Ridge views. Beautiful wildflowers. Elevation gain 1,635'5.1 mile loop hike. Accessible year round. Well-maintained.
From the official trailhead, start off by taking the Homestead Trail, which forks towards the right. A trail connecting Homestead and Blue Ridge will take you to a creek nearby. Veer off the trail along the creek and there is a water hole for cooling off on hot days. Onward into the trail, you will start to walk through dense forest that offers a lot of shade. Blue Ridge is reached at a trail junction approximately 0.65 miles from the beginning of the Homestead Trail. Stay to the right to follow the Blue Ridge Trail to the northwest. The trail winds steeply towards the top of the Peak with wooden stairways and tall brush along the way. Trail markers are placed throughout the entire trail making it easy to stay on track.
The stunning views from the top are of lake Berryessa and surrounding mountains. After walking for about a mile along the ridge line, you'll start to descend, making your way back to the starting point of Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve. The entire hike loops around for approximately 5.1 miles.
There is free parking across the road and downhill from the trailhead. The trail is free with a suggested $2.00 donation and sign-in log book. Dogs are not permitted within the canyon, but they can be taken on the first 3 miles going up the ridge way. There is a portable restroom conveniently located at the start/end of the trail.