Advanced Ride Recommendation

We are suggesting this as a more advanced ride. Rider skill level is subjective, and only you know what you can and can’t ride. So make sure you ride within your skill level. Trail conditions can change, so always be aware of your surrounding.

The trail numbers given are based on the numbers used on the WaterDog trail map (click here or on picture of map below for PDF file with this route marked on it) and on the trail signs in the park.

The goal of this ride is to give you a tour of much of the singletrack that is available in the park. And there is plenty of it – the first half of the ride is all singletrack! This route totals about 7.5 miles and 1300’ of climbing.

• This ride starts at the Cul du Sac at the end of Carlemont Drive. Ride through the gate on the paved trail and then head to the trail on the left side. Go a short way and then make a hard right onto Upper Creek Trail (trail 10).

*Climb this trail to the end, at which point you make a right which drops you down to the start of Finch Trail (trail 11). Take trail 11, which quickly starts a climb up through a series of 12 or so switchbacks. Yes, the climb is a grunt. After it tops out, it goes for a while until it ends at the intersection with Rambler Trail (trail 6).

• make a right on trail 6 and drop down through a series of swooping switchbacks. Stop when you get to the intersection with Ohlone Trail (trail 7).

• Make a left onto Trail 7 and take that down. In a short distance (after you get into the trees), the trail has a Y. Take the left hand option on the Y. Follow this until it intersects Chaparral Trail (trail 12).

• make a left on Trail 12 and take this until it ends (crossing over trail 5 when you get to it). This singletrack will meander along the sideslope and slowly bring you to the top of the ridge.

• at the end of this trail, make a right on to John Brooks Trail (trail 3). Take this down 3 little descents.

• make a right onto Berry Trail (trail 4) when you get to the Y. Take this down to the end (crossing over the unmarked trail that you will pass a short distance in, and then make a right at the unmarked Y further down). At the end of this trail is a steep descent on pavers – probably the most challenging thing on this ride. This descent is not that hard, so long as you don’t try to bake hard on the steep part, but don’t try it if you aren’t comfortable with this type of stuff.

• ride across the dam and make a left onto Lake Road Trail (trail 2). This is the first major stretch of fire road you will have seen. You are also about half way through the ride now. Take trail 2 to the top.
  Note – if you need to bail, you can drop down this trail to the road and then make a pair of rights and be back to your car in the Cul du Sac.

• Make a left onto John Brooks Trail (trail 3) at the top. Follow this up two substantial climbs (first one is a grunt). After a while, the fire road will end at a gate and the trail will continue off to the left as a singletrack. This is good – by now you probably have had enough of fire roads and are ready to get back on to singletrack.

• follow 3 down to where Berry Trail (trail 4) comes in. Make a right and stay on Trail 3 and climb the 3 little climbs that you came down earlier in the day.

• when it intersects with Chaparral Trail (trail 12), make a left, and follow this back down. You came up this trail earlier, but don’t worry – it will have a much different feel in the reverse direction. Cross over trail 5 again and keep going.

• when you come to the intersection with Trail 7, this time you will continue dropping on trail 12. This takes you out to the parking area where you started.

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