One of the entrances to Shell Ridge is at the top end of Marshall Drive just past El Verano Drive and Indian Valley Elementary School.  There are several trails that take off from this entrance.

Shell Ridge is the largest open space owned by the citizens of Walnut Creek.  It was approved as a bond measure in the 1980’s, with the help of several of our current homeowners, Peg Kovar who was on the City Council and Gary Ginder who served on the Planning Commission.  There are 31 miles of trails for biking, hiking and riding through oak woodlands and grassland on the lower hills of Mount Diablo.  Shell Ridge gets it’s name from the marine fossils left behind from the ocean waters that covered the area.

It is about five or six miles to hike across to the east side where Borges Ranch sits—a registered Historic Site and ranch from the early 1900’s.   Shell Ridge connects to the East Bay Regional Open Space to the south.

Many people have added new Oak Trees over the years.  One Walnut Heights neighbor, Jerry Fritzke, has categorized all the Shell Ridge wild flowers.  He leaves his Wildflower lists at the gate during the Spring and leads interesting Wildflower hikes

throughout this and other open space.

For further information see wwwwalnut-creekorg