a shady spot near where the trail forks for its loop. But if you brought a sandwich, the benches provided at good viewing points are a more inviting place for a snack.
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 Details:
From Highway 4 west of Martinez, exit at Cummings Skyway and go north.
Turn right on Crockett Boulevard, right again on Pomona Street in Crockett.
Pomona Street becomes Carquinez Scenic Drive. Proceed to the Bear Valley
Staging Area, on the left. No public transportation, no fees, no accessible
toilet or water. |
I
was there with a birdwatching group; we spotted red tailed hawks, northern
harriers and white pelicans over the water, plus, where the trail passes
through oak, eucalyptus and bay forests, goldfinches, juncos, and chickadees.
Oh, and bluebirds, western bluebirds. Don't forget the bluebirds!