Category: bedrock mortars

Sindicich Lagoon – Martinez

James Benneybedrock mortars

Sindicich Lagoon – Briones Regional Park – Lafayette Entrance

 

 

Head on out the Abrigo Valley Trail. This is a 5-6 mile round trip with a several hundred foot climb up to the top of the world. Great trails all around.

 

Most of the way up the hill turn right on the Briones Crest Trail.

 

Do not take the first Lagoon Trail down to the left unless you want to pound down a couple extra miles. Bob did. Said it was very nice. That’s the sacred mountain Mt. Diablo looming in the distance.

 

Take the second Lagoon Trail to the left.

 

This singleton mortar, accompanied by 2 possibles, is about 150 yards north of the lagoon. What the heck somebody was processing here we don’t know.

 

The Lagoon is very special. Worth a visit. You can get here via several trail heads into Briones Park, including Martinez.

 

The fires indicate the number of bedrock mortars we have found at each of these remaining important sites. 

To view our complete Bay Area GoogleEarth Map click on

 

Vargas Plateau – Fremont

James BenneyActive Springs

Vargas Plateau – Fremont

This recently opened park offers 360 degree views of the south bay and the Alameda Creek Watershed which extends all the way into Henry Coe State Park.

An easy 1/2 hour saunter takes you to this unique power spot featuring 1 mortar at the top and 2 more possible mortars a little ways down the rock outcrop.

We spent the rest of the day in the oak and bay woodlands below. Wonderfully peaceful.

“Hiking, the best exercise known to mankind” anonymous

 

 

Excellent raptor viewing on the plateau.

 

The rock outcrop is just to the left of the Deer Gulch Loop Trail.

 

We call the mortar on the top boulder a Power Spot. Not a village or camp.

 

Bob is pointing at Mission Peak to the south.

 

Although one might think these are dry barren hills there are active
springs gurgling out all over the place.

 

By chance we came across this single mortar right behind the barn in the parking lot.

 

The fires indicate important remaining Native American Indian Sites.

To view our complete Bay Area map click on
https://eastbayhillpeople.com/eastbayhillpeople/Map/

China Wall – Danville

James Benneybedrock mortars

China Wall
Macedo Ranch – Danville.

Save Mount Diablo holds their annual Moonlight on the Mountain fundraiser here but we’ll bet very few people are aware of the distinct, unusual, 4 Bedrock Mortar rock tucked right into the wall.

Great views of the mountain and Castle Rock.

Possible ceremonial site in ancient times.

One of the deepest mortars we’ve ever encountered. Not used for pounding acorns.

Contemplate, Meditate, Consecrate.

Take a picnic, take a book, take a guitar, take a nap, take some kids.

Mt Diablo State Park

 

 

Start here and follow the middle trail up the hill to the gap and around the corner.
An easy 40 minute hike with 300-400 foot climb.

 

You can get there from Castle Rock Park too.
Come up Pine Creek to the top of the little Yosemite Trail.

 

The mortar hole is quite deep.

 

The fires indicate important remaining Native American Indian Sites and
the number of bedrock mortars we have found at each site.

For our full Bay Area GoogleEarth map click here. https://eastbayhillpeople.com/eastbayhillpeople/Map/

 

Lynch Canyon – Fairfield

James Benneybedrock mortars

Lynch Canyon – Solano County Land Trust.

This rare gem of a hike is right off Interstate 80 between American Canyon and Cordelia.

45 minutes tops to this site on foot.

Our GoogleEarth map shows 51 Bedrock Mortars but we’ve found more now. 58.

Feel the continued presence of the people who lived here. Take a picnic, take a book, take a nap, take a friend.

 

Start here. Right now it’s only open 9-5 Friday to Monday.

 

Take the Lynch Road Trail to Middle Valley Trail.

 

Go down the Tower Trail, through the gate, and into the trees and rocks to the left.

 

Heather studies a unique bowl.

 

There are 21 nice mortars on this rock and 37 on the spot next to it. A village site. Possibly
for thousands of years.

 

Nice to see an acknowledgement of the Native American history in this park.
Visitors? We think they lived here.

 

The numbers indicate the bedrock mortars we have found at each site.

To view our complete Bay Area map click on
https://eastbayhillpeople.com/eastbayhillpeople/Map/

Alder Spring – Redwood City

James Benneybedrock mortars

Russian Ridge Preserve – Redwood City.

This easy 1/2 hour jaunt from your car is well worth it.

Our latest bedrock mortar count on this one rock is 35. All shapes and sizes. On a nice little shelf above the creek which still has water in it in September.

 

Take the Charquin Trail down the hill

 

Turn right onto Alder Spring Trail. Go over the creek and maybe 50 yards further find a rarely used social trail off to the left.

 

Contemplate. Meditate. Consecrate.

 

Good seating still available.

 

The fires indicate important remaining Native American Indian sites

To view our complete Bay area Google Earth map go to
www.eastbayhillpeople.com/Map

 

Ring Mountain 2 – Corte Madera

James Benneybedrock mortars

Ring Mountain – Corte Madera.

Single Bedrock Mortar.

This is a nice 5 minute walk from your care. School kids in Marin come here with their classes.

Take the Loop Trail off the Phyliss Ellman Trail then take the little social trail
on the left down to the creek.

Take a picnic, take a book, take a guitar, take a nap, take some kids.

Start Here:

 

The rock with shell midden in front. Proof that every single remaining
bedrock mortar is important.

 

The shell midden runs down to the creek. They weren’t grinding acorns here folks.

 

This beautiful bowl had a purpose unique to this site.

 

The fires indicate important remaining Native American Indian sites.

To view our complete Bay Area GoogleEarth Map click on
https://eastbayhillpeople.com/eastbayhillpeople/Map/