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Joaquin Miller - Best of Oakland

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 4.3 (109)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …East Bay
  4. Joaquin Miller Park
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“A great cross country spin through the diverse scenery of Joaquin Miller and Redwood parks. ”

Steve Schweigerdt
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Map Key

10.0

Miles

16.1

KM

50%

Singletrack

1,500' 457 m

High

776' 236 m

Low

1,104' 337 m

Up

1,159' 353 m

Down

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

18%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Allowed

Cinderella Trail downhill is the only difficult section of this loop. Dogs on leash in Joaquin Miller, off leash OK in Redwood. Bayview Sequoia Trail is very busy - announce yourself and respect other users.

Overview

This ride gives a good sampling of the best trails and some of the only legal singletrack in the East Bay. It's a good 1 1/2 hour route that is diverse and interesting enough to keep me coming back! This route stays near the top of the ridge so there aren't any monster climbs and it is mostly forested.

It is an ecologically diverse area with including redwood canyons, oak and chaparral, and vistas both toward SF and Mt Diablo. There is street parking pretty much where ever the trails cross a road - I usually start from the bottom.

You can easily extend this ride by doing the full Redwood Regional Park loop or riding up from Dimond Canyon along Sausal Creek and Bridgeview Trail.

Description

After parking on Joaquin Miller Rd or riding up from Sausal Creek, climb up paved Sanborn Dr to Lookout Point. Bearing left on Sinawik Trail drops you into the redwood canyon along Palo Seco Creek. Climb up and right on Sunset Trail to the meadow area (or do the rollercoaster of Sunset Loop Trail). Sunset narrows to a singletrack and climbs up a nice new alignment to Sequoia Bayview Trail, where you'll take a hard left.

Sequoia Bayview is fairly level and high traffic so be aware of other users. Near the horse arena it changes from doubletrack to singletrack. You'll traverse in and out of several drainages where the thick forests open up to some Bay views. If you need a shortcut take Orchard trail up from Fern Ravine to connect to Big Trees Trail.

Once you pass the Cinderella Trail turnoff, you'll need to follow the paved road over to Big Trees Trail - Big Trees is a fun up and down with weaving through trees and some fast downhill sections. You'll pop out on Skyline Blvd and jog uphill a couple hundred feet to a turnout with gate. Past the gate and to the left is a tough little downhill that drops you down to the Dunn Trail.

Dunn Trail has nice views into the South Bay and watershed lands and is a cruise on a fire road. There are a lot of dog walkers. After the Graham Trail junction the trail is a fast fireroad downhill.

Time to start climbing again - left on Baccharis and then West Ridge - both wide fireroads on sandstone with moderate climbs and some views. This is the only sunny, exposed section of this ride. When you get to Redwood Bowl there is water and some tables that make for a good snack stop. Stay on West Ridge past the Chabot Space Museum (yes still fire road) to Moon Gate.
At Moon Gate a connector trail climbs up and over the ridge and you cross Skyline Blvd again at Castle Park Trail. After a little drop go left on Castle Park (right on Castle Peak leads you to a horribly steep and rutted trail in the eucalyptus) and traverse back over to Cinderella Trail.

Now for the best part of the ride! Cinderella Trail is a fun if short downhill with steep rocky sections, jumps, and some tight new turns thanks to a reroute at the bottom. Then traverse left on Sunset Trail and take Palos Colorados through some tight fits to the little bridge at Sinawik. A short climb back up Sinawik to Lookout Point gives you a great view of Oaktown and SF. Catch your breath then bomb down Bishop's Walk with its banked turns to your car.

Contacts

Local Club: Bicycle Trails Council of the East Bay

Land Manager: City of Oakland - Joaquin Miller Park

Shared By:

Steve Schweigerdt with improvements by Ken Marcus and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 109 votes

#1

in Joaquin Miller Park

#114

Overall
  4.3 from 109 votes
5 Star
47%
4 Star
40%
3 Star
10%
2 Star
2%
1 Star
1%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Joaquin Miller Park

#15

in California

#114

Overall
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58,960 Since Dec 24, 2013
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
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Add a Photo

Photos

My 'home trails' are short but sweet!
Jul 24, 2015 near Piedmont, CA
'Magic Forest', in Oakland!
Jul 24, 2015 near Piedmont, CA
Misty morning at Miller Park, Saturday 9th Sept.
Sep 12, 2017 near Piedmont, CA
Sinawik trail
Mar 18, 2019 near Piedmont, CA
Redwoods along the trail
Dec 22, 2013 near Piedmont, CA
Joaquin Miller - Chaparral Trail.
Mar 27, 2016 near Piedmont, CA

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