Trailstompers Guide to SF Bay Area Trail Running
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EBMUD Trails - South Watershed Area

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The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) is a public utility that was established in 1923 to supply drinking water to the residents of the East Bay. The district was founded after a severe drought proved that a local system of reservoirs was inadequate. The district constructed Pardee Dam on the Mokelumne River in the Sierra Nevada, and a large steel pipe aqueduct to transport the water from Pardee Reservoir across the Central Valley to San Pablo Reservoir, located in the East Bay hills east of Richmond. In 1929, the aqueduct started delivering water to residents of the East Bay. In subsequent years, two additional aqueducts were constructed and the water distributed to several other East Bay reservoirs. From the various large regional reservoirs, water is transported to treatment plants and delivered to local reservoirs and tanks, and then distributed by gravity to households. In addition to providing drinking water, in 1951 EBMUD opened the first wastewater treatment plant to protect the waters of the San Francisco Bay. Click here to learn more about the history of EBMUD.

Today, EBMUD manages the reservoirs and surrounding watershed lands to protect water quality. Fortunately for us, EBMUD also maintains about 80 miles of trails on 27,000 acres of watershed lands. The EBMUD lands stretch from Castro Valley in the south to Pinole Valley in the north, with Highway 24 cutting through the center. The lands to the north of Highway 24 are referred to as the North Watershed area, while the area south of Highway 24 is called the South Watershed area. This page covers some of the popular trails in the South Watershed area. More info on the North Watershed area can be found here.

The EBMUD lands also connect to adjoining parks such as Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Redwood Regional Park, and Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. By combining multiple parks it is possible to do very long loop or point-to-point runs and hikes.

​Note that a permit is required to use EBMUD trails. As of 2016, the permits cost $10/year and are easily purchased online.

​The Dirt:
  • Click here to download a printable trail map of the Favorite Run below!
  • Click here for the official EBMUD trails site, where you can print maps of all 80 miles of trails and buy permits online.
  • There are multiple trailheads for the EBMUD lands, so driving directions are given in each Favorite Run below.
  • Dogs on-leash are allowed ONLY on the following trails: Oursan Trail, Hampton Trail, and Kings Canyon. For this reason, the Favorite Runs below are NOT dog-friendly. :(
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Favorite Run #1: King’s Canyon Loop (6.5 mi, ~800’ elevation gain)

This pretty lollipop loop offers great views of the Upper San Leandro Reservoir in addition to vistas of rolling East Bay hills. The loop is fairly easy, except for a 400' climb at mile 4. The loop can be done in either direction, however doing the loop counterclockwise as described here gives you more of a warm up before the big climb!
 
This loop starts from the Valle Vista Staging Area, on Canyon Road just south of Moraga. The main trailhead is on the far side of the parking lot, on the opposite side of the parking lot from the bathroom. Start the run by heading through the gate and turning left (southeast) onto the Riche Loop Trail. 

GPX Track

Printable Trail Map

Driving Directions
Route Details:
Note: There seems to be some confusion as to whether this area is "King Canyon" or "King's Canyon". The signs refer to "King Canyon" but the map shows "King's Canyon".
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  • 0.0 mi: From the Valle Vista Staging Area, go through the gate and turn left (southeast) on the Riche Loop Trail, toward King's Canyon Loop Trail.
  • 0.2 mi: Veer left onto the King's Canyon Loop Trail.
  • 0.9 mi: King's Canyon Loop Trail forks. Turn right to do the loop in a counterclockwise direction. The trail first climbs 100' and then follows the shore of the Upper San Leandro Reservoir for 3 miles. This section is particularly beautiful in the spring when wildflowers appear all along the shore of the reservoir.
  • 4.0 mi: Junction with Camino Pablo Road. Veer left to stay on the King's Canyon Loop Trail. The next 1/2-mile is a steep 400' climb.
  • 5.3 mi: Turn left onto Rimer Creek Trail (this trail is unmaintained as of 2016) to stay on King's Canyon Loop Trail.
  • 5.6 mi: Back at the fork. Turn right and follow the King's Canyon Trail and Riche Loop Trail back to the parking lot.
  • 6.5 mi: Back at your car!
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The Valle Vista Staging Area
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Upper San Leandro Reservoir

Favorite Run #2: Rocky Ridge Point-2-Point (15.3 mi, ~3500’ elevation gain)

This is an epic 15.3-mile run through some of the most rugged and remote areas in the East Bay. This route is truly a challenge with over 3500' of climbing, no water along the way, and very few (if any) people on the trail. In addition, it is a point-to-point run, so you need to figure out the shuttle logistics. 

