Redwood Regional Park

Redwood Regional Park

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	Redwood Regional Park
Location:	California - Bay Area
Nearest Town:	Moraga-Piedmont-Oakland
Directions to Trailhead:	Go to ebmtb.homestead.com/home.html for map and routes Also look under the trail descriptions for East Ridge West Ridge, these are the same as Redwood
Trail Description:	Wide open Fireroads, skinny fireroads, multiple mile dh/uphill.
Trail Length:	varies, full loop about 8
Trail Type:	Fire Roads
Skill Level:	Trails for all skill levels
Web Link:	http://ebmtb.homestead.com/home.html
Submitted By:	RM RIDER

Skipshot from Oakland, CA Date: May 31, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: The best part of West Ridge shortly after the archery range to the bottom of the canyon is freshly graded, the rest is untouched. Other recommended trails in the same area: The Monte Rio trail from Baccharias to Redwood Rd. was also graded, so forget that route option.
Review: Don't bother reading any of the reviews before May 2003. The park service graded the best part of West Ridge and they did it at the end of the rainy season so the dust, loose soil and rocks allow for little traction and make the trail a bit more dangerous until after the next winter rains. Granted, the trail was becoming overgrown and more technical (more fun) compared to when I began riding it six years ago, but the slate is wiped clean and the West Ridge/East Ridge loop will have to wait until next spring. Others may lament "the way it was", but the trail will eventually return to its former glory; be patient.	Overall Rating:

tom carter from Alameda CA Date: May 15, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: West Ridge/East Ridge loop Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: Forget what I said in my December review about this being the best technical legal trail in the East Bay Regional Park District. No More! The Park service recently drove a large dozer through this area which had been left alone for several years and totally ruined the section of West Ridge leading East into Redwood Canyon. The fine section of washboard rock on West Ridge that paralleled the Baccharis Trail (typical East Bay Park fireroad) has now been destroyed and turned into typical fireroad. What was single and doubletrack leading link several sections of reasonably rough rock is now all wide, groomed dirt and loose rock. What idiots these bureaucratic wankers are; what a monument to wilderness they have built here now. Why was this necessary when Baccharis parallels this trail (unseen) not 100 yards to the South. As a registered Democrat I hope Mr. Bush wins his battle with this fools and they all get replaced by private contractors. I think even Barbara Bush could ride this trail now, in either direction. Enough said.	Overall Rating:

Ash (the goat) from oakland Date: April 25, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Down west ridge, climb up canyon, continue back on east ridge Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: This trail is truley my favorite xc trail in the east bay. The downhill is what keeps me comming back for more. Though i ride down this sucker with a hardtail I still have a ball. Going up canyon is hard as hell but once you are at the top u feel that u have acomplished the most technical/diffucult uphill in the east bay. the only drawback to the trail is the woppty woops that never seem to end. I guess they are not that bad, but the downhill definatly makes up for it all. Writting this is getting me f$%$ stoked! I am doing this trail tomarow!	Overall Rating:

Dr. Gonzo from Las Vegas Date: April 7, 2003 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: As your attorney I advise you to take two hits of mescalin and fly down westridge.	Overall Rating:

t carter from alameda CA Date: December 26, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: east ridge/ west ridge loop Other recommended trails in the same area:
Review: If you read the other reviews of this trail you will see that most people prefer riding this route counterclockwise. I usually do too. It is easier this way because the section of West Ridge between Bacharis and the Golden Spike junction can be run downhill and is steep in spots and somewhat technical. The "rough trail" narrow section of West Ridge that parallels the Baccharis Trail has some nice rocky sections. The entire loop is a lot of fun as well as easier this way. The toughest section of climbing going this direction is Canyon Trail. However if you like challenging climbs, try the trail clockwise. It is all do-able, even on a hardtail if you're up to it. The added traction of a good dual suspension helps though. The three difficult pitches above Golden Spike are all quite hard, especially the middle section, but there are rests between. The rocky section paralleling Baccharis has two technically difficult sections. The lower section of washboard rock has to be either ridden or walked; there is no easy bypass. The upper section looks easier and can be avoided by the trade route trail on the left, but if you stay to the right in the rocks you will find it quite hard. While not as difficult as the very short Deadman's hill, or the last rooty stretch of Palos Colorados below Skyline (both at Joaquin Miller), the stretches of climbing on West Ridge outlined above are all part of a gut-busting 2 mile climb out of Redwood Canyon Meadow ending at Redwood Bowl. Almost all the traffic is going the other direction so keep your eyes open for bikes, horses,etc. If you do this, have a beer; you earned it. I have found nothing this difficult yet in any of the other East Bay Parks. If this was singletrack it would rate 5 stars. Start at Skyline Gate and ride down East Ridge and Canyon Trail to warm up well before you start the climb up out of Redwood Canyon.	Overall Rating:

