Shell Ridge Event Poster
(click on it to enlarge)
Shell Ridge Open Space
Date: (Sun.) Nov. 16, 2025
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Event Director: 
- 904.210.1813
Course Setter: Greg Khanlarov
Type: B; Standard 7-course event for beginners through advanced; everyone is welcome, including beginners and non-members, with free beginner instruction available
Related Event Information
Event Results Volunteer Sign-up (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CDD9Y-GkRlCpcYBxdiCUYC9Lbv1TQ957cYl_yeqB2sQ/edit?gid=1958664053#gid=1958664053) Course Setter’s Notes Attackpoint Event Page (http://www.attackpoint.org/eventdetail.jsp/event_58997) Last Year’s Event
Saturday Evening Notes
- From Vicki Woolworth, Event Director:
- We will be using Nav-X directional signs, but yes, this is a BAOC event.
- From Greg Khanlarov, Course Setter:
- The current forecast says the rain will stop in the morning! ?
- The ground is soft, the grass is turning green (see the photo below), and the air is fresh. Perfect orienteering conditions.
- Note: Don't be surprised to see the E-punch units in plastic wrap. While we don't normally do this, the current set was wrapped as a precaution. It shouldn't interfere with electronic punching, even if you don't have a contactless version of the E-stick.
Shell Ridge Open Space is a large protected natural area located in Walnut Creek, California. It covers over 1420 acres and consists of beautiful oak woodlands, grassland savannah, ridges and valleys. The name “Shell Ridge” comes from marine fossils (shell-remains) found in the rock, from when this area was under a shallow sea millions of years ago.
Get ready for an unforgettable orienteering adventure! This year's event promises exhilarating navigation across rolling hills and scenic ridgelines, where every checkpoint rewards you with a sweeping panoramic view. The open terrain and exposed ridges will test your endurance and map skills — so pack your sun protection, hydrate well, and come ready to conquer Shell Ridge!
We will offer the usual seven point-to-point orienteering courses (i.e., White though Blue) as well as a Silver (shorter, advanced) course, with free instruction for beginners.
This event is open to the public (i.e., non-members). We encourage everyone to join us. Free beginner instruction will be available, and there will be courses for beginners. You can find out more about orienteering elsewhere on our website—particularly in the FAQ section.
Information about Shell Ridge Open Space is available on this website (https://www.walnut-creek.org/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/10/664). A map of adjacent Diablo Foothills Park is available here (1.6MB PDF) (https://www.ebparks.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=24279).
Schedule
The following standard BAOC event schedule will be followed:
- 9:00 AM – 11:59 AM: Registration open
- 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Beginner clinics instruction (free)
- 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Starts are open for all courses
- 2:00 PM: Everyone must have returned to the Finish
- Note: At registration, all juniors under age 18 must be accompanied by parents or legal guardians, or bring with them a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian. (The registration form is available here [12KB PDF].)
Note that you can register and start on the courses anytime during the open times above. Thus, for example, you do not need to be "punctual" at 9:00. (You can if you want, but please don't show up earlier and expect to be served.)
Beginner clinics are 15–20 minute, repeating sessions that introduce the sport of orienteering, and provide enough instruction to be able to complete a Beginner course.
Note that everyone must return to the Finish by 2:00 PM, and then promptly go to the download tent, even if they have not completed their course. Please do not leave without checking in! If there are unaccounted people after 2:00, we must initiate a search for them.
Costs
The following fees apply for this event:
- $3 for each junior on the beginner (White) and advanced beginner (Yellow) courses
- $8 for each adult on the beginner and advanced beginner courses
- $5 for each junior on the intermediate (Orange) and advanced (Silver, Brown, Green, Red, Blue) courses
- $15 for each member on the intermediate and advanced courses
- $20 for each non-member on the intermediate and advanced courses
- $1 for a compass rental (optional)
- $5 for an electronic fingerstick rental (if you don't own one; you'll need one to complete the course)
- $15 for the lowest-cost individual one-year BAOC membership (optional)
- Notes:
- Juniors are ages 8 through 20. Youth under age 8 are free.
