The words remote and lonely are often uttered by hikers after a day on the trails at Morgan Territory. Although smaller in acreage than EBRPD's Chabot, Black Diamond Mines, or Briones, Morgan Territory feels more expansive than any of those parks. And with trail connections to Round Valley, Los Vaqueros, and Mount Diablo, Morgan Territory has become the hub of a rugged eastern Contra Costa County greenbelt.
     A desolate feeling sets in almost as soon as you exit Interstate 580. North Livermore Avenue cuts through flat fields and ranch land, and then single lane Morgan Territory Road heads up into the hills. After a few white knuckle miles, you'll arrive at the sparse parking lot. Most people do not show up at Morgan Territory for picnics or birthday parties, or stumble onto the trailhead; hikers, equestrians, and cyclists make the pilgrimage to this preserve for serious outdoor excursions. Wildflower enthusiasts flock to Morgan Territory in March, April, and May, when many plants unfurl and bloom with furious intensity. Grassy hillsides and valleys are taken over in a harlequin display of johnnytuck, California buttercup, goldenfields, popcorn flowers, broadleaf filaree, woodland star, fiddleneck, and bludicks. Tucked away in the woods you might glimpse larkspur and chinese houses. As spring fades into summer, temperatures soar at Morgan Territory. If you visit in warm months, carry plenty of water and consider shorter treks. High temps often persist into autumn, which has its own charms. Morgan Territory's oaks and maples provide a foliage show prior to winter, when the manzanitas do their part, filling the breezes on crisp cool days with the scent of their blossoms. Winter rains contribute to muddy conditions in this cow-grazed park. Then spring rolls around and the whole cycle begins again. Unless you're visiting Morgan Territory on a hot day, bring a jacket. The temperature in the park is usually lower than the surrounding areas, and winds drop the temperature even lower.
      For the featured hike, begin at the information signboard. Start hiking on multi-use Volvon Trail. After about 170 feet, Coyote Trail sets out on the left at a signed junction. Bear right on Volvon. In spring, you might see carpets of johnnytuck and California buttercups on the right side of the trail. The wide trail crests at 0.12 mile, and meets the other leg of Volvon. Bear left.
      Volvon Trail is lined with coast live oaks. A few California bays, deciduous oaks, and buckeyes are also present. Ignore any shortcuts and paths that break off from Volvon, as the wide trail descends gently through grassland and trees. At 0.3 mile, Volvon joins a broad trail heading north from the park boundary. Bear left to remain on Volvon.
      The trail travels the length of a small valley,then emerges into another grassy diminutive bowl between the hills. Along the sides of the trail you might see fiddlenecks, woodland star, bluedicks, filaree, and johnnytuck in spring. A look to the left reveals Mount Diablo's profile. At 0.6 mile, Volvon Trail meets Whipsnake Trail at a signed junction. Turn left to remain in Volvon. Just a few steps later, at 0.7 mile. Volvon Trail meets Blue Oak Trail at a signed junction. Bear right onto Blue Oak Trail.
      Blue Oak Trail, open to cyclists, equestrians, and hikers, passes a pretty coast live oak, then a few fruit and walnut trees, before undertaking a brief climb. In early spring there are substantial swaths of popcorn flowers and filaree on the right. Drifting easily downhill, Blue Oak Trail permits more nice views of Mount Diablo's peaks. Blue and valley oaks dot the grassland. At 1.3 miles, Blue Oak Trail reaches a signed junction with Miwok Trail. Bear left to remain on Blue Oak Trail.
      Sweeping west, the trail is nearly level. A rough path breaks off the trail on the left. This is not Hummingbird Trail, which is a little further down the trail, at 1.4 miles. When you reach the signed junction with Hummingbird, if you're ready to cut your hike short, you can turn left there and return to the trailhead via Volvon and Condor Trails. If you're up for the longer hike, bear right to remain on Blue Oak Trail.
     Blue Oak Trail climbs a hill, then resumes an easy grade. Oaks and buckeyes crowd the trail. This is a very quiet part of the preserve. On my early spring hike, woodland star was the dominant bloom along the trail. At 2 miles, Blue Oak Trail ends at a signed junction with Volvon Trail. (This junction provides the last opportunity to shorten the hike. If you're ready to turn back, take Volvon to the left, back to the trailhead.) Turn right on Volvon Trail.
     A slight descent on Volvon Trail will bring you to a pit toilet, cattle gate, and signed junction at about 2.1 miles. Valley View Trail heads off to the right. Continue straight on Volvon.
      After a short climb through oaks and grassland, Volvon reaches a signed junction at a notch in the hills, at 2.4 miles. To the right, Volvon sets of on a circuit around Bob Walker Ridge; this is an option to extend your hike. Long views of Mount Diablo unfold to the north. The hills of Los Vaqueros are partially visible to the east. Your future route rambles downhill into a valley. This notch is a great place for lunch, unless it's a cool day. The breezes that will dry your sweat on a hot day, are not so welcome when it's chilly. Bear left and descend on Volvon Trail.
     Volvon begins a descent. The trail is lumpy from cow travel. You might see California poppies, bluedicks, and fiddlenecks in the grass during spring. At 2.7 miles, Volvon Trail meets Stone Corral Trail at a signed junction. Turn left.
      Rocks hunker down beneath oaks on the right side of the trail. Multi-use Stone Corral Trail descends, in sections rather sharply, toward the valley floor. This was the only area of the preserve where I encountered cows. You'll pass through a cattle gate, and then ignoring a path on the left along a creekbed, reach a signed junction with Coyote Trail at 3.3 miles. Turn left on Coyote Trail, a hiking only path.
      Coyote Trail begins by following the contour of a grassy hillside, but soon drops down to a cattle gate at the edge of woods.The trail splits, but the two legs soon rejoin and then climb easily along a seasonal creek. California bay, buckeye, coast live and black oak, and big-leaf maple provide a canopy. In the understory you might see honeysuckle, toyon, coffeeberry, snowberry, and lots of poison oak. Narrow Coyote Trail hops across the creekbed, then reaches a grassy section where manzanitas are sprinkled under the trees on the left side of the trail. At 4.1 miles, hiking-only Mollok Trail begins on the right side of the trail at a signed junction. Continue straight on Coyote Trail.
     You'll finally work to regain all of the hike's lost elevation on this stretch of trail. Coyote Trail climbs, occasionally very steeply, along the creekbed. Creambush and poison oak are common. In spring, look for shooting stars and blue larkspur. The trail crosses a feeder creek near a pile of large boulders, and keeps on climbing. A rough path breaks off to the left at the top of one steep pitch. Look left there for a view of a high rocky reef to the east. Then look back over your shoulder for a glimpse of Diablo, and the vista out of the canyon. On my hike in April there were scads of Chinese houses and blue larkspur on the left side of the trail. Then it's back to the ascent, which remains mostly wooded, although you'll pass a few more manzanitas and some grassy patches. Coyote Trail eventually reaches the creekbed. Trails seem to take off in every direction here, but you want to cross the creek, then head uphill on the right side of the creekbed. Huge rock boulders perch on both side of the trail and creek. Some have grinding bowls worn into them, testament to Morgan Territory's first residents, the Volvons. At the crest of the hill, Coyote Trail steps out of the woods. A few feet further, you'll veer left and skirt the banks of a pond, then drop down to a signed junction with Condor Trail at 4.8 miles. Bear right on Coyote Trail.
     The trail cuts through a meadow, and meets a previously encountered junction at 4.9 miles. Turn right and retrace your steps to the trailhead, which is visible from the junction.

Total distance: 4.9 miles
Last hiked: Monday, April 2, 2001