High Ridge Loop Trail is a 5.8 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Union City, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as difficult. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
The route also provides impressive views of the San Francisco Bay and the nearby East Bay Hills; expect to see raptors, deer and the occasional coyote. Trails on this route: High Ridge Loop Trail, Spur to Gossip Rock loop, Tolman Peak Trail, South Fork Trail, High Ridge Loop Trail. Skip the Tolman Peak section to slice three miles from the hike. Best times to go: Early to late spring, when the hills green up and the wildflowers put on their annual show. Winter is fine, too, though bear in mind the trails get very muddy. Give them a few days to dry out after a passing storm system blows through. Summer's too hot, but cooler weather in the autumn make the hiking pleasant.
Park at the staging area located off of May Rd.
Garin-Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park website http://www.ebparks.org/parks/garin Contact: (888) 327-2757, option 3, extension 4530
Bring sunscreen: there's not much shade on this hike. Also bring water and snacks to sustain your energy level; there's quite a bit of up-and-down on this loop. Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fees: $5 per vehicle when kiosk is attended. $2 dog fee.
Driving directions: From I-880, take the Industrial Parkway exit (exit 24) and go west to Mission Boulevard (Highway 238). Go south on Mission to Garin Avenue (first stoplight) and turn left; take Garin Avenue to park entrance kiosk.
February 23, 2021February 21, 2021
February 20, 2021February 17, 2021Great hike challenge for intermediate hiker.
February 16, 2021February 14, 2021February 13, 2021February 7, 2021February 6, 2021February 6, 2021February 6, 2021January 31, 2021January 31, 2021Challenging to the beginner a really good satisfying one for Moderate hiking!
January 30, 2021Delightfully a wonderful hike. I would not rate this has hard - moderate at best. First part was pretty steep. Path is really a fire road. I was really delighted by this hike.
January 30, 2021January 30, 2021January 30, 2021January 26, 2021Amazing hike, good uphill and good downhill. Got good sweat.
January 23, 2021January 20, 2021One of my favorite hiking spots! My 4.5 year old can also easily to this loop, and there's a great area with perfect climbing trees. Lots of cows, beautiful creeks, and we saw a bobcat here recently.
January 17, 2021January 13, 2021Clockwise is easier! Power to those peeps who did it the opposite way!
January 3, 2021January 2, 2021December 30, 2020Nice trail esp for the colder months. The trail map is probably outdated. We went anti clockwise and ended up exiting from Garin regional park after crossing a small foot bridge. After a brief walk through the parking lot we took another unmarked trail along the pond which eventually connected us back to Dry Creek Pioneer regional park.. resort to Google Maps if you can’t figure this out :-)
December 22, 2020The trail is very beautiful and worth it as you near the top, but mind you the climb there is a difficult one. just put one foot in front of the other. the hills are pretty steep. watch your step as you come back down if you want to loop around this trail, you have to pass that "private property" sign to continue on the loop. I dont think its actually private property because it was pretty open and connected back to the main trail
