California Riding and Hiking Trail: John Muir Home-Contra Costa Canal

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

If you venture the mid-sections in the dry season, do so tubeless loaded with plenty of sealant. Otherwise, you'll likely not see the other side for all the goatheads (natural caltrops, meaning upward pointed thorns).

This cobbled together trail extends between John Muir's home and the Contra Costa Canal Trail. It includes a tunnel under a freeway at its west end to give some idea of the hope and effort with which it was created. It largely follows a pipeline right of way though, meaning it cuts across the landscape through residential subdivisions with no grace, climbing and dropping with abandon.

Most of the slopes are reinforced with segments of wooden power poles, almost completely buried in some places and huge steps in others. Because of how it cuts across the landscape, the power pole segments, and how little the middle sections are traveled, this is a surprisingly brutal trail. Only advisable for real dirt fanatics getting from here to there.

For some reason, riding it reminds me of the bridge troll in Monty Python's Holy Grail asking people to "Answer me these questions three ere the other side you'll see."