Coyote Hills

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Coyote Hills seems like a world away while being right inside the bustling Bay Area and a hop, skip and jump (or bridge) from Silicon Valley. This ride includes nearly all the available trails and can be tailored to riders of all abilities.

Bring binoculars if you're into birdwatching.

Practically a grand tour of this small regional park, this is a series of loops, including one into the neighboring national wildlife refuge with several return points for shorter or easier rides.

Starting from the visitor center parking area, take the Chochenyo Trail heading into the marshlands to the east. The marsh trails are perfectly flat so great for kids and casual riders. This ride includes an out-and-back detour on the D.U.S.T. Trail and Willows Trail to explore other parts of the marsh area.

Halfway into the Chochenyo Trail is a fenced-in native American (Ohlone shellmound) archaeological site that the trail loops around. The Tuibun Trail is a paved trail that runs parallel to the park entrance road returning towards the visitor center. Take the Muskrat Trail - singletrack that forks to the right returning to Chochenyo Trail to complete the marshland loop.

Backtrack a short distance to Lizard Rock Trail, which connects Chochenyo Trail to the paved Bayview Trail. This trail loops completely around the Coyote Hills from the marsh side to the bay side. Follow Bayview Trail counterclockwise and enjoy the views overlooking the salt ponds and SF Bay beyond. At the southern end, continue south on Apay Way, a dirt road with a couple viewpoint overlooks along the way. Turn around at any point making a right on Bayview Trail then a quick right on the Meadowlark Loop.

This loop returns to Bayview Trail and the No Name Trail, which heads directly west into the bay through the Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This is a straight-arrow levee road that runs along old salt-evaporation ponds ending at the north-south running Shoreline Trail. Head north on Shoreline Trail - be aware that the area is exposed to winds that can be strong especially in the afternoons and usually against the direction you're riding.

Shoreline Trail merges with the paved Alameda Creek Trail that turns east back towards Coyote Hills. In a little more than a mile, take the Pelican Trail going right (south). The trail starts near a pumping station and power pole. This trail is a lightly-used levee trail and as close to singletrack that you can find in this area. It rejoins Bayview Trail in about a mile where you turn left to the junction with Red Hill Trail on the right.

The Red Hill Trail climbs the series of hills that comprise the Coyote Hills ridge. It's a direct route up the spine of the hills and is quite steep in spots especially the final climb up Red or Glider Hill. It's worth the effort for the view that stretches from south bay all the way to San Francisco and Mount Tam when it's clear.

Continuing south, the trail hits a dead-end at another viewpoint just past the Soaproot Trail junction. Head down Soaproot Trail to return to the Quarry Staging area or visitor center via Bayview Trail.