The scenic beauty of the Tri-Valley is more than an attractive backdrop for the area's booming economy. It is also an open invitation to hikers, cyclists, and pedestrians of all abilities to explore the region up close. The variety of available trails offers something for everyone. Serious hikers can find challenges aplenty, while those who enjoy more urban ambles will also be delighted.

"The East Bay Regional Park District has over 1,250 miles of trails throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties, with some amazing ones in Tri-Valley area parks," says Dave Mason, Public Information Supervisor, Public Affairs, for the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). "From wildflowers at Sunol to the raptors soaring over Morgan Territory, Regional Park trails offer multiple opportunities to explore."

Each year more than 10,000 people participate in the EBRPD's free, self-guided hiking and bicycling Trails Challenge, which is also sponsored by the Regional Parks Foundation and Kaiser Permanente. "A hike along one of East Bay Regional Parks is a great way to get healthy in body and mind," notes Mason. "The Park District's annual Trails Challenge program highlights twenty trails for people to explore on their own."

A free guidebook is available online and in print with detailed descriptions for the 20 trails, which range from easy to challenging. There are trails open to hikers, bicyclists, dogs, and equestrians, and many are wheelchair accessible. To complete the challenge and receive a commemorative pin, participants must complete five of the 20 trails by December 1, 2020.

"District Naturalists also offer guided hikes for those wishing to discover more about our parks," says Mason. "Hiking is a great way for people to get out and experience the unique beauty, ecology, and wildlife found in regional parks."

Outdoor Beauty

The Trails Challenge for 2020 includes demanding trails at Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve, Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, and Del Valle Regional Park. Each of these areas include easier hikes. Each also offers the kind of outdoor beauty so easy to access for those who work or live at Hacienda.

Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve includes Alameda County's largest stream, Alameda Creek. The area is home to a host of alder, willow, and sycamore trees near the stream and other trees, including coast live oaks and madrone. The Preserve is also an excellent place to enjoy a tapestry of wildflowers in the spring, as well as a variety of wildlife. Mountain lions, while uncommon, can also be sighted on occasion, according to EBRPD officials. They note that birding is superb along Alameda Creek, and visitors may see 20 to 40 bird species in a single morning. They include the acorn woodpecker, black phoebe, titmouse, turkey vulture, and golden eagle.

Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park is located on an oak-covered ridge overlooking Pleasanton and the Livermore Valley from the west. Development in this lovely 5,271-acre park has been intentionally limited to preserve the pastoral atmosphere. From the main staging area on Foothill Road visitors can follow its multipurpose trail system. The system can accommodate hikers, equestrians, and bicyclists, who will find a visit worthwhile thanks to the park's canyon views, ridge-top vistas, and remote, deep-canyon streams.

The centerpiece of Del Valle Regional Park is a lake five miles long surrounded by 4,395 acres for hiking, horseback riding, and nature study. In addition to hiking trails, it offers a variety of water-oriented recreation, from swimming to windsurfing and boating. Del Valle Regional Park also acts as the eastern gateway to the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, 28 miles of scenic backcountry trail.

Hiking from Hacienda

A variety of trails can be accessed from Hacienda or from other parts of the City of Pleasanton. The Iron Horse Trail between Pleasanton and Concord may be the best known. It follows a Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way that was established in 1891 and abandoned in 1978. The developed 32-mile, multiuse, whole-access trail links a variety of areas, including the BART station in Hacienda, residential and commercial areas, open space and parks, regional trails, and community facilities.

This wheelchair-accessible trail is also used by pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians. It provides provides direct links to three other regional trails: the Contra Costa Canal Trail, the Briones to Mt. Diablo Trail, and the Las Trampas to Mt. Diablo Trail. Regional planners intend to eventually extend the Iron Horse Regional Trail to a total of 55 miles and connect 12 cities, from Livermore in Alameda County to Suisun Bay in Contra Costa County.

The Callippe Preserve Trail is a secret treasure within the City of Pleasanton's public parks network, according to Matt Gruber, the city's Landscape Architect. It can be accessed by parking on the south side of the city-owned Callippe Preserve Municipal Golf Course parking lot and walking to the rear of the 18th green. The 3.75-mile loop trail is available to hikers and equestrians only, who will enjoy views of Pleasanton Ridge, Mount Diablo, the golf course, and more.

Three species of oak (coast live, valley and blue oak) are found along the trail as well as sycamore and buckeye trees, according to the City of Pleasanton. Raptors including golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, and great-horned owl may be observed. Other bird species seen are American kestrel, western meadowlark, red-shouldered hawk, California quail, scrub jay, yellow-billed magpie, red-winged blackbird and bluebird. During a spring visit, city officials recommend looking for California violet, narrow leaf sunflower, mallow, buttercup, native milkweed, fiddleneck, California poppy, blue-eyed grass, yarrow, wavy-leafed soap plant, and the Johnny Jump-up or Viola pedunculata, which is the host plant for the callippe silverspot butterfly. "I think probably most people in Pleasanton don't even know about that trail," Gruber told the Pleasanton Weekly. "But the trail is really good." Of course, the Callippe Preserve Trail is not the only local treasure. When it comes to hiking, the City of Pleasanton and the Tri-Valley region offer many good trails with beautiful views and amazing flora and fauna.

For more information about the East Bay Regional Park District’s Trails Challenge 2020, please visit www.ebparks.org/activities/trailschallenge/default.htm. For more information about Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve, please visit www.ebparks.org/parks/sunol/default.htm. For more information about Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, please visit www.ebparks.org/parks/pleasanton/default.htm. For more information about Del Valle Regional Park, please visit www.ebparks.org/parks/del_valle/default.htm. For more information about the Iron Horse Trail, please visit www.ebparks.org/parks/trails/iron_horse/default.htm. For more information about the Callippe Preserve Trail, please visit www.playcallippe.com/environment/callippe-hiking-equestrian-trails. For more information about Hacienda’s recreation opportunities, please visit www.hacienda.org/amenities-employees-residents/recreation