The land which now comprises Rockville Hills Regional Park was purchased by the City of Fairfield in the late 1960's, with the intention to develop the property as a golf course. Instead, the 600 acre parcel became a park, and is now managed by the City of Fairfield. Most of the park is comprised of oak savannah, with some sections of chaparral and grassland. A thin layer of topsoil covers volcanic rock, which can be seen throughout the park in outcroppings and caves. As the soil has been washed or worn away, bare sections of rock have emerged, making some trail segments slickrock.
      Very few of Rockville's trails are signed, and there are innumerable shortcuts, making it hard to tell the genuine trails from the illegal ones. I don't really think that opening the park to cattle grazing in the winter has helped matters. When I visited Rockville in 2000, on a dreary winter day, I was bugged by the mud, cows, and the nasty condition of Cave Trail. However, on a sunny spring day in 2002, things didn't look nearly as grim. Rocky and steep, Cave Trail is always going to be a mess unless it is reconfigured, cows keep the grass short, helping to prevent fires, and spring brought a scenic beauty to Rockville. There were plenty of wildflowers still blooming, softening the ascent on Cave Trail. Upper Lake glistened bright blue, butterflies and dragonflies flitted everywhere, and even the cows were sedate and well-behaved. I've decided that like practically everything else in life, a hike at Rockville all depends on your perspective.
     My hikes here follow a familiar pattern, with slight variations each visit. I head uphill from the main trailhead, turn right onto the paved fire road, descend through oaks back toward Rockville Road, climb on Cave Trail, wander through the valley, then add on a short loop before returning back downhill to the trailhead. I like this tour through Rockville's variety of plant communities, especially in spring, when wildflower lovers can glimpse many common and some unusual blooming plants. If this roundabout hike does not suit you, there are plenty of other options. You may find that Rockville is best experienced if you give up any semblance of control and just wander around. This is not a huge park, and it's pretty easy to navigate through the gently sloped oak-studded hills without losing your sense of direction. If you're a new hiker, or don't have good navigating skills, bring a compass to aid you. The Bay Area Ridge Trail runs through the park, and you can read more about Rockville in The Bay Area Ridge Trail book, or visit the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council's website.  
     For the featured hike, start at the trailhead and walk uphill on the wide dirt trail. Ignore all of the side paths that wander off from Rockville Trail, and continue to ascend through grassland dominated by buckeye, and blue and coast live oaks. The grade varies from easy to moderate, with a few short stretches over exposed rock. Look for a dramatic rock formation off in the distance on the left side of the trail. In spring, you might see clarkia, Chinese houses, bluedicks, vetch, and linanthus. At 0.42 mile, the trail crests and a pretty valley comes into view. At this (poorly signed) junction, turn right onto the paved road, following the signpost directions, an arrow and the words "NORTH THRD."
     Stay on the wide paved trail as many side paths take off to the right and left. The trees lining the trail are mostly blue oaks. Springtime flowers include clarkia, bluedicks, owl's clover, blue and white lupine, larkspur, and Ithuriel's spear. The trail ascends along a rolling ridge, with views of the valley to the left, and of the distant surrounding Napa County mountains to the right and straight ahead. After traveling though oak grassland, the trail begins to descend through a landscape comprised of manzanita, toyon, sticky monkeyflower, and oaks. You'll pass a few more paths on each side of the trail. Stay to the left as the paved trail splits, at 1.10 miles. Shortly after, the paved trail ends at the north trailhead gate, at about 1.19 miles.
