Packed parking lot, but relatively empty trails

Coppertone and I picked this trail because it was close to our home and one that we had not yet mapped.  A friend recommended this very trail on the day we were making this choice the day prior to our hike.  So we had high hopes for miles of flat easy trails to get some distance in.

We were a bit shocked to pull up to the parking lot and find it packed.  Overflow parking was lining the roads.  We actually thought about just abandoning the effort and going elsewhere.  In the end we found a spot along the road and decided to give it a shot.

I'm not sure exactly where all of those people were.  The trails were not deserted, but the number of people did not match up with the cars at all. It was strange and surprising, but in a good way.

As expected the trails were about as flat as could be.  This was a welcome change from the last outing we did at Hood Mountain where the steep slopes did our unconditioned legs in.

We followed the Mike Hike & Bike Trail from the trailhead to the junction with the Napa River Bay Trail and turned right.  The trail here also constitutes a disconnected section of the San Francisco Bay Trail.  There's a little bit of tree cover here, but enjoy it while it lasts.  Pretty soon the trees will disappear and you'll be subjected to direct Sun for much of the hike.  Remember to apply your sunscreen!

We saw numerous ground squirrels darting around the slopes of the levee on which much of the trail tops.  Entrances to their burrows dot the landscape.  You may also see them quickly traversing the trail itself as you near an area where they are foraging.

Wetlands attract plenty of shorebirds and there were plenty to spy along the trail.

We turned around at the end of Green Island Road since the spot could serve as a trailhead in a future visit when we'd explore more of the trail to the north.  We retraced our steps and headed back to the car, logging over 5 miles.