The route starts from the EBMUD Chabot Staging Area along Redwood Road, about two miles north of Castro Valley. (Note that this is NOT the staging area for Anthony Chabot Park!) The first six miles are a beautiful singletrack climb up to 1348' Ramage Peak. The peak itself is on private property, although a well-maintained dirt road to the peak does exist. After a brief descent, a steep dirt road takes you up to 2000' Rocky Ridge. This part is really tough, with some sections of the road seeming almost vertical. Rocky Ridge, which was once home to a Nike missile installation, boasts excellent views of the East Bay Hills and interesting sandstone rock formations. After a few miles of dirt road descent, the trail turns back into singletrack for one final climb and ends at Rancho Laguna Park in Moraga.

 
Start the run by heading through the EBMUD gate at the far side of the parking lot.

GPX Track

Printable Trail Map

Driving Directions to the START
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​Driving Directions to the FINISH
Route Details:
  • 0.0 mi: From the Chabot Staging Area parking lot, head northeast (away from Redwood Road) through the EBMUD gate. Then turn right at the sign-in panel onto Ramage Peak Trail.  You will cross several dirt roads over the next four miles, but the trail is well marked with arrows. 
  • 4.7 mi: There is an unmarked junction just after crossing the creek. Stay right on the more worn path. You will soon see another trail marker.
  • 5.7 mi: At the top of the first ridge. Continue straight onto the dirt road.
  • 6.7 mi: At the top of the next ridge. You will see Ramage Peak to your right. For a better view of the peak, take the narrow path to your right, which leads to a fence that says "Private Property". On the other side of the fence is a dirt road leading up to the peak. We do not recommend that you jump the fence to visit the peak; however, if you want to risk it, it is a 0.5-mile round-trip to the top. After looking at Ramage Peak, continue ahead on the narrow trail that descends the other side of the ridge. The next 1.5 miles of the trail is marked with orange ribbons.
  • 8.1 mi: The narrow Ramage Peak Trail ends at Rocky Ridge Loop Trail (dirt road). Turn right and go through the gate to start the steep climb up to Rocky Ridge. This next section climbs almost 1000' less than a mile!
  • 8.9 mi: At the top of 1950' Rocky Ridge! Continue on Rocky Ridge Loop Trail.
  • 9.3 mi: At the EBMUD sign, turn left on the well-worn trail to the Rocky Ridge overlook. At the overlook you will find great views of the East Bay hills, and a cool sandstone rock formation that can be climbed. After enjoying the view, return to the Rocky Ridge Loop Trail.
  • 9.9 mi: Back at the Rocky Ridge Loop Trail, turn left to continue. You will soon start descending along the backside of the ridge.
  • 11.4 mi: At the Rocky Ridge Loop Trail junction. Here the dirt roads split, with Rocky Ridge LOOP Trail to the left, and Rocky Ridge Trail straight ahead. Continue straight on the Rocky Ridge Trail toward Rancho Laguna Park.
  • 12.2 mi: Veer right on the singletrack to continue on Rocky Ridge Trail toward Rahcno Laguna Park. Over the next two miles the trail will descend into a valley, then climb up to a ridge, then descend again, and then run along the left side of a cow pasture (watch for the cow pies!).
  • 14.9 mi: The Rocky Ridge Trail ends. Turn right and follow the signs to Rancho Laguna Park.
  • 15.3 mi: The trail ends at Rancho Laguna Park. Now it's time to Uber back to your car! :)
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The trailhead at EBMUD Chabot Staging Area
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Great singletrack climb on Ramage Peak Trail
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Climbing toward Ramage Peak
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Confusing split at mile 4.7 - go right
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Ramage Peak
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Rocky Ridge (from Ramage Peak)
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Descending the Rocky Ridge Trail toward Moraga

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