This is one of the more popular trails in the east bay. I believe the entire length is about 30 miles, all the way from South Pleasanton to concord. It can be pretty busy, with an assortment of fast bike riders, and slow walkers, so be careful. Many of the street Crossings have special flashing yellow lights. Nevertheless, don't assume the cars will always see you. read more

See all

Finally checked off biking Ironhorse Trail starting from Dublin BART to Walnut Creek BART station (18 miles)! Popular trail among local walkers, joggers, cyclists. Mostly flat trail passes through mostly residential neighborhoods (some luxurious backyards), various schools, Bishop Ranch, downtown Danville, Alamo, edge of Walnut Creek. Nice views of green hills. Little shade on trail so best to go during cooler weather. Took about 2 hrs at casual biking speed with snack break in Danville. FYI As of 3/18/23, construction in progress at Dublin entry to trail. Entry from adjacent street near the park. read more

See all

Who doesn't love a straightaway walk, run or bike path! I haven't found anything solid like this on Oahu. I was super happy when my friend took me here for a slow jog. This place was behind her awesome apartment and it was a great site to see a well maintained trail. People were out walking, bike riding and running! I am not sure how far this place goes but we went one mile and a half out and it seemed like we had not even grazed the tip of this awesome place! read more

Iron Horse Trail - Running on the Iron Horse trail - Hiking Near Me

This trail is super long! I stay in Dublin because I am no avid biker or runner. lol but I love it! I constantly see the city out here cleaning the trail and it shows, it is pretty spotless for a public trail. Everyone that I've seemed to encounter are always courteous and polite. I like to start at Dublin/Pleasanton Bart and head towards Amador Valley blvd and take my dog to Dougherty Hills Dog Park. She's a lazy girl like me so by the time we get back to bart she is POOPED! Sometimes we have to carry her back! Haha, give it a try on your high energy pups :) read more

See all

This trail goes on forever! We walked from Del Amigo Rd. over to the Danville Farmers Market to Crumb's and then back to our car on the trail. The trail is nice and flat! It is well paved so there is no fear of rolling an ankle which makes for a nice stroll! The stretch we walked is pretty shaded too which will be nice during the summer! Just like you want to visit, so do many others! The trail was busy with other walkers, people walking their dogs, bike riders and runners. The trail is wide so there is room for all! read more

Amazing long flat trail--what a perfect way to use land that use to have railroad tracks. Great for a long or short bike ride.

Not a big fan of this trail. Its not very scenic - everything is in fact rather unpleasant to the eyes. There are lots of power lines and industrial looking buildings around. I don't know... maybe your into that sort of thing. It gets sort of warm in the summer - I would think its more desirable to be indoors on a treadmill maybe watching a rerun of bad television. Dogs seem to like the place well enough. The sniff in all the corners - go off the pavement.... you know how they are. read more

Iron Horse Trail - Hiking Near Me

See all

Although no trail can compare to the Katy Trail located in Missouri, I'm very blessed to live near and have access to the Iron Horse Trail. The IHT is a multi-purpose paved trail that follows the Southern Pacific Railway from Pleasanton to Concord (approx 32 miles one-way). The IHT is frequented by runners and cyclists every day of the week. However, the pedestrian traffic on the IHT has doubled since Covid-19 has been sheltering folks into "cabin fever". On this particular occasion, I rode my bicycle from San Ramon to downtown Pleasant Hill for lunch and back to San Ramon which clocked approx 30 miles round trip. Bring water, snacks and sun screen to enjoy a great day on the Iron Horse Trail! read more

See all

By far the best biking trail. Pretty flat, very scenic (if you like looking at the backyards of multi-million homes, and people are very courteous here. I did a bike trail from Alamo to Dublin and back, about a 20 mile bike ride. Loved every minute. And if you get a flat, there seems to be a lot of bike shops around. read more