- You can register at the event or online before the event (see below).
- At the event, we can accept payment by cash, check, or credit/debit card (but no electronic payments — e.g., PayPal, Venmo).
- There is no charge for a second course (but you must end up paying for the more expensive course — e.g., the Orange course after a beginner course).
- Members of other orienteering clubs can pay the "member" fee. (We hope your club would do the same for our members. 🙂)
More information about event pricing is available in the club FAQ. All the prices are also shown on the standard entry form (12KB PDF), which you can print and fill out in advance to save some time at the event. (You will need one entry form for each group of people going on a course together.)
Optional Online Registration
Online registration has closed, but you can still register at the event.
- Notes:
- Online registration is not required—you can register at the event.
- You can see who is registered here (https://eventreg.orienteeringusa.org/eventregister/reglist/home/shellridge2025) (but keep in mind that others will register at the event).
Location In The Park
The event will be at the same location we used last year.
The Assembly Area (Registration, Beginner Clinics, and E-punch tent) will be at Indian Valley Elementary School (551 Marshall Dr, Walnut Creek, CA). As you enter the school property, look to the far left for the "Registration" banner. The approximate coordinates of the Assembly Area are 37.9007,-122.0319.
Parking will also be at Indian Valley Elementary School. The approximate coordinates for the parking lot are 37.9011,-122.0329. There is also parking down the west side of the school property, and at the south side of the property. (See the directions below for details.)
The walk from the school to the Start is about 1&nd kilometer. The Finish will be at the Assembly Area.
Note: Please do not park on Marshall Dr close to the park entrance.
What to Bring
For the beginner (White) course, comfortable outdoors attire and shoes are fine.
For the advanced beginner (Yellow) course, hiking boots with an aggressive tread are recommended.
Because some grassy and leafy areas might be slippery, and some soil might be loose, we recommend O-shoes or shoes with cleats on the intermediate (Orange) and advanced (Silver through Blue) courses.
Dry grasses with burrs and stickers are present on all the courses except White. We recommend long pants and gaiters.
A compass is not required, but can be helpful — and can improve safety — so is recommended. We have compasses available for a $1 rental fee.
We time the courses with the SPORTident system, so each entry/team needs to have a SPORTident fingerstick. If you don't have your own, you can rent one at registration for $5. (Use of the "E-punch" system is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read about it here.)
Venue Facilities
Water and portable toilets will be available at the school. They will not be available at the Start.
Picnic tables will also be available at the school.
Courses
Here are the details of the courses:
Technical Physical
Course Distance Climb Controls Map Scale Difficulty Difficulty
White 2.9 km 75 m 8 1:7,500 Beginner Easiest
Yellow 3.2 km 100 m 9 1:7,500 Adv Beginner Easy
Orange 4.8 km 255 m 12 1:10,000 Intermediate Intermediate
Silver 3.5 km 190 m 8 1:7,500 Advanced Moderate
Brown 4.0 km 230 m 10 1:7,500 Advanced Intermediate
Green 5.3 km 360 m 13 1:10,000 Advanced Challenging
Red 6.0 km 390 m 15 1:10,000 Advanced Quite challenging
Blue 7.6 km 440 m 17 1:10,000 Advanced Most challenging
- Notes:
- Beginners should be aware that the distances shown are the cumulative straight-line distances between controls. Your actual distance will be longer. The climb numbers represent the amount of ascending that would be done on the "optimum route" (in the Course Setter's opinion), without regard for any descending.
- The Silver course is a shorter version of the Brown course, and both are printed on the same map. If you are undecided, register for the Brown course. You can switch to the Silver course mid-route by going directly from control #5 to control #8. You don't need to memorize this — a red dashed line on the map indicates this shortcut.
- There is a 1 kilometer walk (with a 40 m gentle climb) to the Start of the courses. The Finish will be at the Assembly Area.
