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Pleasanton, CA

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Preserve Trail

4.0 (21 reviews)

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The loop trail is pretty short, but they're lots of hills to climb!
Daniel C.

The Preserve Trail is a nice, hidden loop trail near a residential area of Pleasanton. There is a good-sized parking lot at the beginning of the trail, with a restroom and drinking fountain. Then it gets slightly confusing as there are two separate trails you can start from, both leading downhill. Its actually one big loop, though from limited signage its not clear where the best starting point is. Overall, its a pretty well-maintained trail and of moderate difficulty. They have lotsa hills, from the beginning, middle, and even in the end! There is a creek with flowing water that you'll have to hop across, along with some wet spots. We even found one place that was like a swamp and had to turn back. 3 stars - a good place for a short (45 to 90 min) hike that will still challenge you with all those hills. Plusses: * Cell signal * Large, clean parking lot * Well-maintained trails * Nice views of some very fancy homes atop the hill. Minuses: * Lack of signage along the trail. You won't get lost walking in a loop but the trail does fork a few times. * Some swampy parts, which resulted from the rainy season. You may need to do a U-turn as the ground becomes super-soft.

one unisex flushed toilet, no sink.  drinking fountain didn't have water when we went 4/1/19.
Ann L.

Hiked here Mon 4/1/19 with V. to find Tehran Falls. The Preserve has 1 flushed toilet, no water so bring hand sanitizer and lots of drinking water. There's FREE parking for about 20 cars or so. Print out The Preserve & Moller Ranch Trail Map, it's only a tiny bit useful because most of the trails aren't marked. Check online for blog post on how to find the waterfall too. We saw some wild turkeys, that was cool. From what I remember on how to get to waterfall: We go down the trail, then Left, go over the bridge, then turn Left. Keep going, then we saw sign for Upper Moller Ranch, a little before that you see a nice bench with views of The Preserve- fancy houses. Then keep going up see a Water Tank. Keep going. At a split in trail that's wide, don't go up that ends up at a gate private property, go down a bit, but at the hair-pin turn, go Right on a little trail. That goes to the Waterfall. You will see a steep down on a cliff that's the way to the waterfall, but it's super steep. Go down on your butt is the way I did. I didn't go to the bottom cuz I was already tired and didn't want to have my friend wait forever for me. Plus the waterfall wasn't running that great even at 4/1/19, was dry for a while when I went, guess water from winter dried up already. Then we backtracked and did a loop at The Preserve. We did about 6 miles that day, but I think it can be done in 5 miles, just don't do the extra loop we did.

Parking lot
Angel L.

It was a nice day so I got some really blue skies and nice sun in! It was easy to find the trail head once you park in the lot. The trail is well paved throughout. I ended up doing the loop trail which was pretty quick since it ended up only being about 2 miles. There were some parts that are hilly, some parts a bit wet from the rain (so be careful from the mud!), and some under shade... it did feel a little eerie because I was the only one around such huge hills and especially when I was under all the trees/shrubs. I would recommend coming with another person especially if you want to explore other parts. I liked the hike but it was mostly hills. I could see myself coming back with other people so that I can hike other parts of this trail too.

Lots of beautiful trees on the West Side especially.
Chris L.

UPDATE: Well I went down to the creek IN several different locations but I didn't really find any evidence of mining equipment. I did find an old telephone pole and a big giant girder, but I don't know that those were related to mining. It's pretty tough to walk along the creek; there's lots of brush. This is a kid friendly Trail in Pleasanton California. There's a drinking fountain and well equipped restroom at the staging area off Laurel Creek Road. There's actually some fun history here that people probably don't know about. The creek nearby which is called Gold Creek, was actually the site of several gold mining events in the history of this area. There is apparently still some mining equipment near near the creek. I'm going to try to find that equipment today.

The trail map and elevation from All Trails (hiking app)
Melissa M.

There are two different trails you can take from this trailhead, and I did the 1.3 mile loop. The trail head is easy to find, and it has ample parking, a bathroom, a water fountain, and a trash can. The loop can be a little tricky to follow but I used the All Trails app while out and it helped me to make sure I didn't get lost. The loop has some moderate inclines, but overall I'd rate it easy. It's so beautiful, with expansive views of the area and the gorgeous gold rolling hills. The path isn't wide enough to walk side by side with your hiking buddies and pretty even for the most part. Dogs are allowed (woo!) and it seemed like except for the few rule breakers most people pick up after their pups. It's open from 8am to 6 from April through the end of September, and is limited to daylight hours otherwise. It does get close to homes so it's important to stay on the trail. It's a great easy hike with beautiful views. I'm for sure going to take visiting friends on it to give a quick workout and look at the area.

Sunny morning with plenty of green
Bill H.

