Heron & Edwards Trail

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

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This combination of two shorter trails offers an opportunity to extend your ride and link to the trails in the north of the Joseph D. Grant County Park. It also forms part of the long distance Bay Area Ridge Trail network.

Together the Heron Trail and this portion* of the Edwards Loop Trail form part of the long-distance Bay Area Ridge Trail network - in this instance linking Dutch Flat Trail to highway 130/Mt. Hamilton Road, where you can also continue back into the Joseph D. Grant County Park using the Washburn Trail.

*Note that while the Edwards Loop Trail is indeed a horseshoe loop from Mt Hamilton Road, the southern entrance/exit has a locked gate and only a pedestrian stile which you would have to lift your bike over - so if cycling, it is recommended you follow this prescribed route and enter/exit via the multi-user gate at the northern end of the loop.

Also note that where the Heron Trail crosses over Quimby Road, there is a horse gate on either side with some quite large logs (to prevent illegal access), so again you'll have to push/carry your bike over these.

This route can be ridden in either direction, although in the direction shown here, you take advantage of the longest/steepest downhill portion towards the end at Mt. Hamilton Road. However, should you descend the Washburn Trail trail on the other side of the highway, this also makes a more scenic return to the main park, rather than having to ride along the highway - just be aware you'll have a reasonably steep climb initially, before the trail levels out and heads south.

The southern end of this route - Heron Trail is a wider two-track trail, mainly level, and has some shade in the trees. Once you cross Quimby Road and continue north, the terrain becomes more undulating with some steeper sections towards the junction with Edwards Loop Trail, and particularly the final descent towards the exit/entrance gate on highway 130/Mt. Hamilton Road.

The route mainly follows a wider two-track width trail for its length, although there are a few sections where the defined route is more narrow and singletrack in nature - however, there is still plenty of room on either side to pass other users.