This is a really great and well maintained trail! I am currently practicing for my 5K on this trail, and I like how it's all flat, which I need to get familiar with running. In conclusion, this is a really great place to practice any activity, and also a great place if you need a flat surface. read more

A very fun and relaxing trail to walk, bike, or go for a run. The trail is flat, paved, and very safe. My favorite part of the trail is that it goes past some local businesses in Danville so you can stop and get something to eat or drink. Dogs are also welcomed! Please check it out when looking for an easy trail ! read more

Started bicycling at the Big O tires in Danville & found parking in across from Big O. We went around 5pm & found some parts shady(which was nice) as well as some sun. It was hard to know where best to start bc this trail encompasses such a large area, but I would start here again due to the shade. Not only was this path paved & level, but we got to see some sun read more

Iron Horse Trail - Iron Horse Trial near a swimming pool in Danville - Hiking Near Me

First, I enjoy parts of this trail, but not all parts of it (!) I do appreciate the effort that went into bringing the Iron Horse Trail to fruition, but this does not mean that it can't be improved. Especially in what I'll call "entry-points in its southernmost region, starting in Pleasanton." If you cycle the IHT from Danville and head north toward Walnut Creek (start across from the Museum of San Ramon) you will enjoy a treat. But if you start in Pleasanton, you will be treated to bland views that end, leaving you with no direction as to where or how to pick up the trail. (This lack of direction is especially galling by the Dublin BART station.) Do yourself a favor, start in Danville. Forget Dublin/Pleasant Hill...unless you live adjacent to one of its truncated paths. read more

Iron Horse Trail - North portion of Iron Horse - Hiking Near Me

Long straight mainly flat asphalt path for biking, running, jogging, walking going through attractive surroundings. A bench approx 1/2 kilometer out and other spots. The path is well maintained and excellently inviting for locals to bike, run or just stroll for being alive. Wish every community had paths like this one. read more

See all

Love this trail but avoid it during peak hours! Beautiful scenery especially love walking Walnut Creek down to Danville..

Started coming here when I couldn't go to the school gym and stopped my 24 Hour Fitness membership. The people on this trail are inspirational. Who are these people? Septuagenarians breezing past you on their bikes, parents walking their child home from school, immigrant couples taking a post-dinner stroll, people of all ages dusting off their running shoes and beginning their own fitness journey, to name a few. Traffic light conversations are encouraged. You won't even have to walk through tall grass to encounter wildlife - crows, egrets, ducks, hares, and even some neighborhood cats frequent the trail on a regular basis. If you're like me you'll have to resist kidnapping every dog you pass. There's lots of access points to the trail, which is both convenient and a hassle when you have to stop every quarter mile or so at a crosswalk/traffic signal. The trail is paved, which is nice for those who prefer wheels over feet, and well-kept for the most part (minus some areas with cracks and bumps). The trail itself takes you through much of the bay area, snaking behind several schools, including Cal High, San Ramon Valley High, Dublin High, and Montevideo Middle School. My 14-year-old brother biked from San Ramon to Walnut Creek and back within one afternoon with his friends (about 25 mi round trip), so it's a pretty safe and manageable trail. What's kind of interesting is how you can see the demographic of people change as you move from one city to the next... Scenery includes a creek, corporate office buildings, highways, golf courses, shopping plazas, public parks, suburban backyards, schools, and all kinds of nature. Basically, a little bit of everything. It's a great place to plug in your mp3 player and test out that life soundtrack or bring back your childhood tunes. Tips: Avoid weekend mornings and pre/post-school times if you're looking for a more solitary path. This is a popular hang out spot during the 4th of July, but sadly burns the grass and makes the ground smell terrible for months. And also there's pretty much no lighting at night, so bring some lighting. read more

