Chabot Park is a nice companion to its neighbor, Redwood Park. The two parks are separated only by narrow Redwood Road, and with an interconnected trail system, you can hike for hours on a long segment of the the Bay Area Ridge Trail, through both parks. While Redwood is dominated by its namesake trees, and a riparian corridor, with just a bit of chaparral, Chabot features a lake, meadows and grassland, eucalyptus forests, and lots of chaparral. At the southeastern end of Chabot, Lake Chabot is a focal point, and the area has been developed with a public golf course, family campground, and marina. The northwestern edge, which borders Redwood Park, and the middle of Chabot are less developed, although there is a campground at Bort Meadow.
     With 9 trailheads (the EBRPD calls the largest of these staging areas), Chabot offers many choices when it comes to hiking. MacDonald Staging Area, on the park's northeastern edge, serves both Chabot and Redwood Parks. Going south, Marciel Gate, and the other trailheads off Marciel Road, are the last subdued set-off points before you reach the developed parking areas at Willow Park Golf Course and Lake Chabot Marina. Starting from Bort Meadow Staging Area allows you to wander southeast or northwest, and it's my favorite trailhead at Chabot. From here you can take an out-and-back hike west through chaparral on MacDonald Trail (a segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail), or just wander downhill to Bort Meadow and lie in the grass. Grass Valley Trail (another segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail) meanders levelly south through the valley and joins with Brandon Trial on a march through eucalyptus forests. Brandon runs all the way to the eastern edge of the park, ending near the Proctor Staging Area.
     Equestrians are commonly encountered on the trails at Chabot, although less so in the winter, when the equestrian center on Skyline Boulevard is closed. Trails can get quite hot in the summer, so spring and autumn are the best times of year to visit. Some wildflowers bloom throughout the park, and a hike through the grassland and chaparral-lined slopes can be an education in bay area plants.
     For the featured hike, head downhill on the paved road near the entrance to the staging area. Coyote brush and poison oak line the route. A glance to the left reveals the valley you will soon be hiking through. At 0.10 mile, the trail splits at a signed 3-way intersection. The paved trail right goes to Bort Meadow. The trail straight is a spur to Brandon Trail. Turn left, on Grass Valley Trail.
     Grass Valley, a wide multi-use trail, is curvy and almost flat. This segment is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail. In spring, the grassy hillsides of this valley are dotted with wildflowers, most notably yellow suncups, and tiny purple-blossomed filaree, which produces a carpet effect in places. Cows graze through the valley, so the grass is kept short and neat. A few oaks produce shade on the edge of the trail, but for the most part you'll walk under full sun. Coyote brush and poison oak continue to be prominent plants along the sides of the trail, although some occasional broom shrubs lend a sweet aroma and yellow flowers in the spring. At 1.04 miles, Redtail Trail sets out from the left side of the trail at a signed junction. (Redtail climbs to the Marciel Gate; you can make an extra loop by taking Redtail to Cottontail, and then turning right onto Grass Valley Trail, after which you can pick up this featured hike at the stone bridge.) Continue straight on Grass Valley Trail.
     The dirt path winds slightly downhill, and the grass gives way to tall eucalyptus and redwood trees. At 1.52 miles Grass Valley Trail comes to a junction near the stone bridge. Grass Valley Trail continues uphill to the left. Turn right and cross Grass Valley Creek (a good rest spot), then pass the signed entrance to Cascade Trail on the left and walk uphill to the left on Jackson Grade.
     Jackson Grade is a multi-use dirt fire road that climbs pleasantly through partial shade. You may see white slim solomon's seal and wood strawberry, orange sticky monkeyflower, and purple bush lupine in spring. Maple, creambush, hazelnut, blackberry, wild rose, toyon, coast live oak, and coffeeberry mix together on the sides of the trail. Eucalyptus towers over all. After an easy climb to the ridgeline, Jackson Grade ends at a signed junction at 1.93 miles. Turn right onto Goldenrod Trail.