- Water will not be provided on the courses. Please bring your own water.
- If you encounter horseback riders while on your course, you must pause your run, and say something so the horses know you're human and don't get spooked.
- If you cross a fence, please roll underneath — do not climb over.
- Please remember that the courses close, and control pickup commences, at 2 PM.
- The footing is good — the modest rain to date has softened the grasses and dirt. Nevertheless, good O-shoes are recommended for the slopes on the advanced courses, because some grassy and leafy areas might be slippery.
As noted above, there is a remote Start. The Finish will at the Assembly Area and parking.
Be sure to read the Course Setter's Notes for more information.
Request for Volunteers
If you are willing to help out on the day of the event, we sure could use your help! Most tasks do not require previous experience, and we're happy to train new people!
We need volunteers for these tasks:
- Set-up, 2 people: 7:30–9:00
- Beginner Clinics, 2 people: 9:00–10:30
- Starts, 2 people: 9:30–10:45
- Starts, 2 people: 10:45–12:30
- Control Pick-up, 4 people: 3:00–4:00
- Equipment Breakdown, 2 people: 2:00–3:00
Please look at this volunteer sign-up spreadsheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CDD9Y-GkRlCpcYBxdiCUYC9Lbv1TQ957cYl_yeqB2sQ/edit?gid=1958664053#gid=1958664053) ... and sign up for something. Thanks!
If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact Jerry Skirvin, the Event Director (, 904-210-1813).
Directions to the Event
Parking and the Assembly Area will be at Indian Valley Elementary School (551 Marshall Dr) in Walnut Creek. The approximate coordinates of the parking lot are 37.9011,-122.0329. The walk from the school to the Start is about 1 kilometer (0.6 mile).
Note: Please do not park on Marshall Dr close to the park entrance.
Driving Directions to the Parking Lot
- Traveling east on Highway 24:
- Use the third lane from the left to take the I-680 N exit toward Sacramento/Concord. Take the exit for Ygnacio Valley Road. Turn right onto Ygnacio Valley Rd. See below for the directions from there.
- Traveling north on I-680:
- Approaching Walnut Creek, take exit 46B for Ygnacio Valley Road. Turn right onto Ygnacio Valley Rd. See below for the directions from there.
- Traveling south on I-680:
- Approaching Walnut Creek, take the North Main St/Walnut Creek exit (#47), and head south on N Main St. After about 0.7 mile, turn left onto Ygnacio Valley Rd. See below for the directions from there.
- Common to all approaches:
- After 1 mile on Ygnacio Valley Rd, turn right onto Homestead Ave. After 0.2 mile, turn left onto Marshall Dr (the first street on your left). After about 1 mile, turn right into Indian Valley Elementary School.
- Common directions to alternative parking (see below):
- From Ygnacio Valley Rd, about 0.6 mile after passing Homestead Ave (i.e., 1.6 miles after turning onto Ygnacio Valley Rd), turn right onto La Casa Via. The parking lot will be on your left after 1/3 mile.
Parking
There is limited parking at the elementary school, and some on the street (away from the park entrance). Please carpool if possible.
Alternative Parking
If you don't mind a walk, there is a large parking lot at John Muir Hospital (1601 Ygnacio Valley Rd, Walnut Creek, CA; coordinates 37.9110,-122.0383) that can be used as a local carpool meetup or the start of a warmup walk. From that parking lot, it is about 1 mile to the Assembly Area via trail or road.
The walking directions for the "trail route" are: Head southeast on La Casa Via. After passing Corvey Ct and a large parking lot with solar roofs (on your right), turn right onto the Briones to Mount Diablo Regional Trail. Follow the trail to the Assembly Area (about 0.9 mile).
The walking directions for the "road route" are: Head southeast on La Casa Via. La Casa Via will bend to the right at Broadia Way (on the left). After 200 m, when La Casa Via bends to the left, turn left onto the trail on the right-hand side of the road. Follow the trail to the Assembly Area (about 0.2 mile).