Mulholland Magic

Hike Mulholland Ridge Open Space

To find a hidden slice of open space with great views and autumn hues, head to Mulholland Ridge Open Space Preserve, a little-known 250-acre open space area along Donald Drive on the boundary of Orinda and Moraga in the East Bay. Do the easy 2.5-mile out-and-back Mulholland Ridge Trail, strolling through golden cattle-grazed grasslands spotted with oak and coyote bush chaparral.

Keep an eye on the sky too. White-tailed kites, red-tailed hawks, and American kestrels like to hover low against the backdrop of Moraga Valley to the west and Mount Diablo to the east. The trail is paved the entire way to the gate at the top of Donald Drive, the entry for Orinda hikers and typical turn-around point. For more stunning views though, continue straight through the gate and immediately take a left at the bench. A 0.5-mile dirt ridgetop path leads to a water plant where a handful of meandering narrow trails are etched into the honeyed hillside on the right, overlooking neighborhoods accented by quickly changing arboreal bursts of bright green, red, and orange. Autumn calls!

Mulholland Ridge can be reached from the top of Donald Dr. in Orinda, or from the Hacienda de las Flores parking lot in Moraga. From Hacienda de las Flores, follow trail signs up behind the main building. Exit the gate at the top of Hacienda Trail and turn left to start the hike at the bottom of Donald Dr. Open dawn to dusk. Dog-friendly on paved portion.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View