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A moderate ride from ridge tops to creek bottoms.


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Map Key

13.9

Miles

22.4

KM

10%

Singletrack

1,599' 488 m

High

292' 89 m

Low

2,086' 636 m

Up

2,085' 636 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

25%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Views

Overview

Expect expansive views over the Tri-Valley to Mt. Diablo with fun trails along the way.

Need to Know

Several drinking water spigots are available along the Ridgeline Trail. Beware of the usual hazards of summer heat, poison oak, ticks and rattlesnakes common to Bay Area parks.

Description

Starting from the Foothill Staging Area, the Oak Tree Trail is a steady climb for a little over a mile to the junction with the Ridgeline Trail. The Ridgeline Trail is the main thoroughfare traversing Pleasanton Ridge Park in a general north-south direction. Fork left in a short distance onto the Olive Grove Connector to the Olive Grove Trail. Stay left to connect with the Thermalito Trail, which runs parallel to and west of Ridgeline Trail past some old olive orchards.

Thermalito Trail was named after an old fruit growing company, and the trail heads north below the ridge through grassland and some oak woodlands before rejoining Ridgeline Trail in a couple miles.

Continuing on Ridgeline, the trail splits with a ridgetop view bench on the right-hand trail. A turnaround at this point returning on the Ridgeline Trail would be a good beginner ride.

This ride continues north past the first junction with the Bay Leaf Trail to the Schuhart Trail connector which rejoins the Bay Leaf Trail part way down avoiding a steeper climb on part of Bay Leaf. The lower section of Bay Leaf Trail narrows to singletrack and drops steeply in a series of switchbacks and is the more challenging section of this ride. There's also quite a bit of poison oak.

Bay Leaf ends at Shady Creek Trail, which quickly joins Sinbad Creek Trail. Keep left heading south on shady Sinbad Creek Trail for 1.4 miles back to the Bay Leaf Trail Connector keeping right to climb back up to the Ridgeline Trail.

Returning on Ridgeline Trail, this ride takes a short detour on Blue Oak Knoll Trail on the shady side of the ridge. At the end of the Blue Oak Knoll Trail, turn right on Valley View Trail to quickly return to the Ridgeline Trail which takes riders back to Oak Tree Trail for the final descent to the parking area.

History & Background

Former ranchlands, the area is still used for grazing cattle.

Contacts

Shared By:

Bob Gardner with improvements by Blair Rushing and 2 others

Trail Ratings

  3.7 from 22 votes

#1623

Overall
  3.7 from 22 votes
5 Star
23%
4 Star
32%
3 Star
41%
2 Star
5%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#205

in California

#1,623

Overall
94 Views Last Month
15,915 Since May 20, 2017
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

0%
4%
52%
15%
30%
0%

Photos

Pleasanton Ridge - Ridgeline trail 1/2 and black angus
Feb 5, 2018 near Pleasanton, CA
Ridge view on Pleasanton Ridge
Feb 6, 2020 near Pleasanton, CA
Awesome views from the Ridgeline Trail
Sep 18, 2015 near Pleasanton, CA
Ridgeline Trali - July 2020
Aug 22, 2020 near Pleasanton, CA
Looking south from Pleasanton Ridge.
Nov 14, 2016 near Pleasanton, CA
The Ridgeline Trail has an "on top of the world" feeling
Sep 18, 2015 near Pleasanton, CA

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Weather


Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 13 days ago
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