Northern California - Mt Diablo - return route question

I climb Mt Diablo almost every weakend - Up south gate, down north gate and back through walnut creek to where I'm staying. Its easier that way because where i stay is a mile or two from athenian school.

Once off the mountain in walnut creek, I usually take a MUP that connects off Oak Grove that then connects with the Iron Horse trail. thus avoid Ygnacio Valley Road. This is the only way I had figured out preivously.

Then one day I joined up with some guys from Oakland and they took a route that went behind John Muir hospital and eventually wound up in downtown walnut creek - minimal MUP. But there was one very brief section that we had to dismount an walk. This was better than the route i usuallly take

that was a while ago. So i tried it again this weekend...got to the john muir hospital part. but i couldnt figure out what happens after that. I rode all over the place and wound up going on the sidewalk in the wrong direction for a half block on ygnacio before turning on to Homestead. after that it was fine.

How do i get from the hospital to homestead drive w/o going on Ygnacio. i looked at google maps but couldnt figure it out.

You can't, but you can ride on the sidewalk for about a block of Ygnacio.

That trail behind the hospital puts you on La Casa Via, then you take Montego which kind of parallels Ygnacio and then it turns and stops at Ygnacio and you get on the sidewalk until Homestead.

The other option is like you were doing but take Walnut/Bancroft to the canal trail, or cut through Heather Farms. Oak Grove is really the long way around.

Here's the whole route :
http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ca/walnut-creek/273061846

thats what i mean about the sidewalk part on ygnacio. I swear these guys i was with found a way that didnt take the sidewalk. its like looking for the Northwest Passage. but i might give the heather's farms route a go.

thats what i mean about the sidewalk part on ygnacio. I swear these guys i was with found a way that didnt take the sidewalk. its like looking for the Northwest Passage. but i might give the heather's farms route a go.

When you had to dismount and walk... where was that and how far was it?
There might be a passable route from Montego to Homestead across that undeveloped area behind the hill but it wouldn't save you any time over the sidewalk.

I'm pretty sure I would know about it if it were there. I was on the bicycle advisory committee and we canvassed that whole area looking for alternatives. I suggested they close one lane of Ygnacio to put in a bike lane... wasn't well received.

The Heather Farm route adds less than a mile and it's pretty nice (look for Walnut, Las Lomas, and San Carlos) - there's a gas station with a good selection of drinks and stuff too.

yeah the dismount part was like 15 or 20 yards. you're right about the distances being about the same, but i have this thing about riding on the sidewalk

There's must be a path somewhere between Montego and Homestead.
I have friends who used to leave in the northeast side of this neighborhood, they had a couple paths allowing them to reach the neighborhood pool from adjacent streets.

I did this last weekend & did a route that used the sidewalk on Ygnacio:

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4947

I also did a ride earlier in the year - there is a short dirt path that goes between Montego & Craigmont (close to Homestead)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7638147

I did this last weekend & did a route that used the sidewalk on Ygnacio:

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4947

I also did a ride earlier in the year - there is a short dirt path that goes between Montego & Craigmont (close to Homestead)

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7638147

you know what I'm pretty sure its the cragmont route. I think the problem was that were some work crews doing something there so i couldnt go that way....interesting. the first route....that's the one i did the other day looking for the dirt trail

thats what i mean about the sidewalk part on ygnacio. I swear these guys i was with found a way that didnt take the sidewalk. its like looking for the Northwest Passage. but i might give the heather's farms route a go.

Yep,

It used to be there. You would have accessed the said secret passage right after you got on the sidewalk on Montego before Ygnacio. It dropped you out on Cragmont Ct. From Cragmont, it was a quick and easy manuver over to Homestead.

Last time I checked, someone is building on the property, so the access is no more.

BR

Yep,

It used to be there. You would have accessed the said secret passage right after you got on the sidewalk on Montego before Ygnacio. It dropped you out on Cragmont Ct. From Cragmont, it was a quick and easy manuver over to Homestead.

Last time I checked, someone is building on the property, so the access is no more.

BR

you've confirmed it. i wasnt out of my mind. I spent 1/2 hour that morning looking for that spot. oh well