Acquired by Fairfield, California, in 1966, Rockville Hills Regional Park encompasses more than 600 acres. Located in the northwest end of the city, the park is made up of woodlands, grasslands, volcanic platforms, hills and forested areas. From atop the hills, visitors can gaze at valleys and lakes. A myriad of activities await you at the Rockville Hills Regional Park.
Potential hikers can head to Rockville Hills Regional Park in the spring and fall, the two recommended seasons for hiking. Here, hikes require a moderate skill level and can range for two to three hours in length. Altogether, there are nine miles of hiking space and the elevation is six hundred feet. Along the way, you can stop to picnic at one of the lakes or take pictures of the volcanic cliffs. Trails include the Fire, Green Valley, Middle Mystic and Arch.
For those new to this pastime, geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunt. Containers called geocaches are hidden all over the world, with their locations entered online. Treasure hunters then use GPS devices to find various geocaches and the treasures within. Rockville Hills Regional Park hosts many geocaching expeditions, as several geocaches are hidden there. If you wish to discover the location of geocaches in the park, you can visit geocaching.com and enter the park's zip code, 94533. Then, head to the trails with your GPS device, water, map and compass.
For bikers, Rockville Hills Regional Park has four miles of uphills, downhills and flat terrain. The route is described as a "loop" trail. Riders can stay on the single track trail or venture onto the rock garden line. Bikers are asked to refrain from biking directly after rainfall, to stay on the authorized trails rather than trying to make your own, and to use a bell or a friendly greeting to warn hikers of your approach. Maps are available at the entrance.
The Jelly Belly Candy Factory is less than three miles from Rockville Hills Regional Park. Tours are free, last 40 minutes and end with a free bag of candy for all participants. The tours run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m and no reservations are necessary. A tour bus leaves every 15 minutes and all are wheelchair accessible. There is on-site dining where guests can have meals designed in the shape of jelly beans.
