Walnut Creek Open Space Entrances

There are multiple entrances to each of the Open Spaces to allow visitors plenty of access to a variety of areas and trails. Some entrances are more obvious than others with small to ample parking lots, entrance signs or kiosks, etc. Other entrances primarily serve their adjacent neighborhoods and are much less prominent.

For these entrances, remember to be a good neighbor. Obey all traffic laws — stop at all stop signs, drive slowly and yield to pedestrians. Be mindful where you park — do not block driveways or crosswalks, and remember it's illegal to park in an intersection.

Below is an interactive map showing the location of every entrance to the four Open Spaces as well as two parking lots associated with the Heather Farm Nature Area. Clicking on each placemarker will bring up information about parking, facilities, and trail heads that can be accessed from that location.

Driving directions to each entrance are also given below.

View Walnut Creek Open Space Entrances in a larger map

Shell Ridge Open Space Entrances

Sutherland Drive Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road to Walnut Blvd. Turn right on Walnut Blvd. and drive approximately 1.45 miles to Walnut Heights school on the left. Continue 0.2 miles past the school to Sutherland Drive - the third street on the left after the school. Park in the parking lot at the end of Sutherland.

Marshall Drive Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road to Homestead Ave. Turn right on Homestead Ave. and drive approximately 0.2 miles to Marshall Drive. (The first street on your left). Turn left on Marshall Drive and drive 1.15 miles to end of the street at Indian Valley School.

Joaquin Ranch Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of N. Main and Ygnacio Valley Rd., drive out Ygnacio Valley Road 0.5 miles to Walnut Blvd. (not Walnut Avenue.). Turn right on Walnut Blvd. and drive approximately 2.4 miles on Walnut Blvd. to Rockspring Place. Turn left onto Rockspring Place and drive approximately 0.25 miles until you pass the last house on the left side of the street before an open area. The Joaquin Ranch entrance is down a short road to the left just past the last house.

Rockspring Place Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of N. Main and Ygnacio Valley Rd., drive out Ygnacio Valley Road 0.5 miles to Walnut Blvd. (not Walnut Avenue.) Turn right on Walnut Blvd. and drive approximately 2.4 miles on Walnut Blvd. to Rockspring Place. Turn left onto Rockspring Place and drive approximately 0.5 miles to the end of the street. The entrance is at the end of the street.

Whitecliff Way Entrance

Drive east on Rudgear Road from the intersection with I-680 approximately 1.3 miles to Whitecliff Way. Turn left on Whitecliff Way and drive approximately 0.7 miles to the end of the street. The entrance is at the end of the street on the right.

Sunburst Court Entrance

Drive east on Rudgear Road from the intersection with I-680 approximately 1.6 miles to Sunburst Court. Turn left on Sunburst Court and park. The trail leading to the entrance is on the left side of the street.

Benham Court Entrance

Drive east on Rudgear Road from the intersection with I-680 approximately 2.0 miles to Benham Court. Turn left on Benham Court and park. The entrance is on the left side of the street.

Bannister Lane Entrance

Drive east on Livorna Road from the intersection with I-680 approximately 1.5 miles to the Diablo Foothills Staging Area and park. The entrance is at the far end of the parking area.

Dorchester Lane Entrance

Although this entrance is shown on a recent open space map, it is not a public entrance to Walnut Creek's Open Space.

Howe Homestead Park Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of N. Main and Ygnacio valley Rd., drive out Ygnacio Valley Road 0.5 miles to Walnut Blvd. (not Walnut Avenue.) Turn right on Walnut Blvd. and drive 0.6 miles to the intersection with Homestead Ave. Drive through this intersection and turn left into the parking lot on the left. (The entrance to the parking lot is the second driveway. The exit is the first driveway.)

Wiget Lane Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road approximately 2.0 miles to Bancroft/Walnut Avenue. (Not Walnut Blvd. which is much closer to downtown.) Turn right on Walnut Ave. and drive 0.9 miles to Wiget Lane. Turn right on Wiget Lane and drive to the gate at the end of the street and park near the end of the street. The entrance is on the left at the end of the street.

Snyder Lane Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of N. Main and Ygnacio Valley Rd., drive out Ygnacio Valley Road 2.0 miles to Bancroft / Walnut Avenue. (Not Walnut Blvd. which is much closer to downtown.) Turn right on Walnut Ave. and drive approximately 1.2 miles to Snyder Lane. Turn right on Snyder Lane and drive to the end of the street and park near the end of the street. The entrance is between two houses at the end of the street.