Shawn from Oakland,.25mile from Gate Date: May 2, 2002 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Definitely go down west ridge and up east ridge, counter-clockwise, made the mistake going the other way and it was pure torture. I live 1/4 a mile from the skyline gate but this is well worth driving up to an hour to go to. Other recommended trails in the same area: For road biking I recommend going on the Pinehurst loop
Review: I am a road biker and love the XC part of the trail but the west ridge also provides a great deal of skill for the downhill (in other words very fun, throwing my bike off rocks on the downhill) takes under an hour to do the 9.22 mile loop	Overall Rating:

RastaMoha from Union City, CA Date: December 7, 2001 Trail Ridden: Ridden Once
Recommended Route: Start at Canyon-East Ridge-West Ridge-Baccharis-West Ridge-Bridle-Fishway-Back to Canyon. Other recommended trails in the same area: Joaqin Miller, Lake Chabot, Hayward Plunge.
Review: Great trail for a good workout. A lot of climbing. Once you hit West Ridge it's fun going down, especially after a rain storm. Enjoy the ride.	Overall Rating:

busy_b from berkTOWN Date: October 26, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: start at skyline and go south heading towards the westridge trail. up and down past the joggers and killer attack dogs, then right past chabot you;ve reached your second wind. down west ridge to the canyon, and up east ridge back to the skyline parking lot. Other recommended trails in the same area: if you are looking for fun this trail is great! its got it all, views, technical aspects, and endurance routes! just plain fun!
Review: a friend showed me this trail, and we have been hooked ever since. i am an experienced mountain bike rider but most of my time was spent on bmx trails as a kid, same technical aspects, just a bigger bike to match your age.......regardless the west ridge is all fun! and the east ridge is all work! fun for me is defined by hairy steep trails(not bombing) that keep you alert, work is defined by chasing my friend up a steep dusty trail over and over again, after kicking his ass on the downhill! dang!!!	Overall Rating:

cannondaleross from Walnut Creek, CA Date: October 2, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Start at the Skyline Gate and ride the loop listed on the park map. Basically: West Ridge, Canyon, East Ridge. Don't go up West Ridge- too steep and dusty. Other recommended trails in the same area: This trail is heavily used near the Skyline Gate, so be courteous and look out for disoriented joggers and dogs all over the trail. Once you get a mile out from the trailhead, you'll have the trail to yourself on all but the busiest summer weekends. This ride is very pretty, has lots of cool shady areas, great downhills and some challenging uphills. One of the better rides in the area.
Review: A great intermediate ride. If you're in shape, the 8 mile circuit will take about an hour. The beginning section of west ridge is a nice level ride through the trees (3 miles) with some nice views of Mt. Diablo. Some ups and downs near Chabot Science Center, and some gnarly downhills at about the three mile mark for 0.6 miles. Follow the loop around for a small chainring climb up Canyon trail and the beginning portion of East Ridge trail(about the 4.5 mile mark). The last three or so miles of the ride is composed of up and downs, but the trail generally heads up hill- making you pay for all the great downhill earlier in the trail. This ride has it all- great downhill, nice level ridge riding, challenging uphills, and some pretty views of Mt. Diablo and the City.	Overall Rating:

rockhopperlou from san leandro Date: May 16, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a month
Recommended Route: proceed to parking area of course, head up to middle trail, right on middle trail. left onto west ridge trail. super duper steep section begins. left onto baccharis trail. left onto dunn trail. stay right to get on graham trail. make a u turn upon reaching robert park stay on left to get back to west ridge trail. continue past the gate to stay on west ridge trail. moon gate on your left side but thats not it just continue your ride, tres sendas trail on your right nop either. french trail hec no. skyline staging area. continue straight ahead for east ridge trail. prince road 3 o clock nop. right turn onto canyon trail. left onto paved road at the end of the trail and your back at the parking lot. Other recommended trails in the same area: joaqin miller park.
Review: super steep at the beginning of the trail that i had to walk my super rockhopper up on the trail. once up their its like my haircut flat top until you reach skyline staging area daytona fireroad downhill begins all the way to the parking lot.	Overall Rating:

