Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Northern California. Exploring Mountains, Valleys, and Seashore онлайн

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As you climb steadily, your views north of the creeping edge of suburbia continue to improve until you reach an open rock platform (0.6/1,080'). Directly across Mitchell Canyon, noisy Lone Star Quarry digs up diabase for use in roadbeds and foundations. Continuing up the trail, you ascend to a small saddle below Twin Peaks. As you traverse below Twin Peaks to attain the ridge, the Sacramento River Delta appears to the north and the broad expanse of the Great Central Valley peeks out east over the hills. An eagle eye can discern the confluence of the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. Once on the ridgeline, views open up of the Mount Diablo massif—both North Peak (3,557') and the summit (3,849') are visible. From Twin Peaks (1.5/1,733'), Eagle Peak is clearly seen up the ridge.

Descending briefly, the trail passes a junction for Eagle Peak Trail (your return route) and then makes a steep, brushy, view-rich climb up the ridgeline to just below the summit, where a series of final switchbacks brings you to the top (2.3/2,369'). Bear right on Eagle Peak Trail on your downhill return from the summit to take a much steeper and more direct route to the bottom than Mitchell Rock Trail. Dropping above Back Creek canyon, the trail cuts sharply back before passing over a scree gully below Twin Peaks. As you continue to descend, an increase in pines and poison oak marks the approaching junction with the Coulter Pine Trail (3.4/780'). Bear left and enjoy the gentle ramble through flowers and oaks and rippling grass that returns you to the Mitchell Rock Trail and your trailhead.