Looping the Franco Ranch Trail

Trips are my tipple. And I hadn’t been tipsy from a trip for a while because of the covid19 pandemic and the orders to stay home and save lives. But I broke that fast when we made a short tailored-for-the-pandemic trip when I turned “four-0” earlier this month. It was with a short stay at a vacation rental not very far from home and a little hike through Franco Ranch Loop Trail.

Franco Ranch Loop Trail runs through the foothills of the Diablo Mountain Range in Alamo California. It’s a short quick hike around a ridge — a 1.5-mile hike mostly through fire roads and it seemed just right for a hike in the time of a pandemic. 

It was a summer evening in early August that we put on our masks and did that hike which is considered to a ‘moderate’ one. It took us a while to find the trailhead. And if you’d like to hike this way I’ll tell you how to find your way there, at the end of this post.

This trail begins at the foot of one of the hills of the Diablo Mountains, goes by the side of some homes, past a couple of rolling hills and a ranch, and loops back to another part of the residential area where you began the hike. 

Since it was a summer evening, it was a pleasant hike through the hills lit by evening light. The hills were a lovely golden and the dry grass and dry wildflowers were outlined against the glow of the soft light from the setting sun. And we also spotted some deer silhouetted against those engilded hills.

Things to know for the hike on Franco Ranch Loop Trail 

• Your navigation system will most probably take you to a spot between two houses with no signs of a trail. After 2 tries and then deciding to give up the idea of a hike we were driving (dir.) when we passed a sign that said ‘trail X-ing’ so we slowed down and thought we‘d give it one more try. This time we spotted the place to begin the hike.
• The trailhead is at the intersection of Rudgear Road and Sunburst Court. You’ll spot a trail that goes up the hill. (See map below — I’ve marked out the trail on a screenshot of Google Maps.)
• Since there isn’t a lot of shade here, hiking in the middle of the day might be a tiring affair.
• It is a hike through the hills so make sure you carry some water.
• There are no restrooms here so you might want to make sure to take care of nature’s calls before you set out on the hike.
• It was a pretty deserted trail on the Tuesday evening that we were out on it. So it seemed perfect for a hike during covid19 times. We passed only 1 biker and saw another couple on another trail that seemed to cross this one.
• When you leave the trail, you’re going to find yourself at Benham Court.
• Make sure you wear your masks because at the end of the trail you are going to be walking through a part of the neighborhood so chances are that you will be passing a few people. So let’s wear it for the people who let us hike through their area. 

Linking to —
Our World Tuesday
&
My Corner of the World

More: Bay Area Hikes
Diablo Range on TftT

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