Atlas from the biggity biggity O Date: May 1, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Go up pinehurst. park at redwood skyline gate. Go right on Westridge. ride it all the way down to the recreational area. chill for a bit. ride further down rec area, take first left down gravel path. HUGE uphill. finish it, then go left on eastridge to complete loop. Other recommended trails in the same area: Tilden
Review: Starting off on westridge is sweet. Its an easy gradual climb that leads to an awesome succession of technical downhills. This downhill is the best I've been on. I usually chill in the rec are a for a bit before I have to ride up the huge uphill that leads to eastridge. Once I'm done with that finishing the loop is easy.	Overall Rating:

Skip Shot from Berkeley Date: February 27, 2001 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: God help you if you choose to ride up West Ridge. Other recommended trails in the same area: Chabot Regional Park connects to Redwood.
Review: Unless you're poaching the illegal trails between West Ridge and East Ridge and have money to spare to pay the fine, then Redwood is all about beginner/intermediate fire roads. Expect to see scads of hikers and unleashed dogs on both trails within a mile of the Skyline trailhead. Recommened for locals needing conditioning work outs, but don't bother if you live more than 30 minutes away.	Overall Rating:

RM Rider from East Bay Date: August 9, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Start at Pinehurst Gate, ride East Ridge Trail until Skyline Gate, ride West Ridge Trail to Moon Gate, try and clean the climb at moongate. Then Drop into Joaquin Miller (Bigtrees-Sequoia Bayview-Cinderella-Palos Colorados-Siniwik-Sunset(Two Dollar Hill)back onto westridge on down the downhill, then go up pinehurst hill (road) Other recommended trails in the same area: Anthony Chabot (I've only ridden lake chabot, that was fun) JM, obviously Dimond Canyon (Ive never done it) Tilden (sucks)
Review: East Ridge is a series of rolling climbs, about four long ones and lots of little ones, westridge is a pretty fun dh, but there's stuff much more fun than west ridge trail that leads on down... Definitely drop into JM, lots of fun. Coming up pinehurst is a fun place to catch poser roadies. Nothing pisses them off more than a teen on a 28 lb dualie, 2.1 tyres, and untrued wheels kick their asses up. Jimbo has caught as many as five. Definitely the best and most complete park in the area	Overall Rating:

Jimbo from Orinda Date: August 7, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: Start at Pinehurst Gate and ride up a tiring East Ridge Trail and into the rest of the park. Then go into Redwood and Juaquin Miller's singletracks. Then climb back up on Pinehurst Road to the starting point Other recommended trails in the same area: Juaquin Miller
Review: The begining is a tiring fireroad, that lasts for over four miles. If you want to climb this is a good start. Once you are past East Ridge Trail there is exspansive singletrack and downhill trails. If you have covered all of Redwood drop into Juaquin Miller. There are also a lot of great illegal trails (that I have not ridden). Ride during the week because on the weekend it gets busy, but it is still rideable. Great for a cross-country or Downhill rider. This is my favorite park in the East Bay.	Overall Rating:

Phil McCracken from Oakland, Califor-ny-ay Date: July 9, 2000 Trail Ridden: Once a week
Recommended Route: This is a loop ride that can be done in about 1.25 hours if you do not suck. Do you? No? O.K. Start at the Canyon Meadow Staging Area about 0.25 mile past the Redwood gate entrance (off Redwood Road). Lock your car. Then head east for a short jaunt up the Canyon Trail. Be prepared for a butt-kickin' ascent up to the famous East Ridge Trail. Consider using your granny gear. At the top, you WILL need to stop for breath. Then take a left on East Ridge and r-i-d-e! Careful with the bozo joggers with their un-leashed dogs on the week-ends. Follow East Ridge until it becomes West Ridge (several miles)as you go form east to west, that is. A short, rutty climb at the Moon Gate will separate the men from the boys (or the wemyn from the grrrls). Now be prepared for some very technically challenging down-hill over a 2.5 mile stretch. Not recommended without front suspenders. When you reach the bottom, guess what? You're done! You will be back at the paved portion of the park road. Just ride to the left and you'll see your car. Tell 'em Phil McCracken sent 'ya!! Other recommended trails in the same area: Kumarakazi (in Walnut Creek)
Review: Uh.. well.. Oh - I guess I put all the details up above.	Overall Rating:

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