      Goldenrod, a dirt multi-use trail, climbs a bit. Tall, scrawny eucalyptus trees tower above the chaparral-covered ridge. To the right views encompass the eastern section of the park. Goldenrod is mostly level, but occasional uphill stretches persist. Very little shade makes for hot hiking in the summer. Blue witch nightshade grows on the side of the hill, along with blue elderberry, toyon, poison oak, and monkeyflower. Yellow-blossomed broom, an invasive pest plant, has a strong foothold among the plants in this chaparral community. In spring, you may see checkerbloom, bluedicks, blue-eyed grass, scarlet pimpernel, California poppy, and purple bush lupine. Goldenrod Trail nears Skyline Boulevard and then stays close to the road. Eucalyptus trees fade away as you continue to hike northwest, and they are replaced by some pines. The buildings of the equestrian center come into view just before a junction at 3.60 miles. The signpost stands among a bunch of yellow broom and may be hard to see if the trail hasn't been brushed recently. Turn left to stay on Goldenrod before the gated trail crosses into the equestrian center.
     After a tight squeeze through the broom, the trail cuts through some grass right beside Skyline Boulevard, then drops away from the street, crosses the access road to the equestrian center, and returns to chaparral. At 3.74 miles a path to the right leads to Horseshoe Trail, which drops down and meets Brandon Trail in the valley. Continue straight on Goldenrod.
     Cow parsnip pushes up white flowers on tall thick stems on the side of the trail in spring. Look for the delicate white woodland star flowers in the shade, and colorful scarlet pimpernel and redmaids growing close to the ground in the sun. To the right (east), if it's clear you should be able to see all the way to Las Trampas Ridge. In the foreground Grass Valley Trail and Redwood Road are visible. To the north MacDonald Trail stands out as it traverses the ridge. At one point the trailhead is obvious, and you can check to see if your car is still there! Back on Goldenrod Trail, purple bush lupine thrives in the sun alongside California sagebrush and California poppies. The trail curves across the hillside where blackberries and creambush are abundant. At 4.43 miles, the trail appears to end at an unsigned junction with a service road. Turn right, and walk on the pavement past the water tank. The trail resumes on dirt at 4.49 miles. A few maples accompany hazelnut and creambush on the left side of the trail. At 4.70 miles, Buckeye Trail begins at a signed junction just before Goldenrod shoots uphill. Turn right onto Buckeye.
     After miles on multi-use trails, hiking-only Buckeye is a pleasure. Some tricky, downward-sloping steps descend sharply along a creek, then the narrow trail twists under some coast live oaks and California bays, and crosses a bridge. Edging along the creek, the path tends to crumble toward the water, so watch your step. You may see hound's tongue and fringecups among the ferns. A dramatic patch of forget-me-nots is a froth of delicate light blue blooms in spring. You might enjoy a rest stop under the shade on a wooden bench standing off the right side of the trail. I was sitting here on a hike in April when I think I heard a mountain lion shriek. I've never heard this sound before in nature (I've listened to audio clips), and it was loud and distinctive, but probably not closer than 1/4 mile away. When I've heard audio snippets I thought they sounded kind of fake, but as soon as I heard whatever this was, I was struck by the resemblance to those clips. I certainly wouldn't say for sure that this rather unearthly screech was a mountain lion, but I will be on alert at Chabot from now on. Shortly after you pass the bench Buckeye Trail crosses a second bridge and ends at 5.03 miles, at the edge of Bort Meadow. Cross the grass and look for a junction near a row of pit toilets. A group of picnic tables sprawl in the grass to the right. A paved road makes a sharp curve on its way back to the trailhead, but instead take the trail, signed horses OK/no bikes, to the right of the gate.
     This slip of a trail passes through coyote brush, poison oak, and eucalyptus. There are quite a few plum trees along the trail, and when the fruit is ripe you might see animals ranging from birds to coyote gorging on the sweet plums. In spring California buttercups and blue-eyed grass draw your attention to their colorful petals. At 5.34 miles the trail splits; stay to the left and continue uphill. At the crest of a hill, the spur ends at a signed junction with MacDonald Trail, at 5.40 miles. Turn right and walk the few remaining steps to the gate at the edge of the parking lot.

Total distance: 5.44 miles
Last hiked: Monday, April 22, 2002

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