Hike: Tilden and Wildcat Regional Parks

I attempted a 7 mile hike in the Tilden and Wildcat Regional Parks area today, but missed a turn and ended up at 11 miles. Maybe the extra distance was worthwhile, since I got to walk through a herd of grazing cattle. It was a little cloudy and windy, but that didn't diminish my appreciation of this walk. Here's the route I took:

• Start at the Tilden Regional Park Environmental Education Center.
• Head northwest past Jewell Lake and catch Wildcat Creek Trail. This section is wide open, pleasant, and mostly flat. At one point, I got to watch a couple squirrels close-up as they foraged near the trail.
• Head east-ish on Havey Canyon Trail. In this section, you pick up maybe 900 vertical feet. Golden bay leaves paved the narrow trail, bringing back fond memories of runs and hikes around Bellingham, Washington. Stepping through the first cattle gate, I was in the midst of several majestic silver-gray trees with silvering leaves. I think they were California Bay Laurels (Umbellularia californica). This might have been my favorite part of the hike. I also found a small black snake, but unfortunately scared it due to me not paying attention.
• The Havey Canyon trail emerges from the trees into a swooping gentle ascent north to the paved Nimitz Way trail. Take a right and ascend another 100-ish vertical feet. The San Pablo Resevoir became visible on my left side. I saw a rabbit cross the trail.
• Here's where things get a bit confusing. At one point where the Nimitz Way trail takes a sharp left on its way downhill, but I continued straight up a fairly wide gravel trail. There was a 2.4 mile mark on the Nimitz pavement just before this junction(the mile marks were descendind). The trail narrowed to single-track as I passed several lovely Monterey Cypress trees (I think...) on my right. This set me up on the Conlon trail, and I was supposed to turn left at a bench and return to the Nimitz Way trail. However, I continued. straight on the Conlon trail, which returned me to the junction of the Wildcat Creek and Havey Canyon trails. Passing through the herd of cattle was a little exciting. Further on and near the its descending terminus, Conlon trail is embraced by a picturesque oasis supporting a clutch of protective trees and bushes.
• The Conlon trail exited onto the lower end of the Havey Canyon trail. With two left turns and few steps uphill, I began my return on the Wildcat Creek Trail.

If I repeat this trip, I'll probably try the intended seven mile route, or maybe shorten it further by staying on the Nimitz Way trail when it makes the hard left I mentioned above. The Tilden Visitor Center has useful and free trail maps for the Wildcat Regional Park area that covers nearly all of the hike I described. I usually like to buy nice maps from the helpful rangers, but none of the for-pay maps were any good. Note to self: next time, pick up the map before starting the hike.