OverviewMount Vaca is the Solano County High Point. This would make a great first highpoint as it is really easy to get to and there is no possibility of getting lost. Round trip is less than 2 miles of easy hiking. Takes 45 minutes to an hour round trip.
Mt. Vaca is really just the highest point on Rocky Ridge, a 2000'+ north south running ridgeline sitting north of I-80. This hightpoint will give you great views of the surrounding area for very little effort. On a clear days you can see much of the central valley and delta. Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tamalpias, Mt. St Helena and Snow Mountain as well as the Sierra Nevada's can be seen even with a bit of haze. If you get really lucky with the weather you might see the Golden Gate bridge and Mt. Lassen.
Getting ThereTake I-80 to the Cherry Glen Road exit. This is located between the towns of Fairfield and Vacaville. Head north on Cherry Glen about 1 mile to Pleasants Valley Rd turn left (north again) and continue 5 mile through this quiet valley to Mix Canyon Rd. Turn Left on Mix Canyon. You will immeadiatly see signs saying Not A THROUGH ROAD, RESTRICTED ENTRY. Ignore them. Drive up the winding road noticing the beautiful scenery. Please do not act like this is a race track. There are many homes tucked in the hills here and quite a bit of rockfall as you near the top. This road would make a fantastic bike ride. Its quite scenic and there isn't much traffic. The road is paved all the way up to the trailhead approx 4.7 miles up.
The trailhead is actually a fork in the road. The left fork has a gate.,this is the trail. Park in the turnout on the right.
Walk through the gate and head up the hill. Soon you will start to descend a little. Keep going on this road for a half mile or so, as you approach the squre tower that looks like a gaurd tower you will branch off to the right (See cover photo). The summit is at this tower less than a half mile further. You can't miss it. You will end up at tower 20. Enjoy the view.
TRed TapeThe gate at the traihead is marked "no tresspassing", however in Gary Suttle's "California County Summits" he claims that the public has a "prescriptive easement" that means we can walk on the trail which is really an access road. Be warned service trucks sometimes use this road, stay to the side as the ones I saw were in a hurry. I would imagine that as long as people stay out of the fenced in areas around the towers we will continue to be welcome.
When To ClimbI highly recommend the fall, winter or spring. Summer will be hot. This looks like prime rattlesnake country to me, mixed in to the chaparral are lots of rocks to hide under and sun on. I doubt you will see snakes if you stick to the road but its not unheard of. I recommend caution when walking around the fence line, especially in warmer weather.
CampingThere is camping about 8 miles north on Pleasants Valley Rd at Lake Solano County Park near Putah Creek.
EtymologyAlso Valley, Vacaville, Mountains
"These places perpetuate the name of the Vaca family, which came to California in 1841 from New Mexico, where Vaca is a well-known surname. Juan Manuel Vaca was co-grantee of the Los Putos or Lihuaytos grant, dated Aug. 30, 1845, on which the town is situated. The plat of the town was filed in Dec. 1851, and the township was created and named on Nov. 1, 1852. Vaca Valley and Mountains are mentioned in the Statues of 1855."
- Erwin Gudde, California Place Names
External Links Images
|
SF Bay Area Peaks