Iron Horse Trail - Neighborhood cat! - Hiking Near Me

See all

It feels like I-5 for bikers and pedestrians alike. Props to the master minds who designed this trail spanning several cities. Way to promote an active lifestyle in the middle of the burbs of the 925. We need more of these bi-ways around the Bay. It's paved, clean, with just the right amount of scenery. The intensity varies. Mostly flat with some incline/decline near Pleasant Hill. We did 26 miles roundtrip from San Ramon to Pleasant Hill. I imagined the ride to be a live spin class! During the inclines, "5 turns of resistance and peddle standing up!" Great place to train and challenge yourself. We'll definitely frequent this trail for our longer runs and bike rides. read more

I don't know why I haven't done a write-up on the Iron Horse Trail before... I mean, I have ran, cycled, walked and maybe skipped down this trail like a thousand times. Maybe not literally a thousand times, but who's counting. I love this trail... I usually start in Alamo and venture down to San Ramon. It is scenic and feels pretty safe in the mornings and during the daylight hours. There are many cyclists that follow the rules and let you know when they are advancing on you well before you are run over. Also, there are many cross walks through different neighborhoods. This is the exact place I will take my son to learn to ride his bike without training wheels. read more

Iron Horse Trail - Hiking Near Me

I really enjoyed walking the Trail. Iron Horse Trail is a long trail that goes through several cities, and you can pick where to start and end from. The trail was flat where we walked, and I really liked that everyone followed the posted rules ( bikes pass on the left while announcing themselves)---- there was plenty to see while walking. The trail was clean, you could tell that the people who walk here take care of the Trail, and I didn't see any trash at all! We started in San Ramon, walked up to a point in Danville, and then came back for a 5 mile loop. The fact we started and ended at San Ramon Park was better since there was a play area for the kids. I also noticed a lot of people who were walking during their lunch/break, so anything that can contribute to good health gets 5 stars from me! I recommend giving this a try if you are in the area. read more

Nice long straight, flat trail which is on your left, when you cross the road from Pleasant Hill Bart station. it was a perfect day for a ride. Not too hot but cool enough for a wind breaker. It was lovely, seeing families, runners and dog walkers along this trail. For a Sunday, it was not crowded at all. I literally rode all the way to Danville, about 9 miles there and back. A very country side trail with country lanes and squirrels. This trail is great for beginners. read more

See all

As someone who doesn't live in the immediate area, I don't consider this a destination trail - so you can imagine my surprise when I heard friends who were so desperate for a low-traffic bike ride that they took their bicycles on BART to go ride the IHT! The IHT is flat. You cross traffic ever so often so it's not exactly rural - and it's not very exciting scenery. If you are looking for a low impact and mellow trail - this is it. IHT is a nice alternative to the surface streets for joggers and walkers, but as a cyclist, I probably won't traverse the trail again since it is covered with "goatshead thorns" which will break off in your tires and cause a flat - months later. read more

Awesome paved trail! Went on a sunday bike ride, and started in San Ramon all the way to Walnut Creek. It was busy in certain areas mostly when getting closer to town due to families going on their bike rides. It also crosses some main roads so at times you have to pause your ride but overall it's mostly smooth biking! Not a lot of shade so make sure you wear plenty of sun screen and a hat. Definitely make a stop in Danville and have a cup of Joe or a bite to eat. Plenty of selections and it's bike friendly. I used my map my ride ap and there and back I clocked in 19 miles. Definitely a good workout if you are really pushing it, but also can be a nice relaxed cruise if you're looking to site see. We will return! read more

Iron Horse Trail - A lot of sun! Wear sear block. - Hiking Near Me

See all

I was pre-training and now am on-my-own training with the Thursday run group at the Road Runners store in Concord (http://www.yelp.com/biz/road-runner-sports-concord#hrid:nNHHhejgU8Kcv4wsiCg42w). We normally head North going parallel to the Buchanan Field Airport. What I like about the trail is that it is completely even surface for. Having just come off from recovery from my injury, I was excited to get my run on. Although the temperatures in Concord can be hot and the trail provides little to no shade, running/biking can be slightly unbearable. I do not recommend women to run alone on this trail (even in the daytime), unless you carry mace, whistle, and/or taser. I was slightly uncomfortable on my run yesterday when I saw a bike parked next to the fence behind the Home Depot. I thought nothing of it on my way up the trail, but coming back down, I was completely on my own and I happened to see the bike still there. I look to my right and there is a guy just chilling behind the bushes and up against the building. Talk about me picking up speed. What I really like about the trail is how peaceful it can be, even though it runs under the busy streets of Concord. I find that I can run with clarity despite the street noise. What I do wish that the trail offered water fountains, but then again if you want to carry water you can get such supplies at the Road Runner store. read more

