Eagle Peak via Donner Canyon

This as a really nice hike. I started out in the lowlands meadows, following Donner Creek.
It's nicely shady during most of the first part of your journey. It starts out flat, then goes uphill until you come to Meridian Ridge Road.
 
The sign points to the left, (Park Boundary,) where you'd find the Falls Loop Trail if you went that way. However, we're going to the right. At about 0.1 miles you'll see the exit from the Falls Loop Trail. It's better to go the other way in, as the view approaching the falls is much better. 

Continue along Meridian Ridge Road about 1.6 miles until you come to the Eagle Peak Trail shooting off to the right. Shade on this section is sporadic as the sun comes over the ridge above you. There is also a lot of uphill along here. It IS a ridge road, after all.

At the point where you turn off onto the Eagle Peak trail there is another trail right across the road... a much smaller looking trail that seems to go straight up. This is the Bald Ridge Trail and yes, it does go straight up! As you go up Eagle Peak Trail look back and you will see it.

As you go up the Eagle Peak Trail, you will come to the first peak, (there's no name on my map,) and you will see Eagle Peak across the way. If you look back you can see Bald Ridge Trail, yes, going straight up the ridge. Wonderful!

As you continue, you should check off to the sides for future trips. Turn around and look back. To your left you will see the Donner canyon road that you came in on. Directly behind you, you will see Meridian Ridge road, going left and right. On your right side you will see Mitchell Canyon Fire road. That's Mt. Diablo directly ahead and Mt. Olympia, (the north peak,) off to your left. Plus, there goes Bald Ridge Trail straight up the mountain towards Mt. Diablo.

Turn forward again, facing Eagle Peak, and look off to your right; that path running along the ridge-top is Meridian Ridge Road. 

The trail between the first unnamed peak and Eagle Peak is really cool. You go through what is almost a tunnel through the bushes in the saddle, then you come out and climb up to the peak, for an excellent view all around you.

When you leave here, it is all downhill to get back to your car.
Other pics will be on the photo page here.

Directions:

From I-680 in Walnut Creek, go out Ygnacio Valley Road 7.6 miles.
Turn right on Clayton Road and drive 1.5 miles to Marsh Creek road.
Turn right on Marsh Creek Road and go about 1/2 mile to Mountaire Pkwy.
Turn right onto Mountaire Pkwy, drive to the end and park. 
You are at Donner Canyon. That's Regency Drive right across the way from you.

The Hike:

You are going to start out Donner Canyon Road about 1.5 miles until you come to Meridian Ridge Road.
Turn right onto Meridian Ridge Road, (turning left here would take you to the Falls Trail, on the way to the Park Boundary.)
Follow Meridian Ridge Road about 1.6 miles until you come to Eagle Peak Trail.
Turn right onto Eagle Peak Trail 0.8 miles to Eagle Peak. 
Then continue 2.1 miles to Coulter Pine Trail. 
Turn right onto Bruce Lee Road and go 0.2 miles to Back Creek Trail.
Turn left 0.2 miles and you're back where you started, at Regency Drive.

Eagle Peak, from Meridian Ridge Road.
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Looking back at the unnamed peak, and Mt. Diablo,  as I'm approaching Eagle Peak.
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An interesting spot along the way.
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This is the trip up Eagle Peak from the saddle in between the peaks.
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Me, at Eagle Peak.
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Eagle Peak Trail on the route out.
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That's Meridian Ridge Road, running along that ridge in the fore-ground.
You can also see Donner Canyon where the falls are. 
It's that main canyon right in front of you.
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