The Prospect Tunnel provides an interesting destination on a hike through Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch.

By Richard DeGraffenreid

Welcome back to a monthly column focused on local day hiking destinations, that with a little imagination, will take you back in time to when our local Native Americans lived in a Garden of Eden we now call home.  For more hiking ideas, go to www.eastbayhillpeople.com and read the “Travelogue Blog” tab.

I would like to encourage you to tell your neighbors and friends about our small town newspaper.  The Benicia Herald newspaper (preferred) and the online version is the backbone of our town and provides a sense of community that is missing in so many other towns.  The cost for home delivery of the paper is very affordable and gives people jobs. Please spread the word.

The next 90 days are the best time of year to be hiking the hills around us.  The rains will be tapering off and the wild flowers are starting to bloom. Keep your eyes open for Yellow Buttercups and exotic mushrooms.

This month’s hike back in time is an easy 4 mile round trip on a gravel trail that features views to the Sierra Nevada and the Volvon territory on Mt. Diablo.  A large outcrop awaits you with 33 mortars and nearby, the little known “Prospect tunnel” is open to the public for exploring.  Be careful, bring a flash light and use caution. You can go 200 feet into the hillside before encountering a gate that bars further progress.

The trailhead is located at Contra Loma Regional park in Antioch, about 40 minutes from Benicia and is dog friendly. Once inside the park, look for the parking lot just before the road takes a hard right.  You can see the “Stewartville trail” (a gravel road) heading up the gentle hill to the South.

Wildlife observations are plentiful at Contra Loma park.  On our last visit a few weeks ago, we saw: 2 coyotes, deer, bobcat, eagles, red tailed hawks and other unique birds.

After about 30 minutes, you’ll start to head down hill.  When you reach the bottom, look to your right and you’ll see a large outcrop. Go to the back side and on top you’ll see the mortars.

This is a fine place for a rest.  Enjoy the views of the meandering valley heading up to the Black Diamond mines and Mt Diablo.

A hundred yards or so from this site is the Prospect Tunnel which is accessible to those who dare to go inside.  From your perch on top of the boulder, look behind you (North) for an obvious trail heading back into the hills.

Not a lot is known about the Prospect Tunnel dated 1860-1861. We do know that coal was the reward they sought. Who did this hard work? Could it have been the fictional “Doug Wells, and His Hole Boring Band” who played in Stewartville?

Before you head back, look up the valley again, to the green hills. At the end of the valley and up in the hills is a natural stone native birthing chair.  It is unknown to all but a handful of people.  With a commanding view and facing east to the rising sun, this birthing chair has a very comfortable reclining position and hand holds.  On top of the outcrop is a large shallow mortar that was most likely used as a sitz bath.  Right in front of the chair there are two large mortars that were used as pots to heat water.  The boulder itself has around 80 cupules, (shallow indentations).  We don’t know what they represent. This sacred birthing chair is thousands of years old so I won’t give detailed directions.

These important sites are waiting for you to visit them.  I hope you enjoy your hike back in time.

Seize the day.

Richard DeGraffenreid and his wife Anne are 35 year residents of Benicia. He is also a drummer/song writer, photographer, cook, Dad and Grandpa. He can be reached at:
 Richarddegraffenreid@comcast.net.

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