About this Adventure
A 4.69-mile loop hike on the King Canyon Loop trail in EBMUD watershed lands - rolling oak grasslands, shaded creek crossings, and big East Bay ridge views. A solid intro to East Bay backcountry hiking without leaving the bridge tolls behind.
We'll meet at the Valle Vista Staging Area at 9:30am sharp. The trail is moderate: ~750 ft of total gain, mostly on fire roads with a couple of singletrack sections. Plan for full sun on the exposed ridges and shade in the creek bottom - layers are your friend even in August.
Heads up: EBMUD watershed trails require a hiking permit ($15/year, available at ebmud.com or REI). Bring it with you - rangers do check. We'll send a reminder a few days out.
Bring water, a packed lunch, sturdy shoes, and a sense of adventure. Dogs are allowed on-leash. All experience levels welcome - we go at the pace of the group.
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We share the exact location, itinerary, packing list, and travel details with confirmed attendees only.
Wildlife & nature
Valle Vista and the King Canyon Loop pass through forest, scattered trees, wetland, grassland, and lake habitat where Moraga Creek flows into Upper San Leandro Reservoir. The variety of habitat types in a small area is what makes this such a strong birding spot - birdingplaces.eu lists it as one of the best places in the East Bay for Wood Duck and Wilson's Snipe year-round.
In winter, the reservoir draws a high diversity of ducks and other waterfowl - seeing 10+ waterfowl species on a single visit is possible. Spring and summer bring tyrant flycatchers (Western Kingbird, Western Wood-Pewee, Say's Phoebe), Black-headed Grosbeak, multiple vireos, and as many as 6 species of swallows swarming over the hills and water at once.
Year-round you can find all three local nuthatch species plus Purple Finch, Western Bluebird, Brown Creeper, California Thrasher, Bushtit, Wrentit, Osprey, American Kestrel, Bald Eagle, and Red-shouldered Hawk. Great Horned Owls often start calling before sunset. Deer are common; coyotes and feral pigs are occasionally seen.
Heads up on water levels: Upper San Leandro is a managed reservoir, so water depth doesn't track local weather. When the reservoir drops below 75 percent full, much of the water leaves the Valle Vista area and birds leave with it. EBMUD publishes a daily water-supply report (look for USL) if you want to check before going.
Sources: birdingplaces.eu/en/birdingplaces/united-states/valle-vista-staging-area-permit-only
Accessibility
King Canyon Loop is a roughly 6.6 mile loop with about 643 feet of elevation gain starting from EBMUD's Valle Vista Staging Area on Canyon Road in Moraga. The route is a mix of wide fire road and a single-track section, with the steepest part of the hike on a fire road climb. It is not a paved or wheelchair-accessible trail.
Valle Vista is on EBMUD watershed land, and EBMUD requires a Trail Use Permit to hike its watershed trails. As of 2026, a 1-day permit is $3 and a 1-year permit is $10; free 1-year permits are available for qualifying low-income households. Permit holders must be at least 18 years old; one permit covers the holder plus immediate family and up to three guests. Trails are open sunrise to sunset. Dogs are allowed on the King Canyon Loop on-leash at all times. EBMUD warns that rattlesnakes and ticks are active in season and advises hikers to stay on the trail.
For specific access questions, call EBMUD's recreation office at 510-287-0459 - they're the authoritative source. For trail emergencies on EBMUD lands, East Bay Regional Park Police 24-hour dispatch is 510-881-1833.
Sources: lamorindahikes.com/2013/05/25/kings-canyon-loop/ ebmud.com/recreation/buy-trail-permit ebmud.com/recreation/550/trail-use-permits-frequently-asked-questions ebmud.com/recreation/east-bay/east-bay-trails
Disclaimer & Media Release
By attending this Wilderness Queers event, you accept full responsibility for your own safety and acknowledge that the organizers are not liable for any injury, loss, or damage that may occur during the activity.
Photos and videos may be taken and shared on social media. By participating, you consent to being included. Please inform the host if you prefer not to be photographed.
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Carmen
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