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Redwood Regional Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate Intermediate
 4.5 (36)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …East Bay
  4. Redwood Regional Park
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“A mostly shady hike through Serpentine Prairie, oak forest, and the East Bay's largest redwood forest. ”

Michael Beetham
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Map Key

7.3

Miles

11.8

KM

Loop

1,526' 465 m

High

931' 284 m

Low

1,089' 332 m

Up

1,088' 332 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

41%

Max Grade (22°)

Dogs Off-leash

Features River/Creek · Spring · Wildlife

Open all year, with a park curfew at 10 pm.

Overview

This is a great 7-mile loop with easy access to water. This trail includes big hills, rolling hills, flats and downhills. There are lots of dense redwood forest that make it a great choice for a relatively cool hike on a hot day. In the winter, enjoy the lush ferns under the redwood canopy.

Need to Know

This loop is mostly shady. Water can be found at the start at the Richard C. Trudeau Conference Center and where the Graham and West Ridge trails intersect.

Description

Park at the Trudeau Center parking lot off of Skyline Blvd. Follow the Dunn Trail, which starts behind the Trudeau Conference Center. You immediately pass Sargent Cypress trees on your left, a California endemic tree with a relatively small distribution.

You then head uphill through the another unique California habitat, Serpentine Prairie. You can stop to read abut this ecosystem on an informational placard. Continue up the Dunn Trail to the Graham Trail, and turn left. Hike on the Graham Trail for just over 1 mile; this section is mostly uphill and on a fire road. You'll arrive in an large open area called Redwood Bowl. There is a water fountain here.

Next, take a sharp right onto the West Ridge Trail. After .1 mile, take the first trail that breaks off on the left. This is the Madrone Trail. Take this singletrack trail .5 miles to the French Trail. Take a right on French Trail and hike for 2.5 miles. You are traveling along a steep hillside under a redwood canopy on a very unique trail in the East Bay. This trail ends at a junction with the Orchard Trail.

Take a right and head uphill for .2 miles to West Ridge. Take a right on West Ridge, and continue .3 miles to the Baccharis Trail. Take a left onto Baccharis Trail. After .5 miles, this trail will take you back to Dunn Trail. Bear left onto the Dunn Trail. After .85 miles hiking through a beautiful live oak canopy that is the quintessential coastal California habitat, you'll return to the intersection of the Dunn and Graham Trail. Hang a left here and take the Dunn Trail back to the parking lot where you started.

Flora & Fauna

In addition to a great forest of coastal redwoods, the park's 1,830 acres also contain other evergreens, chaparral, and grasslands. Wildlife within the park includes rare species such as the golden eagle and Alameda striped racer. Deer, raccoons, rabbits, and squirrels are often seen.

History & Background

The forest's peaceful groves give little evidence of the park's bustling past–in the mid-1800s the area was the scene of extensive logging to supply building materials for the city of San Francisco. The logging era has long since passed, and a stately forest of 150-foot coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) has replaced those that were cut down. There was one particularly giant tree in this forest that was used by 49'ers as a navigational guide through the Golden Gate before it was cut down during the logging era.

Contacts

Local Club: Regional Parks Foundation

Land Manager: East Bay Regional Park District (CA)

Shared By:

Michael Beetham
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.5 from 36 votes

#1

in Redwood Regional Park

#337

Overall
  4.5 from 36 votes
5 Star
56%
4 Star
39%
3 Star
6%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Redwood Regional Park

#50

in California

#337

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Photos

Redwood Peak Trail.
Jun 30, 2022 near Moraga, CA
Just steps from the trailhead
Mar 7, 2018 near Piedmont, CA
Beginning of French Trail after dropping down Madrone trail.
Jun 20, 2015 near Moraga, CA
Redwood Bowl. Water Fountain straight ahead.
Jun 20, 2015 near Piedmont, CA
Finishing on Dunn, looking at the parking lot where I started.
Jun 20, 2015 near Piedmont, CA
Running up Orchard Trail. Steep!
Jun 20, 2015 near Moraga, CA

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