Nejedley Staging Area To F Street in May

Round Trip - 4 - Miles Elevation Change - 600 Feet

Carquinez Scenic Dr.

Nejedley Staging Area

Escobar St

Alhambra Ave

Rankin Drainage Watershed Divide

Talbart St

Berrellesa St

Gate Trail Other Trails Merle Creek

F Street

The Nejedly Staging Area is located off Carquinez Scenic Drive. From the upper parking lot, hikers have the choice of three trails to reach the top of the skyline. A center trail follows the arroyo while two other trails, one on each side of the arroyo, follow the ridges that form the arroyo. The arroyo trail (or center trail) begins at end of the parking lot, through a gate and straight up to the top. Hikers with dogs or children may want to consider one of the side trails

To Hy-4

rather than this path. The arroyo trail stays muddy until late in the season and much of the trail has encroaching Poison Oak.

over a small ridge. This ridge is a watershed divide. Surface waters along the trails from the Nejedly Staging Area drain directly into the Carquinez Strait. On the other side of this small ridge, the surface waters flow first into the Alhambra Watershed and then flow to the strait. After crossing the watershed divide, the East trail from the Nejedly Staging Area joins the main road. As the main road proceeds south, a wind-mill pump and stock pond can be seen down-slope on the left. The surface waters from this collection area flow into Rankin Park, then to Alhambra Creek. Entrance to the Nejedley Staging Area Beyond the next gate is the Shuman-Perry property, recently acquired by the EBRP. At this writing, the house and

There is a trail on the left hand side, starting at a gate located in a picnic area. This left-side (or east) trail immediately turns left, and then climbs the hill behind the St. Catherines Cemetery. After passing behind the cemetery it again turns uphill. Passing through a gate on the left one gains access to the Rankin Park fire road. Following the road uphill the hiker passes through yet another gate, passing back into the East Bay Regional Park, and on up to the top. The right-side (west) trail also starts through the gate at the end of the parking lot. It follows the fence on the right, then up the hill, becoming a single track through classic Califor-

Oaks above Merle Creek horse stables are still standing, but their future is unclear. After passing the Shuman place, another stock pond can be seen down-slope to the left, close to three magnificent oak trees, standing together, but apart from other trees. This pond is the beginning of Merle Creek, which also flows to Alhambra Creek. By mid-summer, both the Rankin and Merle ponds may be dry. Continuing south, the trail intersects the F Street trail. If the hiker continues on instead of turning to the F Street trail, Hy-4 will be reached. The F Street trails takes the hiker down to Alhambra Ave. Turning north (left) the hiker follows Alhambra Ave until it divides into two one-way streets, Alhambra Ave and Berrellesa Street, at the County Medical Center (Merrithew Hospital). If it is a hot day, there is a respite in a small Redwood grove on the hospital grounds. After the streets divide, follow Berrsllesa to Escobar, Escobar to Talbart, then to the Carqunizez Scenic Drive and back to the parking lot.

Right-Side trail from staging area nia Oak Woodlands. At the top, this trail intersects the fire road along the ridge. Turning left, the road heads southward towards HY-4. Only a few feet up the road, a single-track trail joins the road; this is the arroyo path from Nejedly Staging. A few dozen paces further, another fire road branches off to the right (it loops back to Shepherds Canyon at Ozol). Continuing ahead, the road rises up to cross

May 2005, db, Nejedly to F Street LR