Nice convenient trail. There is a parking lot at the trail head with spots for about 20 - 25 cars a bathroom and water fountain. The lot has a gate on it that can be locked but I have never seen it locked. The trail sign has posted hours of daylight hours and 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM April 1 to September 30. The trail is on private land but open to the public. There is additional parking at Laurel creek park for 5 - 10 cars. The full loop is ~1.3 miles with an elevation gain of ~350 feet that crosses Gold Creek twice. At the upper crossing I have only encountered a moist trail, and at the lower crossing there is a bridge. For the most part the trail is single track with a few wider sections. The trail is fully exposed to the sun with a few small shade areas near the creek There is an additional spur of about 1/2 mile across an unused road at the north end that connects to Blessing road. There is no parking available at Blessing Road There are connections to the Moller ranch trail. I have seen lots of turkeys and snake skins, but have not actually seen a snake.

Jennifer M.

Easy trail for beginners or when you just want a quick "hike". Like other Yelpers mentioned, it is a loop, which is nice and you don't have to worry about getting lost! Bring some cold water, a hat, and wear some sunscreen as it gets really hot, as there are sections of the trail with no shade.

Uphill trail
Lj B.

This trail has absolutely gorgeous views, especially if you are lucky enough to be there during a sunrise or sunset! It's a bit of a hard trail, definitely was more of a hike than a walk. If you want a challenging but fun hiking trail that puts you into nature this is a nice spot, though maybe a little short.

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11 years ago

It's full of ticks! My dog had 2! It's damp and dark with little sunlight. Smelt like a sewer had burst into the creek! Yuck!

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“If using google maps to get here, input "The Preserve Staging Area", and it will lead you straight to the parking lot.”

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Castleridge Trailhead

Castleridge Trailhead

4.7(17 reviews)
2.3 mi

This was my first time doing this particular trail. I chose it today because it does have shade…read moreoptions along the walk. It is pretty steep when you first get there. It does level out a couple spots, but just continues to have a gradual incline. So be prepared. It was busy and well traveled as I saw quite a few people going up and coming down. I did see one snake, but it was non-venomous in the shadow of the trees on the trail. Bring lots of water because it does get hot. I don't think I would do this hike again, but I'm glad I did it.

Ok this is the "first time" that I write a review on a hiking trail. I just couldn't resist doing…read moreso.. why? It's one of the, if not THE best trail I have ever hiked. My hiking criterias are simple :). They have to give me a good intense workout & with lots of shades, in the woods if possible. It's hard to find a trail with such combination and I found it here. It's also so blissfully quiet, fresh air with smells of the oak trees. First time on this trail and boy was I in for a good surprise! It's a "really" steep, challenging, inclined uphill hike all the way (starting from base to the top) with significant elevation gain every step of the way. Also unpaved with lots of pebbles/rocks along the way. So be sure to have a good sturdy pair of hiking boots/shoes with you. It's a good 4mile roundtrip (two mile each way which takes roughly 1hour to get to the top and another 1hour coming down). The maximum elevation was 1450feet. It's fairly narrow trail and you will find many folks doing mountain biking here .. on the same trail.,So you need to keep an eye out as you hike up and down. I was truly impressed with the cyclists who did the whole roundtrip up the hill as I found myself starting to pant just a 1/4 mile into the hike.. and this is me, someone who does high intensity workout 6days a week with most days double dipped (cardio+strength). Love that it has lots of shades as we walked through the woods with huge fallen trees and eroded land. On our way down we even saw sheeps and stopped to feed them some grasses & hear the bleat, meh and baa sound from their baby sheeps. This is now my top of the list favorite place to hike. Initially I was planning to hit the gym in the evening to do my usual strength and cycling classes.. but I ended up skipping it after that long strenuous hike.

Photos
Castleridge Trailhead - I made it to the top!

I made it to the top!

Castleridge Trailhead
Castleridge Trailhead

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Summit View Trails

Summit View Trails

4.3(15 reviews)
3.3 mi

One of my favorite place for sunset stroll with my dog. The trail is pretty flat and takes around…read more10 min one way with lovely view of the valley. Along the trail, there are some picnic tables/ benches and a disc golf field. If you wanted to watch sunset at a summit without strenuous hiking, this is the place to go. Parking is easy around the neighborhood.

