Wildcat Canyon - Alvarado

This is one of our regular spots to walk the dog. It's especially great if it's been raining (if it ever does again) since it's paved. It's a multi-use trail so you'll see hikers and runners, kids on scooters and tricycles, bikers, and horses. If you're really ambitious, you can hike from the Alvarado staging area to Tilden's Nature Center, just over 4 miles. We're now doing just over 2 miles in and back. The trail is fairly level - except for the part at Alvarado. The first part has a pretty good hill from the parking area to the gate and it's steady uphill for about half a mile. I still need to take a break once in awhile but we realized today that my breaks are fewer and farther apart and we have a much faster pace. There are great views of the grassland and oaks on the hills. Today we spent some time watching a group of hawks on the hunt. It's amazing that this trail feels so far from humanity and you're actually hiking just feet from someone's back fence.

Park information is here.

Complete photo set is here.