I was there once a few years ago while the wife was at a baby shower. As far as I know we stuck to legal trails. My memory is meh single track, steep fire roads, and hot. So it seems it's the type of place that can you can grow to enjoy as a local trail once you get to know the place, but certainly not a place that's particularly satisfying as a destination ride. If it's 10 minutes from your work and you'll be hitting that before the drive home, not a bad place. Especially if you've got any XC/roadie DNA that enjoys climbing at all.

 

I'd agree with Buzzaro 100%, word for word.
Still though, it's worth exploring. Scenic when its green, not too crowded. Sometimes good fishing. A fair amount of equestrians.

I do recall an incident one time: I had just pulled off the trail to check the map when a rider-less horse came galloping (at full speed) down that very trail. About 5 minutes later a woman (the rider) came running up. She had been thrown, and the horse, spooked as hell, was charging back to the stable. If had been on the trail it woulda been ambulance time for me. Scary.

 

Don't go. Horrid. No mtbing there.

 

Just finished a terrible night ride there😀 avoid that place by all means.

 

Better to go to Pleasanton Ridge...I live in Pleasanton and hardly ride del valle

 

I've ridden at Del Valle a couple times and was never much impressed. It reminded me of Pleasanton Ridge and Briones, but not as fun. But I don't much like Pleasanton Ridge or Briones, either.

I want to think that maybe I just missed the good stuff but I'm not very willing to head out there again with what little free time I have when I can ride Chabot/Redwood/Joaquin Miller, right out my door.

I do however, very much enjoy exploring - and there's plenty of that at Del Valle. If there's something more than steep fireroads, I'd love to be pointed in the right direction.

 

Lots of f-Ing steep fire roads, some single track near the lake (some of it hairy), and mostly hot as hell. There has got to be better places in the east bay.

 

This is generally my take on it.

 

That was my impression too. A few guys at work ride there, I was wondering if they just hit it because its close, or if im missing the good trails.

I really enjoy JMP, I suppose ill just keep driving out that way. Thanks guys.

 

why not do some exploring on straw-va? or go and explore the place yourself? From what I gathered from my research on the place it looks rad, if you know what to look for...

 

I'll echo what this guy above said with Strava but sometimes Youtube can help. It helped me find some of the secret Briones stuff. People like to include the trail entrances on their GoPro videos.

 

Del Valle really does have some good trails if you're willing to look. My buddy and I try and go out there once or twice a week and are still discovering new trails.

 

Good all around? I like a decent single track climb too, with some rocks and roots or something challenging. I just keep imagining climbing a fireroad for an hour, then descending down for 10 minutes only to climb out again :lol:

 

just ride. ride a rigid bike or hardtail....mix it up. take your cx bike up mines, hit some trails, ride down, don't overthink.....just ride. if you're really asking you should try it again, have some love for dat east bay dirt......what there is, you said you live in tracy.....uh no mounds, hills, or mountains, right?

 

I've never really ridden on explored Del Valle much, but I used to have to go with the significant other to a place off Vasco (north side of 680), so I started bringing my bike to explore and found a really small park called Brushy Peak. To me, it was fun for what it is. There are some faster descents and a little bit of rocky stuff, but like i said, it's a small park. I think I used to be able to ride just about every trail in a little over an hour or so. To me it was a fun ride/workout, for what it is.

 

Brushy Peak may not be a destination place, but its a hell of a lunch ride.
Its got technical challenges up and down and even some "extra" bits.

 

Like many EBRPD parks is is not what anyone would call a "destination." In local parlance I call "destinations" places like Crockett Hills, Tamarancho and the like.

I live right outside Wildcat/Tilden and its convenience and length make it valuable. Sure there are spots that are sort of fun, places I stop for views, there are no cars, and I know how to vary it to spice things up a bit. But I doubt I would make a special effort to go to Wildcat/Tilden if I lived in Pittsburg.

The BTCEB held a Gala ride at Del Valle every year and being with lots of people and having beers afterwards made it fun. But it is not a "destination."

It might be nice change of pace. Like I said; it is like most EBRPD venues.

 

Brushy peak is good for what it is; a quick loop that should take less than an hour with a decent amount of climbing and slightly technical decent, if ridden counter clockwise. That's my quick go to ride when short on time.
Del Valle has a couple sweet singletrack trails and tons of fire road climbs that allow different loops to be ridden. I'm still enjoying finding new trails every time I ride out there, and it appears as there is much more than one may see at first glance of the park.

 

Knowing how to use EBRPD parks is key to enjoying them.

 

I agree with the general sentiment, not a destination, some boring fire road but it is close so it tends to be my go to ride. If you want a ride buddy I'll be happy to show you my typical ride out there.
Troy