     Take the first trail to the left (you should be headed uphill; the other trail runs parallel to the road). Although the path is poorly maintained, it's a blast to navigate if you approach it with the spirit of adventure. It's tough to discern the main trail, but just keep climbing uphill -- the first section is the steepest and the worst. Most of the small wooden logs installed to stabilize the trail surface have been tossed to the sides of the trail as the topsoil has worn away, leaving bare rock as a trail surface in sections. This is one of the trails the cows seem to leave alone, so look for "wild" animal footprints, including bobcat and deer. The vegetation is mostly chaparral, with lots of manzanita, as well as some coast live oak, chamise, creambush, monkeyflower, poison oak, and coyote brush. As you get near the base of an electric tower, look uphill to the left for a view of a small cave. Unfortunately, this and some of Rockville's other large rock formations have been vandalized with spray paint. You'll reach an unsigned multi-trail junction at 1.43 miles. (If you want to extend your hike, take Technical Trail to the right. At the first junction, turn left, then take the next left, and continue straight through the next two junctions to return to Upper Lake, and follow the remaining feature hike directions.) Continue straight down into the valley.
     On the right side of trail a few steps from the junction there's an interesting "rock wall" partially hidden by a buckeye tree. As you wind through the oak savannah, look for rock formations, some covered with moss, on the right side of the trail. At 1.52 miles, a fire road feeds in from the left. Continue straight. It can be hard to stay on course here; if you have been lucky enough to get your hands on a paper map, you can sometimes determine your location based on the position of the electric towers. At 1.57 miles, Rock Gardens Trail sets off on the right, at an unmarked junction. Bear right.
     The narrow path keeps a level course through grassland dotted with blue and coast live oaks. In spring I noted patches of linanthus and white brodiaea blooming on both sides of the trail. Uphill to the right, swarms of bees buzzed around flowering hollyleaf cherry shrubs growing nestled amongst huge boulders. Trails break off on both sides, but persist on Rock Gardens Trail, aiming for the right shore of Upper Lake. At 1.92 miles, just before a picnic table, bear right onto an unsigned trail. After just a few steps, the trail disintegrates into chaos, but if you look to the left a signed junction beckons. Turn left, and at 1.98 miles, you'll reach an undersigned junction. Take the second right onto Arch Trail (this is a small path, not to be confused with the wider fire road to the right).
     Narrow Arch Trail winds through grassland and buckeyes, and blue and coast live oaks. In spring, larkspur, owl's clover, and linanthus are common. The grade is nearly level, with a slight uphill inclination. At 2.08 miles, a steep shortcut veers off to the left. Continue straight. Arch Trail curves around the hill, eventually delving into a woodland where you might see Chinese houses blooming in spring. At 2.44 miles, just before a major junction, an unsigned trail departs to the left, uphill. Turn left onto Mystic Ridge Trail.
     This medium-width rocky trail ascends sharply, initially under shade of coast live and blue oaks. Mystic Ridge Trail emerges in grassland and flattens out near the crest of a grassland plateau. Poppies dot the grassland in early spring, but by May the grass is so tall that almost all the flowers are obscured. This beautiful area is my favorite part of the park, and offers great view west and north. At 2.62 miles, an unsigned spur feeds in from the right. As you continue along the ridge, another unsigned path shoots off to the left, at 2.68 miles. Continue to the right. Electric towers loom ahead, as the trail splits at 2.78 miles. Either path is an option, for both end at the fire road. Stay to the left. In early May I enjoyed a bunch of owl's clover last pink gasp on the right. At 2.88 miles, Mystic Ridge Trail ends at an unsigned junction with a fire road. Turn left.
     The wide fire road descends at a moderate grade, revealing views to Upper Lake. At 3.02 miles, you'll reach a previously encountered junction. Turn right.
     Upper Lake sprawls on the left as the fire road sweeps through grassland and oaks. Cattle are common in this part of the park. At about 3.08 miles, you'll face another unsigned junction, where another fire road heads right. Continue straight. The fire road skirts Upper Lake, and two more paths depart on the right. You'll reach a barely signed junction at 3.25 miles. Turn right.
     At a close to flat pace, the fire road meanders through an oak savannah. Ignore a trail sweeping right at 3.37 miles, continuing to 3.44 miles, and a previously encountered junction, with the paved fire road. Turn right, walk a few steps to a familiar junction, then turn left, (signed with an arrow and "ROCKVILLE TRHD") and retrace your steps back to the trailhead.

Total distance: 3.82 miles
Last hiked: Thursday, May 2, 2002

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