No fee, No aid; No wimps, No whiners

Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Start/Finish: Heather Farm Park
Course: Out and back keyhole on Contra Costa Canal & Ygnacio Canal Trails (paved, mostly flat, multi-use trails). Water every 4-6 miles. Vehicle access at about miles 8 & 23.

Directions to Heather Farm Park:
From Highway 24 or going north on 680, take the Ygnacio Valley Rd. exit in Walnut Creek. Take Ygnacio Valley Rd. east for 2 miles to San Carlos Drive and turn left. If going south on 680, take the North Main St. exit and go south on North Main to Ygnacio Valley Rd. Turn left and go 1.7 miles on Ygnacio Valley Rd. to San Carlos Drive. Take San Carlos to the far end of the park. Look for the Walnut Festival Association building on the right and tun right into the parking lot just past the Association building.

Course Directions: (Rule #1: Do not cut the course - Always use the crosswalks!)
Course Map
Trail maps are usually available at the kiosk opposite the bridge.
(#1 on map) Go north out of the Park, cross the little bridge and join the Contra Costa Canal Trail. Go east (right) on CC Canal Trail 2.34M to Citrus Ave. Cross Citrus and turn right onto Ygnacio Canal Trail for 4.6M to Ygancio Valley Rd. Cross the road and take the sidewalk right to the first street (Marchbanks). Turn left and at the next street (Heather Dr.) turn right. After passing the pool, turn left, cross the parking lot in front of the pool (get water) and go towards the playground opposite the pool. Go through the breezeway in the community building, across the driveway/parking lot and pick up the path going left, to your vehicle at the start/finish. Return to the CC Canal Trail (#2 on map), turn left this time and follow out to the turnaround at Muir Road (7.7M). Return to the start/finish (and your vehicle) at Heather Farm Park (turning right at bridge into park). Go south through Heather Farm Park, back through the breezeway at the community building, across the parking lot past the pool (get water) to Heather Dr. At Heather Dr. turn right, at Marchbanks turn left and at Ygnacio Valley Rd. go right to the stoplight. Cross YV Rd. and pick up the Ygnacio Canal Trail (#3 on map). Follow the Ygnacio Canal Trail to junction of CC Canal Trail at Pump House (4.6M). Go left on CC Canal trail back to the start/finish at Heather Farm Park (the finish is the bridge). Record your time on the sign-in sheet in the back of my yellow pick-up.

Water:
4.15M Arbolado Park
7.85M Heather Farm Park (vehicle access)
12.75M Las Juntas Park (or 7-11 on the corner)
18.25M Las Juntas Park (or 7-11 on the corner)
23.25M Heather Farm Park (vehicle access)
27M Arbolado Park
31.1M Heather Farm Park

Notes: 1. Always stay on the asphalt path. If you get on cinder or dirt for more than a few yds. you've gone the wrong way.

2. The turnaround is at Hwy 4/Muir Rd. where the paved trail ends (circle the post!).

3. On the Ygnacio Canal Trail at San Miguel Park (about M7 on loop #1) the trail will merge with the Briones - Mt. Diablo Trail. Follow the Briones - Mt. Diablo signs north (straight towards the hospital) to Ygnacio Valley Road. On the #3 loop, be sure to take the Ygnacio Canal Trail, bearing left, at it's intersection with the Mt. Diablo - Briones Trail just past the hospital.

4. Restrooms: At Heather Farm Park there are restrooms on the outside of the pool building. The only other restrooms on the course are at Arbolado Park & Walden Park, which is only about 1M from Heather Farm on the #2 out/back section. The restroom at Arbolado Park is at the top of the park (left on #1), past the tennis courts. There is not much off trail "cover" but there is some south of the Ygnacio Road underpass, at about 4M on #1 & 3.5M on #3. Las Juntas Park and the turnaround also offer some.

5. Water: There is a water fountain in front of the pool at Heather Farms but its volume is sometimes low. There are sinks/water in the restrooms. The water at Arbolado Park is just on the other side of the chain link fence as you skirt the park (the trail doesn't actually enter the park). The water at Las Juntas Park is just off the asphalt at the top of the small hill (great view of Mt. Diablo). If the water at Las Juntas is turned off, there is a 7-11 on the corner of Taylor Blvd. and Morello Ave. just after Las Juntas Park where you cross the road. I will try and check the water at Las Juntas on Saturday (it was off 3 weeks ago, but has been on since). Bring some cash for the 7-11 just in case! Or carry 2 bottles on this leg.