"Green Rolling Hills with Lots of Cows--Most Friendly but one Looked at me with Menacing Eyes."…read more I parked at the summit, and took the trail north. It's about 3 miles if you go all the way to the driving range at Bridges Golf Course. At that point the trail peters out. It looks like they are constructing a new trailhead there. The trail is open, so don't count on any shade in the summer. It's pretty much green hills, with a compacted dirt trail. Fortunately, it's not rutted. I found the hike mildly interesting, but honestly, nothing special. Near the golf course practice center, I saw a lot of range balls on the ground. I was tempted to take them, but I threw most of them back onto the range. I'm pretty sure I did not hit anyone, but a few times I heard some klunks, followed by shouts. I wasn't sure what that meant. They might have been mad that I still had 2 golf balls in my jacket. I did not notice I had borrowed some golf balls until I was pretty far away. These trails are good for beginner hikers, since there aren't any wild animals around. I'm pretty sure there aren't any rattlesnakes or mountain lions. But if there are, I did not see them. And even if I did see any, I had some golf balls I could throw at them. The only wild animals are herds of cows. And there are lots of them! At one point I had to go way around a huge herd. I'm not really afraid of cows, but one kept looking at me with menacing eyes and did not budge from the trail. I was afraid of that one. Could it be a boy cow? I was afraid to get close to find out, so I honestly don't know if it was a boy or girl cow. But he or she looked mean. The whole time I went around the cows I kept saying pleasant things like, "Hi Susie," or "Hi Betsy, how are you?" I'm pretty sure they knew I was a friendly man. I was surprised they knew English. So over all, a pleasant hike. Nothing really special, but plenty of parking makes this a convenient location. The incline is really not too steep, so most hikers will find this an easy hike. For yelpers who are geocachers, there are plenty of geocaches on this trail. I put out about 8 new ones, so there will be lots to find. Keep in mind that there really aren't any facilities such as restrooms or drinking faucets. On the other hand, it's really not a very long hike. Just watch out for that cow with the mean looking eyes.

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Summit View Trails
Summit View Trails - Quick hike to the summit. Perfect for a brief meditation before starting busy day. San Ramon I love you.

Quick hike to the summit. Perfect for a brief meditation before starting busy day. San Ramon I love you.

Summit View Trails

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Sunol Regional Wilderness Area - Flowers

Sunol Regional Wilderness Area

4.5(362 reviews)
13.3 mi

Came on a Saturday in February around 10:45am and there was no parking fee that day. Most of the…read morelots were pretty full, but we were able to find parking in the overflow area. We did the Canyon View to Little Yosemite trail and I recommend downloading the map ahead of time as there was no service in the park. Trail was well maintained and the views of the green hills were very pretty! Came across some very friendly cows as well. Just be aware if you are going during the summer that there are no trees so limited shade. We did the trail clockwise, which starts off with a somewhat sharp incline and finishes with a gradual decline. I would recommend this direction so that you tackle the difficult portion first and then recover at the end with the descent. We also did part of the McCorkle trail, which was pretty tiring, so we decided to skip Little Yosemite using Cerro Este Road - appreciated how there are shortcuts available. Canyon View trail was not too busy, and we ran into more people (+ dogs/kids) on the Camp Ohlone Road heading toward Little Yosemite. Overall, it was a great, moderate hike and I would definitely come back to see Little Yosemite next time!

Amazing to find such a gem, a remote area just off 680. Nice variety of trails, mostly moderate…read morewith an easy path to Little Yosemite and more challenging hikes available. We did a 4 mile loop: McCorkle Trail from the South Parking Lot to Cerro Este to Camp Ohlone Road. First 2 miles Moderate but continuous uphill. Some shade from the mature oak trees sporadically throughout but largely exposed. A few view spots with benches.

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Sunol Regional Wilderness Area - Hill side scenery

Hill side scenery

Sunol Regional Wilderness Area
Sunol Regional Wilderness Area

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Callippe Preserve Trail - Tree.

Callippe Preserve Trail

4.5(6 reviews)
5.9 mi

The entrance to the trail is a bit hidden. I don't think I…read morewould've been able to find it if it wasn't for a couple of people in hiking gear that I followed, I probably wouldn't have found it. Okay, so here is the clearest directions I can give to the entrance. Head towards the clubhouse or venue where it looks like people can hold receptions. Go down the concrete driveway & keep going straight until you see a little sign that says "Callippe Trail" & it states a bunch of rules for the trail. I took the trail to the right, I didn't see the trail on the left until I was walking back. The trail has certain spots where you are hiking right by the holes so you have to be extra quiet if that's the case. There are shady parts of the trails so it isn't too bad. The trail is enough for a one person single file line, so if you're going to hike with someone, they will be either behind you or in front of you. The trail ends at the entrance of a neighborhood, it's weird. I was so confused. I just turned around & went back to where I was parked. I guess you're walking on the sidewalk half the time? I don't know, still confused. I'll be back, just to see what the other trail has to offer :)

The trail is decent. Most of it will be on a dirt path that is right next to the paved road for…read moregolf carts so you won't really get the feeling that you are away from civilization. There is a short portion of the trail that takes you through a neat area that is completely away from the golf course. There was a stream and small pools of water that were a nice sight after some rain. The trail is relatively easy and we did a loop that takes us 70% on a dirt path and 30% up the paved road that we drove up to get to the parking lot. Directions: You will drive up a single paved road that has houses to your right and left. If you entered the address found on this Yelp page, you will need to keep driving to the end of the road. At some point, you will reach a parking lot that is designated for the clubhouse. We parked in the parking lot. If you are standing in the middle of this parking lot facing the entrance of the clubhouse, you will want to go towards your 7 o'clock to a paved path that looks like it's for golf carts. Once you are down, make a left towards the hills away from the golf course. There will be a trail you can take on the left and another on the right if you keep walking. We took the one on the right that took us clockwise around the golf course.

