Castro Valley
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Description: The combined Anthony Chabot and Lake Chabot Regional parks, which form one contiguous unit, have nearly 40 miles of trails open to bikes. The park is a multi-use open space, with a lake, that is heavily used by walkers and picnickers, kayakers and canoes, golfers, campers, horseback riders, hikers and yes, mountain bikers. Situated on the edge of urban Oakland, San Leandro and Castro Valley, the park offers tremendous outdoors activity opportunity within a very short distance of a big population. Parking lots are frequently full on the weekends. Despite crowded conditions at the entrances, especially at the lake itself, the crowds dissipate quickly within a half mile of riding. There can be some longer sustained climbs, but most are not overly steep and nearly all the trails are fire roads with few hazards. Most trails are within forested areas, providing good shade cover in summer. All of these characteristics make Chabot a great intermediate riding area that is enjoyable by advanced riders also. There is a small amount of single track, concentrated on the Red Tail Trail. Trails provide a variety of wooded and sunny spaces, lake views, and a great ability to put together a long ride if you want it, or keep rides to a shorter duration. Restrooms at the main entrance, at the Bort Meadow Group Camp, at the Chabot Equestrian Center, at the Redwood Canyon Golf Course, at the intersection of Brandon Trail and Red Tail Trail, and at the Proctor Staging Area.
In the wet season: Trails can be selectively closed.
Directions: Main entrance is at the marina on Lake Chabot Rd. in Castro Valley, accessible via Fairmont Ave. off of I-580, or via Castro Valley Blvd. A link to the parking location in Google Maps is here. Five other entrances on Redwood Rd. and two on Skyline Blvd, all with parking. At least three additional neighborhood entrances along Skyline Rd.