Iron Horse Trail - Hiking Near Me

LOVE this trail! Started my Saturday morning with a lovely bike ride from San Ramon to Walnut Creek. This is a pretty popular trail. Both, bikes & walkers/runners populate this trail. So excited to finally take my Schwinn out in the sunshine. There are some sunny spots as well as shady spots. Two places we stopped while on the trail was Peet's Coffee in Danville which was suuuuuuper crowded at around noon because the bike shop is right there next to Peet's & it's also a checkpoint for hardcore morning riders. Just sayin' There was also a Farmer's Market down the street, always good :) I am excited that this trail is so close to home, ADVENTURES!! Yayyy! read more

Iron Horse Trail - Camille Ave. - Hiking Near Me

See all

This is a great trail to run, walk, bike or scooter on. We are lucky enough to live in the Alamo/Danville area so have taken advantage of the trail many times for nice family walks. Unfortunately, we don't live close enough to get to the trail without a car as we have kids. But an easy 5 minute drive to park is not an issue. It's a nice way to get out of the house and do something active as a family. In Danville, the trail runs right by Peet's and La Boulange, both great stops. The trail goes on forever so if you live within running distance, it's great to use if you are any distance runner. For me, it turns out to be a long run because I have to get to it first! read more

Very easy trail to just pedal or walk. You can pick your distance and go and it's very hard to get lost. Spans several cities from Concord to Dublin. There can be crowded areas along the trail but mostly traffic is very manageable to navigate. read more

In preparation for our upcoming Tour De Cure biking event next month, my college friends and I thought it would be great idea to warm up on the Iron Horse Regional Trail. This was my first ride on this family friendly trail that spans from Pleasanton to Concord. Our 33 mile ride began in San Ramon with a lunch break in Walnut Creek, then biking back down to San Ramon (16.5 miles going up and 16.5 miles back down). There are no hills or major inclines on this trail. This is an easy trail filled with walkers, joggers, bicyclists, and horse riders. As for strengthening, we discovered that there is more pedaling from Walnut Creek to San Ramon (slight incline on the return trip home). As for scenery benefits, there's nothing spectacular on the trial but I'd consider this ride as a recreational and training ground for bikers and joggers. The county does a great job maintaining the area and locals are doing their part of picking up any litter left behind. If you're going to visit the trail, I suggest to stay away from the Summer afternoons. There's very few shading on the trail with no restroom facilities and water fountains. Along the trail (San Ramon to Walnut Creek): - Asphalt all the way through. - Residential backyards - San Ramon National Golf Club - Commercial buildings - Few small pedestrian bridges (over looking the creeks). - Shopping plaza on Railroad Avenue in Danville - Farmers market (Saturdays only) - Community parks and schools - California Golden Poppies - Dog poop (some people are just lazy about picking up after their dogs). Suggestions: - Bring a friend as always. Never travel on trails alone. There are some areas where there's nobody. - Never attempt to travel on this trial at night. There is no lighting or emergency call boxes. - Tourist Spot? Uh, No. Again, there's nothing scenic here. - Parking: I suggest parking at one of the local shopping centers next to the trail. See the trail map for details. Ideal for: - Leisure walking, jogging, running, and biking. - Great for training for marathons, 5K, 10K runs. - Get off the couch and exercise dammit! read more

