Sunol wilderness has been my preferred overnight backpacking campground for a shake-out hike. If there are first time backpackers in my group, we hike to Sunol wilderness, stay overnight, so they can test their gear.
This is the trail we use.
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/sun-18-apr-2021-04-57-f5f8590
We hike through the McCorkle Trail and return via the Camp Ohlone trail (aka the Little Yosemite trail).
McCorkle trail is gorgeous in Spring. Poppies along the trail and great greenery.
Since we reserved only six weeks before the hike, we only got Sycamore campsite. I have stayed at the other campgrounds, so I thought Sycamore couldn’t be very different than the other campsites.
Turned out Sycamore campsite was pretty bad.
There is no level ground to pitch tents
There is heavy growth of weeds and sharp thorny bushes all around. We had to clear some of the ground to be able to fit 3 tents, albeit very tight
Did I mention thorny bushes? They were nasty, prickly and hurt.
We couldn’t take our boots off even for a short walk without hurting ourselves.
The sunset, sunrise and scenery is top notch, as always, but the next time, I will checkout Morgan Territory area for a shakedown hike.