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Callippe Preserve Trail - Golf Course View.

Golf Course View.

Callippe Preserve Trail - Tree.

Tree.

Callippe Preserve Trail - View.

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View.

Emerald Glen Park - Rainbow Sunblaze Rose

Emerald Glen Park

4.5(178 reviews)
3.4 mi

I came here randomly on a Thursday because it was scorching hot, and this is the closest splash pad…read moreto me. To my surprise, there was an evening farmers market. The atmosphere was so amazing. There was excitement coming from the park and waterpark. There were tons of local vendors. I truly enjoyed all the sampling at the farmers market. There's tons of green space with courts available - like basketball and tennis. Corn hole was being played as well. It was so much fun!

SUMMER CONCERT REVIEW: The city of Dublin hosts free weekly summer concerts from June through…read moreAugust at Emerald Glen Park on Thursday evenings. This also coincides with their farmer's market. I came here last Thursday to catch "Pop Fiction", a cover band. I arrived at 5:40 PM, 20 minutes before the concert, so I walked around to check out the farmer's market. There are food trucks, fruits, veggies, seafood, pastries, and lots more. The concert is at the Amphitheater, which has a couple tiers of lawn area. Early birds take up the back section and set up their tents and tables. We had a few folder chairs, and brought our own food for a little picnic. "Pop Fiction" was high energy and did a good job with songs from the '70's to today. They were a little pitchy at times, but everyone was just having a good time. As the evening progressed, more people came up front to dance or sway. There's no shade on the lawn, so definitely bring sunscreen and hats. The park itself is huge, but I didn't have time to check it all out. We enjoyed the concert and picnic. We'll probably be back for another one before the summer is done.

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Emerald Glen Park
Emerald Glen Park - Rose garden.

Rose garden.

Emerald Glen Park - Lawn area in front of the stage

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Lawn area in front of the stage

Del Valle Regional Park

Del Valle Regional Park

3.7(480 reviews)
15.2 mi

This review is specifically for the campground here at Del Valle. We had a range for a large family…read moreand friends. Camping event can early october and had booked multiple campsites. The sites were huge and even better there was plenty of flat ground for pitching tents. Showers and bathroom facilities deeper in the campground towards site 39 we're very clean and very new. The hot showers were also super warm and the best part is no coins. The bathrooms themselves also seem to be heated so even in the cold october evenings, you were warm inside the bathroom. We did not go down to the water due to blue algae, but there was still plenty of things to do for the kids as they loved being able to ride all around the grounds on their bikes. Fire pits in the evening were also very clean and had plenty of airflow to make good bonfires. There were regular patrols from the rangers and the east bay, regional parks police, it all felt very safe. Just be advised. There's plenty of wildlife in the evenings and they do not seem like they are scared of people. We had a family of four raccoons in the tree at our site and there was also a skunk that visited and got within an a few feet away from us one night. Thankfully it lost interest and left, otherwise we would have been in trouble. There were also deer and squirrels to be seen. Also, please watch out for rattlesnakes, we stumbled upon one on the road while biking around the camp ground. Make sure all food including uncooked pasta noodles are stored in a safe location overnight Otherwise, the animals will get into it. No bear boxes at the sites, so may need to store things in your vehicle. All in all everyone had a fantastic time when the kids loved it. We'll be back next year.

TikTok started showing me Del Valle Regional Park videos which made me wonder if the universe was…read moretrying to tell me I need to go on a hike... well, I did. And it was beautiful so who really won? I don't recall which trail we did, but the views were nice. There's not much shade along the trail we took so I'd say wear a hat if you can and stay hydrated. Once in a while, we saw a random cow walking along which was cool. This place is popular - we saw a lot of families and bicyclists when we were here.

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Del Valle Regional Park - LAKE DEL VALLE REGIONAL PARK TROUT!

LAKE DEL VALLE REGIONAL PARK TROUT!

Del Valle Regional Park - Rainbow trout fishing lake del valle.

Rainbow trout fishing lake del valle.

Del Valle Regional Park - Rainbow trout fishing lake del valle.

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Rainbow trout fishing lake del valle.

Preserve Trail - hiking - Updated October 2026

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