See all

Since I am doing the Breast Cancer 3-day Walk in October in SF, I am looking for anywhere I can to practice my walking and Iron Horse trail is the perfect place for this! Sadly as a kid I never truly appreciated this trail like I do now so it was my first real time doing a real walk today on the trail in San Ramon. This trail spans from Concord to Dublin but I have read they are expanding it to Livermore. Right now its 24.5 miles which is the perfect miles for me to get some good walking in for my event. This trail is clean and well paved and always has people walking on it all times of the day. I feel safe walking on this trail. It's also a trail great for biking on, horseback riding and walking dogs (just make sure you bring your pooper scooper!) See you on the trail!! read more

This trail is safe, paved, straight, and clean with very little cross traffic or intersections. It's a nice one for a leisurely bike ride, but I have to say that I was kind of bored by the trail because it is rather barren with little to no surrounding scenery. read more

Iron Horse Trail - Hiking Near Me

Turkeys, and tabbies and snakes..oh my! Yes, this lush path not only bustles with human energy (usually in the form of a kamikaze biker or two), but includes wildlife as well. Designers of this well-maintained trail certainly knew what they were doing -- it links a variety of community services with scores of neighborhoods. Just watch where you run/walk/bike. I have encountered turkeys near the Pleasant Hill BART, a stubborn sunbathing cat who forces you to run around him, and a snake near Heather Farms Park. I defy Dorothy herself to come up with a more motley crew... read more

Iron Horse Trail how I run thee. You are long, flat, straight, often boring and unshaded, but you provide me with a safe (from cars not pervs) place to run. Pretty cool that I can run from Dublin to Walnut Creek on you. The Alamo to Walnut Creek portion is the best, as you run by beautiful homes and some horses. We also ride the Danville portion on our bikes/scooters with the kids. It's a pretty nifty thing and makes me glad to live in suburbia. read more

I love that you can walk from Walnut Creek to Pleasanton. Personally never done it, that's a lot of walking! But it is a great trail, and it's really good if you have a bike, roller blades, or whatever. The scenery is generally the same the whole way, it's not much of a scenic trail compared to others. read more

This paved over railroad is a fairly flat path through neighborhoods and downtown areas. Perfect for a leisurely stroll or ride. You'll share the path with walkers, runners, rollerbladers, cyclists, etc. The trail is still in progress, but the existing part roughly parallels I-680 between Dublin and Concord. The trail has easy access to downtown Danville where you can stop by the farmer's market and grab lunch at the cute restaurants in the area. Though the path is paved, I would recommend having slimed tires or a patch kit if you're going to ride your bike. There are psycho plants on the sides of the trails with spikes ~1" long that always seem to find your tires. More than once, I've had to ride back and get the car to pick up a stranded cyclist with a flat tire. read more

We ride our bicycles here every weekend (except when it's raining) - it stretches from Dublin (library) thru Concord or Martinez (not sure) - We usually go for an hour ride back & forth up to Crow Canyon and back to the house. We'd like to go up to Walnut Creek someday once we get our new bling bling bikes, for now we have our starter bikes. The trail has runners, walkers, dog walkers, bicyclist, streakers, etc. It is pretty flat with very, very slight inclines. We sometimes venture off to Dougherty rd and bike up Old Ranch Rd. for a steep climb. It's quiet, safe with some friendly people. read more

Of all the trails I run at - I run everywhere - peninsula, south bay, east bay... this one is probably my least favorite. On Sunday, I ran from Alcosta blvd in San Ramon, going north, out and back and it's just flat, boring and straight. Not much coverage/no shade from that section, but oh wells. I kinda like my trails twisty so I can't see where I have to run. I know, it's all mental I guess. Well, running is my least favorite sport but I do it anyways. I can't see myself running this solo. I'd be sooooo bored! Thankfully, I ran it with my gf of mine and her baby in a jog stroller so I was distracted by our chit chat and a cute baby! However, everyone on the trail is so friendly! It's well maintained, too. read more