Hanna Lane Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road about 2.0 miles to Bancroft / Walnut Avenue. (Not Walnut Blvd. which is much closer to downtown.) Turn right on Walnut Ave. and drive approximately 1.6 miles to the intersection with Oak Grove Road / Castle Rock Road. Turn right on Castle Rock Road and drive approximately 0.5 miles to Comistas Lane. Turn right on Comistas Lane and drive to Hanna Lane on the left. Park on Comistas and walk up Hanna Lane to the entrance.

Borges Ranch Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road approximately 2.0 miles to Bancroft / Walnut Avenue. (Not Walnut Blvd. which is much closer to downtown.) Turn right on Walnut Ave. and drive approximately 1.6 miles to the intersection with Oak Grove/Castle Rock Rd.. Turn right on Castle Rock Rd. and drive about 1.1 miles to Borges Ranch Road. (Look for a small sign on the right side of the road.) Turn right onto Borges Ranch Road and drive slowly 0.6 miles to the picnic area at Bob Pond or 0.1 mile further to the ranch buildings. Park opposite the corral in a paved area. There are several trails into Shell Ridge starting from the Ranch.

Borges Ranch - Bob Pond and Picnic Area

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road approximately 2.0 miles to Bancroft / Walnut Avenue. (Not Walnut Blvd. which is much closer to downtown.) Turn right on Walnut Ave. and drive approximately 1.6 miles to the intersection with Oak Grove/Castle Rock Rd.. Turn right on Castle Rock Rd. and drive about 1.1 miles to Borges Ranch Road. (Look for a small sign on the right side of the road.) Turn right onto Borges Ranch Road and drive slowly 0.6 miles to the picnic area at Bob Pond

Northgate High School Parking Lot - Special Event Parking

Lime Ridge Open Space Entrances

Bayberry Drive Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road approximately 4 miles to Oak Grove Road. Turn left on Oak Grove and go to the first traffic light at Citrus Ave. Turn right and go right on Perada. Continue 0.5 miles to Bayberry and turn right. Park on the side on this dead end and walk uphill to the Ygnacio Canal Trail. If you proceed to the right on the Ygnacio Canal Trail and through the lighted tunnel underneath Ygnacio Valley Road, you can enter the environmentally-protected area of Lime Ridge South just past the tunnel to the left.
For Bayberry Pond: Walk up to the paved Ygnacio Canal Trail and turn left. Go through the gate which is now just ahead on your right. Bear right when the trail forks and walk along the fence to the gate about halfway up. Total distance is about 200 yards.

Valley Vista Road Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road to Oak Grove Road. Turn right and go 0.4 miles to Valley Vista Rd. Turn left and go 0.8 miles uphill. Park in the Open Space parking lot across from the Boundary Oaks Golf Course clubhouse.

Boundary Oak Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road to Oak Grove Road. Turn right and go 0.4 miles to Valley Vista Rd. Turn left and go 0.8 miles uphill. Turn left into the Boundary Oak Golf Course parking lot and drive all the way to the end of the upper lot. Then drive up the little road near the blue sign that says "police firing range" and take the right at the top of the hill (if you continue straight, you end up at the firing range). Park in the gravel parking lot.

Montecito Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road to the Oak Grove Road intersection. Continue over the top of the hill another 2.0 miles and turn right at Montecito. Turn immediately right into the Open Space parking lot.

Maplegate Court Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road approximately 5.8 miles to Crystyl Ranch Road in Concord. Turn right and continue 1.3 miles to Maplegate Court, the first street on the right. The trailhead is behind the houses on the near side of Maplegate Court.

Navaronne Way Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive 1.3 miles north on N. Main to the Geary / Treat intersection. Turn right on Treat Blvd. and drive 3.1 miles to Navaronne Way (0.8 miles past the intersection of Treat Blvd. and Oak Grove). Turn right on Navaronne Way and drive 0.5 miles to the end of the road, where there are entrances to a footpath into Lime Ridge North on the left and to a pathway downhill to the paved Ygnacio Canal Trail to the right.

Rock Oak Road Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road to Oak Grove Road. Turn left on Oak Grove and then right on Citrus Avenue. Drive approximately 0.4 mile to Perada Drive. Turn right on Perada and then after 0.1 mile, turn left on Rock Oak Road. Drive to the end of Rock Oak Road.

