In brief:
6.3 mile loop along the length of a little valley, then climbing up and down a ridge. Hosts a Bay Area Ridge Trail segment.

Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 6.3 mile loop hike is moderate, with a total elevation change of about 1300 feet. Trailhead elevation is about 680 feet. The featured hike drops to about 435 feet, climbs to a high point of about 1000 feet, descends, then climbs back to the trailhead.

Exposure:
Almost totally exposed, with some shade toward the end of the hike.

Trail traffic:
Moderate.

Trail surfaces:
Dirt fire roads and trails.

Hiking time:
3 hours.

Season:
Too hot in summer. Best in late winter and early spring.

Getting there:

• From CA 24 in Alameda County, exit south CA 13 (exit 5). Drive about 4 miles south and exit Redwood (exit 1c). Turn left onto Redwood and drive uphill about 0.5 mile, to the junction with Skyline Boulevard. Stay in the left lane, and continue straight on Redwood about 4.3 miles, to the trailhead on the right side of the road.
• From westbound Interstate 580 in Alameda County, exit Redwood Road (exit 36a). Turn left on Castro Valley Blvd., then right on Redwood Road. Drive north about 8 miles to the trailhead on the left side of the road.

GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude 37°46'39.16"N
Longitude 122° 7'30.03"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)

Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, pay phones, stores, and restaurants back near CA 13 -- there are also limited facilities at Lake Chabot. Camping info from EBRPD: "Overlooking the lake is Chabot Family Campground, a year-round getaway only minutes from the city (camping fee). The camp has 75 trailer, tent, or walk-in campsites, hot showers, naturalist-led campfire programs, an amphitheater, and hiking/fishing access to Lake Chabot. There are reservable youth group campsites within the park as well. Telephone (510) 562-2267 for camping information or reservations."

Trailhead details:
Large dirt parking lot. No entrance or parking fees. Maps available at the information signboard located just off the parking lot. Pit toilets and drinking water located at the edge of Bort Meadow. There is no designated handicapped parking, and trails are not well-suited to wheelchairs. There is no direct public transportation to this trailhead, but AC Transit will bring you within walking distance of the park; visit 511.org for details.

Rules:
Most trails are multi-use. Some are open to equestrians and hikers only, and a few short trails are designated hiking only. Pets must be leashed 200 feet from any trail or park entrance, in parking lots, picnic areas, developed areas such as lawns and play fields, and on some trails. They must be under voice control at all times. Park is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Official Story:
EBRPD's Chabot page.
EBRPD headquarters 510-562-PARK

Map Choices:

This hike is described and mapped in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco, by Jane Huber (yup, that's me, the creator of this website). Order this book from Amazon.com.
• Map from EBRPD
• Dave Baselt's Oakland Hills and Pleasanton Ridge map is an excellent guide to the trails of Chabot as well as surrounding parklands. (order from Redwood Hikes).
• The East Bay Out, by Malcolm Margolin, has a useful map and park descriptions (order this book from Amazon.com).

Chabot in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.



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