Oh Iron Horse Trail! Where are some thick bushes in which I can stop to pee? Your 30+ miles of multi-city straightaway Are a no-brainer for any marathon trainee But gee! It took me 9 miles to find a small thicket of pine trees In which to hide whilst I did the girly #1 deed! TIPS - For brave/crazy souls running after dark, don't be the sucker without a flashlight/headlamp. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE. - Be careful crossing the streets breaking up the trail - drivers have been fairly courteous in my experience but don't be the asshole pedestrian who doesn't even bother to look! - RUNNERS! - save your shins & your knees! Run alongside the paved trail in the dirt. Most parts of the trail have gravel/dirt paths (either real trails or carved out in the shrubs by other runners) on either side of the paved trail. Keep your eyes on the road though, there may be an uneven spot (read: mole hole) here or there! - BEWARE of the unpaved trail alongside the San Ramon Golf Club area (between Alcosta & Pine Valley) - when it rains, the part of the trail crossing the golf cart path is like a moss-covered creek! Believe me, I learned the hard way... totally slipped and fell on my ass 2 miles into my 16 mile run. FML - DOG OWNERS! Please pick up your dog's poop! There are trash cans conveniently located at practically every intersection of street & trail! Running is hard enough without having to dodge doggie doodie!!! read more

So I've only ran 5 miles on the trail in Walnut Creek and it is rather flat and paved - booooooring. I do like it for running with our dog, the secluded trail with no car traffic leaves my heart at ease and makes it easier to cope with an ADD dog trying to get used to running on a leash. The scenery in the Walnut Creek part is pretty boring, mostly people's backyards (some are huge!). Beats running on Ygnacio though. read more

Another trail to love is the Iron Horse Trail. I so want to go here again. Not very scenic but you get to trek an old railroad path. There are several cross streets that has stop lights so it is sort of a practice for road riders. Mostly flat... and I am an avid fan of flat trails. So yeah, I'm definitely organizing another bike ride here. Soon! read more

Iron Horse Trail - Hiking Near Me

This trail took my biking cherry. And my trail cherry. And my long night ride cherry. And many other things besides. I biked the Iron Horse Trail with a group of friends a couple of Sundays ago. We took BART from Bayfair out to Dublin/Pleasanton and promptly jumped on the trail roughly around 7:00PM. The entirety of the trail into Walnut Creek took us between 3-4 hours. The trail itself is almost completely paved, intersected with a bunch of roads. Since we were biking in the evening, traffic wasn't too bad and what cars we did come across were very courteous about letting our ragtag group cross. It's a fairly easy ride for those of us (like me) who are just starting out in the biking world. For me, it was the distance that nearly did me in -- my legs were jello by the end of the trail by Walnut Creek BART where some jerkwad city planner decided to throw in a hill as a last-minute "HAHA" in my face. If you're biking at night, definitely invest in strong lights. There were sections of the trail that were nearly pitch-black around 8:00PM-9:00PM. Also, there are huge moths with death wishes that like to fly into your body/face as you ride, prompting you to swat at things like a psychopath as you try to enjoy yourself. I would recommend riding glasses or a mask or something to keep the damned things out of your eyes. There are also frogs. Be wary as you ride! I don't think I would like to do this ride during the day -- the area looks like it would get really hot out, since overhead shade seemed sparse. But maybe on overcast days, or days when the weather is mild. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind doing this in the evening again -- but maybe starting a little earlier this time. I wasn't too fond of the fact that our ride ended around 10PM, but that we still had about an hour long BART ride home to Bayfair to get through. read more

Pros: I like that this trail is nice and long (it spans several cities!) and even though you do have to cross some major intersections, the trail itself is separate from vehicle traffic. It's not secluded so I feel safe running or biking alone. It's not a challenging trail, so it's better for a laid back run or bike ride. There are signs along the trail so you can easily monitor your location and the distance you've covered. Cons: There's not a lot of shade which I don't like because I once got a little sunburned during a morning bike ride :/ read more