[2], Beginning in June 2010, the EBRPD, City of Pleasanton, and landscape architects Callander Associates held public meetings to discuss options for completing the trail within the city.[2]. Iron Horse Regional Trail has a Walk Score of 68 out of 100. Next you reach the San Ramon Golf Club. Iron Horse Regional Trail. There is a great variety of scenery and many nice places to stop and take a break and or snack (Danville). It runs through quiet residential neighborhoods, lively business and commercial districts and shady greenbelts. The pavement is in fairly good shape with few road snakes (Cracks). You next pass the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station and cross under I-580 before heading through some of Dublin and Pleasanton's dense housing and business development. The BART parking lot has a rest stop across the street featuring picnic tables, a drinking fountain and benches. Unfortunately, repairs are under way, so I could not ride the part of the trail with some climbs, but as a railroad right-of-way I can anticipate mild gradients even on the climbs.The way north from Dublin to Ramona yeilded a mere climb of 250-feet over 15 miles, so it is an easy spin for most cyclists. Iron horse trail is a long trail feeling m Dublin all the way to Walnut Creek (maybe Concord, but I’m not sure). I 680 is hardly noticed except when the trail goes under it. ", "I recently completed almost 31 round trip miles on the Iron Horse Regional Trail. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. The city of Pleasanton initially chose not to preserve the transportation corridor within its city limits. The rest of the trail was ok but a bit choppy (i.e., bumps, cracks) around the airport. The trail is adjacent to two BART stations, and somewhat close to three more. Contra Costa Fire crews contained multiple fires Monday afternoon along the Iron Horse Regional Trail near Concord. Nearby at the corner of Railroad and Prospect avenues is the old Southern Pacific Depot, which is the only original depot remaining on the line. If you want to bike the entire Iron Horse Trail, you can begin in Concord near Highway 4. Donation for Monument Fund. It is really ready for resealing or repaving, but is ridable as of right now. The latest segment of the Trail, which closed a gap of 1.8 miles from the Pleasanton/Dublin BART station to Santa Rita Road in Pleasanton, opened to the public on August 19th, 2014, after almost 30 years of planning and funding efforts. Turn left onto Arnold Industrial Place and left again on Solano Way. Despite initial skepticism, and even opposition, the trail is now a major transportation and recreation corridor. If you want long stretches where you can hammer, forget it. The trail passes through the cities of Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Concord. On a weekend there are lots of bikers, joggers, dog walkers, and kids. ", "I ride this every time I'm in the Walnut Creek area. [1] The two counties purchased the right of way at that time, intending to use it as a transportation corridor; the Iron Horse Trail was first established in 1986. Gradual up grade going south with lots of shade, shops and stop signs. Because this trail is located in such a developed area, there are frequent breaks and road crossings. Become a member and wear your FREE T-Shirt with pride. The East Pleasanton Specific Plan Project includes plans to complete this gap along future extensions to Busch Road and El Charro Road to Stanley Boulevard. I suggest checking the weather first and riding the same direction as the wind, usually from North to South. The trail is maintained by the East Bay Regional Park District. The signed trailhead is on your left. Join TrailLink (a non-profit) to view more than 30,000 miles of trail maps and more! The trail is now part of the East Bay Regional Parks Department. To reach the trailhead at the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station, exit Interstate 580 at Hopyard Road. When you cross Monument Boulevard, you need to pay attention. Saturday, May 6, 2017. Today, the Iron Horse Trail connects two counties and twelve cities. This trail gets 4.5 stars – there are some sections that area not all that great, but for the most part of the 24.5 miles we rode (both ways) are fabulous! By Bay City News , News Partner Jun 29, 2020 3:49 p m PT Turn right on Demarcus Boulevard, which leads to the station. From this point, the trail meanders through residential areas, crossing streets numerous times—though traffic is typically low—and offers easy access to restaurants and shopping. 12501 Alcosta Blvd, San Ramon, CA 94583. The trail starts at the current northern end just south of State Route 4, near Concord's Buchanan Field Airport's northeast corner. Iron Horse Regional Trail – Sign Unveiling. Currently, the Iron Horse Trail extends a total of 32 miles from Marsh Road in Concord to Isabel Avenue at the Pleasanton/Livermore border, connecting 9 communities. On the north end, there are plans to continue the trail to Suisun Bay in Martinez. To reach the northern trailhead, take State Route 4 westbound to Arnold Industrial Way. Lots of families, bike riders and people on parts of the trail through out the day. Coupled with the Lafayette / Maraga and Contra Costa Canel trails this trail is part of a wonderful system. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. After Bolinger, heading north it turns to concrete with expansion joints and is not the most pleasant ride. There is a trail overpass under construction (march 2010) across 11 lane Treat Blvd in Pleasant Hill. ", TrailLink is a free service provided by Rails-to-Trails conservancy, We're a non-profit all about helping you enjoy the outdoors, Marsh Dr. near Buchanan Field Airport (Concord) and Valley Ave. and Busch Rd. 2020 Hall of Fame feature: California’s Iron Iron Horse Regional Trail! The Iron Horse Trail was the old rail owned by Southern Pacific. There are a couple of underpasses – but you notice right away if you miss them and can see where the trail is – like at Concord Avenue. The final stretch runs in a wide corridor between fenced-in backyards before ending at Valley Avenue. It runs south through Walnut Creek and crosses east under I-680 at Rudgear Road near a Park & Ride. There are also numerous road crossings where you really need to look out for soccer moms driving Himalaya class SUVs (especially in Danville) to avoid being run over.All this being said, it's still a great place for a ride. See 9 photos and 3 tips from 154 visitors to Iron Horse Regional Trail. Iron Horse State Park contains the most developed portion of the trail. The Iron Horse Regional Trail is a 32-mile long multi-use paved trail that extends from the City of Concord to the City of Pleasanton in Central California. The West portion of Contra Costa Canel section is an off-shoot and is interesting in the view of the Walnut Creek area from the base of Mt Diablo where the trail loops back toward town. The Iron Horse Trail (27 miles) starts in Concord (near Hwy 4) and runs south through Pleasant Hill, then Walnut Creek and crosses eastward under I-680 at Rudgear Road (near a Park & Ride). Northbound at Monument blvd in concord, be sure to turn left (west) and cross the creek. Wish it would extend in either direction. Additional bridges are in the planning process. The trail briefly leaves the former rail corridor at Arroyo Mocho and Santa Rita Road but picks it up again south of Stoneridge Drive. [7] Construction began in May 2013,[8] and the segment opened on July 25, 2014. The pathway for the trail was constructed along the abandoned railway bed of the Southern Pacific Rail Line. The completed Iron Horse Regional Trail, as of 2014, spans a distance of 32 miles. I'm new to biking and have become very fond of it. The Walnut Creek section was a bit sketchy with some not so nice, unattractive sections with chain-link fences and rough surface. I've ridden the other portion of the Iron Hose but prefer this. This Donation to For pictograms used, see Wikimedia Commons: BSicon/Catalogue . A rest stop across the street from the BART parking lot features picnic tables, a drinking fountain and benches. I've only rose on it 2 times 10 miles the 20 miles. This multi-use, whole-access trail between the cities of Concord and Pleasanton follows the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way established in 1891 and abandoned in 1977. If you live near BART, you can have a car-less day on the trail. 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