Acalanes Ridge Open Space Entrances

Sousa Drive Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive 0.7 miles north on N. Main to San Luis Rd. (just past the I-680 overpass). Turn left on San Luis and drive 0.7 miles to Alfred Ave. Turn left on Alfred Ave. and drive 0.5 miles to Sousa Drive. Turn right and park on the road. The entrance kiosk marks the start of the Sousa Trail into Acalanes Ridge.

Ramsay Circle Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive 1.3 miles north on N. Main to the Geary/Treat intersection. Turn left on Geary Road and drive 1.3 miles to the Camino Verde/Pleasant Hill Road intersection. Turn left on Camino Verde and drive 0.6 miles to Ramsay Circle. Turn left on Ramsay Circle and drive 0.2 miles downhill and around the curve to the right. Just past Cornwall Court, park on the road where there is a paved entrance trail to Acalanes Ridge.

Camino Verde Circle Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive 1.3 miles north on N. Main to the Geary/Treat intersection. Turn left on Geary Road and drive 1.3 miles to the Camino Verde/Pleasant Hill Road intersection. Turn left on Camino Verde and drive 0.8 miles to the top of the hill, continuing straight where Camino Verde becomes Camino Verde Circle. You will see a landscaped area on the left and a narrow access road leading uphill to the Acalanes Ridge entrance. Park in the guest parking area just before the access road.

Green Valley/Monarch Ridge Entrance

From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive west on Ygnacio Valley Road to the Highway 24 entrance and go west on Highway 24. Take the Pleasant Hill Road exit and turn north (right) on Pleasant Hill Road. Drive 0.9 miles to Green Valley Road and turn right. Go uphill 0.1 miles past the intersection with Monarch Road and Beacon Ridge. You will see an entrance kiosk and gate on the right near the top of the hill. Park in the Visitors parking area on the left.

Bacon Way - South Acalanes Ridge

This is the only public entrance to the isolated South Acalanes Ridge Open Space area.
From downtown Walnut Creek at the intersection of Ygnacio Valley Rd. and N. Main, drive west on Ygnacio Valley Road to the Highway 24 entrance and go west on Highway 24. Take the Pleasant Hill Road exit and turn north (right) on Pleasant Hill Road. Turn right at the first traffic light on Stanley Blvd. Drive 0.7 miles to Bacon Way and turn left. Drive uphill 0.25 miles to the end of Bacon Way. There is a white rail gate into the EBMUD access area. There are a couple of parking spots on the left just before this gate. The Acalanes Ridge entrance is just past the rail gate on the right.

Sugarloaf Open Space Entrances

Young's Valley Road Entrance

Drive east on Rudgear Road from the intersection with I-680 approximately 0.6 miles to Young's Valley Road. Turn right on Young's Valley Road and drive to the entrance at the end of the road. There are two parking lots, picnic areas, and rest room facilities at this main entrance to Sugarloaf Open Space.

Grover Lane Entrance

Drive east on Rudgear Road from the intersection with I-680 approximately 0.5 miles to Grover Lane. Turn right on Grover Lane and drive to the end of the road. The entrance is on a short side road to the left just before the cul-de-sac at the end of Grover Lane.

Hackamore Lane/Roan Lane Entrance

Drive east on Rudgear Road from the intersection with I-680 approximately 0.7 miles to Trotter Way. Turn right on Trotter Way and drive 0.1 mile to Hackamore Lane. Drive to Roan Lane and turn right. Park on the road. The entrance is within a few yards.

Lariat Lane Entrance

Drive east on Rudgear Road from the intersection with I-680 approximately 0.7 miles to Trotter Way. Turn right on Trotter Way and drive 0.2 mile to Lariat Lane and turn right. The entrance is at the end of Lariat Lane.

Bridle Lane Entrance

Drive east on Rudgear Road from the intersection with I-680 approximately 0.7 miles to Trotter Way. Turn right on Trotter Way and drive 0.4 mile to Bridle Lane and turn right. The entrance is at the end of Bridle Lane on the left between two houses.

Heather Farm Nature Area Entrances

Equestrian Center parking lot

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road 1.8 miles to the intersection with San Carlos Drive. Turn left at the Shell station, entering the park. Drive down San Carlos. The road bends left just past the lake. Continue about 1/4 mile past the bend in the road. Turn left into the gravel parking lot of the Equestrian Center and park there.

Lake side parking lot

From downtown Walnut Creek, drive out Ygnacio Valley Road 1.8 miles to the intersection with San Carlos Drive. Turn left at the Shell station, entering the park. Drive straight down San Carlos Drive. You will see a large paved parking lot on the left side of the road. Turn left into the entrance at the far end of the lot and park there.