In
brief:
4.9 mile out and back walk on a paved trail running along the Conta Costa
Canal, bordering residential neighborhoods.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 4.9 mile out and back walk is very easy. The trail is
flat. You can create more challenging hikes by extending a walk off the
trail into surrounding parklands.
Exposure:
Totally exposed.
Trail traffic:
Moderate.
Trail surfaces:
Paved sidewalk-like trail.
Walking time:
2 hours.
Season:
Nice year round.
Getting there:
From the CA 24/Interstate 680 junction in Contra Costa County, exit Ygnacio
Valley Road (exit 46b). Drive east on Ygnacio Valley Road for about 2 miles,
then turn left (north) onto San Carlos Drive (look for the small "Heather
Farms Park" sign). Drive about 0.5 mile, to a parking lot on the right
side of the road, just before the road curves left and crosses the canal.
GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude
37°55'26.91"N
Longitude 122° 2'41.29"W
(* based on Google Earth
data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, stores, and restaurants on Ygnacio Valley Road, and there's a shopping
center just off the trail, near Bancroft.
Trailhead details:
Lots of parking near the trail, with even more parking back down the road
at Heather Farms Park. There you'll also find restrooms, a pay phone, and
drinking water. There are a few designated handicapped parking spots at
the trailhead, and the trail is an excellent candidate for wheelchairs and
strollers. No parking or entrance fees. Maps are available on the trail,
less than 0.1 mile from the trailhead. This trail is accessible to public
transit. From the Pleasant Hill BART station, walk or ride about 1/4 mile
south on Oak Road.
Rules:
Trail is multi-use, and is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Leashed dogs are permitted.
The Official Story:
EBRPD's
Contra Costa Canal Trail page
EBRPD headquarters 510-562-PARK
Map Choices:
• Map from EBRPD (download the pdf)
Contra Costa Canal Trail in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.