For Brothers! Join a brotherhood that hikes through life’s ups and downs, finding strength and community in the great outdoors. Our Monthly MCC Brothers Hike caters to various fitness levels and explores East Bay’s serene landscapes. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just looking to start, we welcome you to share in this journey of fellowship and discovery.

Saturday, May 18 | 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. | Brushy Peak Regional Preserve | No children, please (teenage boys, okay) | RSVP at mcceastbay.org/brothers-hike

If brothers want to walk around more, they can do it depending on their interest/time. The hike will be canceled if there are insufficient RSVPs, depending on the weather.

• – When: Saturday, May 18, 2024
• – Time: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. – Please arrive a little early to park and find the group. The group can wait till 7:40 a.m. and will start the hike. Please be on time since we cannot hold the group.
• – Carpool: We highly recommend carpooling. No carpool from MCC is available for this hike. Carpool encouraged others on this hike.
• – Parking: Free
• – Location: Brushy Peak Regional Preserve
• – Trail: Brushy Peak Loop Trail and West Side Loop Trail Loop
• – Distance: 4.5 miles.
• – All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/brushy-peak-loop-trail-and-west-side-loop-trail-loop
• – Difficulty: Moderate.
• – Misc: Pack a snack and water for yourself. Wear hiking shoes if possible. Bring a small breakfast/ Lunch sandwich or something to eat. Carry enough water, a hat, and a light jacket. Please download All Trails map (free version) in case you decide to return in the middle of the hike. This will be very helpful in navigating back to the parking lot.
• – RSVP: By Friday, May 17, please let us know you are coming for this hike: https://mcceastbay.org/brothers-hike

Mohammed Kadoura leads these monthly hikes for the brothers. If you have trouble finding the group on the day of the hike, please call or text Br. Mohammed at (617) 935-7347. Please remember that we cannot hold all the group, so we request you to please be on time.

For future hikes, please subscribe to the MCC newsletter and/or add your phone number to the Men’s Hiking WhatsApp group.

Please wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, carry a water bottle, a small snack, a hat, sunglasses, and hiking poles if you have one. 

Questions? hiking@mcceastbay.org

About this trail:

Experience this 4.5-mile loop trail near Livermore, California. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 5 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, mountain biking, and running, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime.

This trail takes you almost to the very top of Brushy Peak, and has some fairly steep sections. Although the terrain is initially grassy and relatively smooth, as the trail climbs, it begins to pass through outcroppings of sandstone that add texture to the landscape. The large ponds at the base of the peak provide habitat for frogs and turtles, as well as the occasional San Joaquin kit fox. At the apex of the climb, you are rewarded with views of the sweeping ranchland and rolling hills that surround the park, as well as the windmills of Altamont Pass. This trail is best when the grasses are green during or just after the wet season.

Trail Directions: From Laughlin Ranch Staging Area, head slightly uphill to find the trailhead marked Brushy Peak Loop Trail. Follow Brushy Peak Loop Trail for 1.16 miles, until you reach a cattle gate. Cross through the gate, and then head west to stay on Brushy Peak Loop Trail for another 2.1 miles. Once you reach the junction with West Loop Trail, take a left and continue downhill to finish the loop. Make sure to keep right around the cattle pond, as there are many branching, small trails. Continue for 0.93 miles, then safely cross Laughlin Road to re-enter Laughlin Ranch Staging Area and finish your hike.