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  • Archived Hikes 1
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      • Archives 2016-2018

Garin/ Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park

Address:  37°36'27.5"N 122°01'05.0"W (Free parking at end of May st, Union City)
                                                               OR
                   28060 Ziele Creek Drive, Hayward (approx. to free street parking)
                                                               OR

                   37°37'45.75"N,122° 1'43.89"W (parking lot at top of Garin Ave, Hayward)
Parking: Free parking in parking lot at May St. or free street parking at Ziele Creek Drive. Paid parking at Garin Ave parking lot: $5                         entrance fee/ $2 dog fee when kiosk is attended (mostly weekends and holidays)
Type: Hike (moderate, 6 miles)
Hours: Nov 2 - Mar 8: 8 A.M. to 6 P.M., Mar 9 - Apr 19: 8 A.M. to 7 P.M., Apr 20 - May 24: 8 A.M. to 8 P.M., May 25 - Aug 26: 8 A.M. to               9 P.M., Aug 27 - Oct 4: 8 A.M. to 8 P.M., Oct 5 - Nov 1: 8 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Type: Hike (moderate)
Regulations: Dogs allowed off-leash in undeveloped areas if under voice control
Best time to visit: Anytime, but avoid the hillside trails on hot days
CAUTION: Cattle often roam the hillside; don't let your dog chase them
Trail map here courtesy of EBParks
Description: This beautiful 4,700-acre park in Hayward offers trails to multiple peaks at nearly 1,000 ft and panoramic views of the bay below. The rolling hills are beautiful in winter and spring, and although cattle roam the park, we have only encountered a few during our visits, and it was easy to find alternate trails around them. Although most of the trails are open and exposed to sunlight, there are a few shady stretches and places to take a break in the shade.

Suggested Routes:

Starting at the end of the May Street parking lot (which can fill up fast on weekends), walk up towards the park, and take the trail to the left next to the gardens (which are unfortunately not dog friendly). Open the gate with the sign "May Trail Entrance." Dogs must stay on leash until passing the next gate on the May trail. Follow the trail to the left, passing a field, bridge and stream. The trail will have some shady stretches with beautiful greenery. When the trail splits again, stay to the right and pass another bridge. You will pass a couple more bridges. Follow High Ridge Loop Trail until you reach Jordan Pond. This is a large, beautiful, quiet pond with ample benches to take a break. Loop around the pond to the right. Follow the trail until you reach the grassy picnic area where you will find restrooms and water fountains. Walk to your left to cross the parking lot at the Ziele Creek entrance and then take the steep trail uphill behind the parking lot. This Vista Peak Loop trail will take you high above the city, with beautiful views of the Bay and hills behind you. The trail will creep up steep slopes and then level out a few times until you reach another entrance after the cemetery. Keep straight and take Ridge View Trail and High Ridge Loop Trail back to May Trail where you began. This is a beautiful hike, although long (about 6 miles), this loop provides shady trails, stream/lake views and views of the Bay. There are several steep stretches, but much of the hike is flat or only slightly inclined. 

Starting from the Garin Ave parking lot, walk down to the visitor's center (a red barn), to view a map. You can choose to make this hike as short or long as you would like, but I enjoy taking the High Ridge Loop Trail. The loop around the park is roughly 6 miles and provides great views of the bay and rolling hills. The hike meanders through the woods, around ponds, and opens to the hillside, which in spring is filled with beautiful wildflowers. There is some shade on the trails below, but once you're on the hillside you're in full sun. Avoid hiking on the hillside on hot days, as the upper trails are more challenging and fully exposed. We also hiked the Vista Peak Loop trail, to the peak at 934ft. The trail from the parking lot started off along a creek, and then quickly snaked up along the hillside. We took the trail to the left on the way up, and hiked down the other side. The trails are often muddy and may have some storm damage after it rains. During our visit, it hadn't rained in a few days but the hike down the backside of the loop was quite muddy, and we had to hike up above the actual trail to avoid slipping. There was so much mud and water on the trail that we actually saw frogs hopping along the trail. 

You can also start from the Ziele Creek trailhead above CSU East Bay, which is a lesser-known entrance and offers free street parking. There's a beautiful trail running along the shady creek (Ziele Creek Trail), and you can take it up to the Vista Peak Loop Trail for panoramic views of the bay area. A loop including both of these trails is a little over 3 miles with 400ft of elevation change. If you want to stick to a shady hike, you can take Ziele Creek Trail to Garin Woods Trail, with different loops for a distance of one to two miles.  

There are outhouses, trash cans and water faucets in the park. Find one of each at the start of the Vista Peak Loop Trail, right across from the picnic area. There is a trash can near the Ziele Creek Trailhead, but no restrooms or running water.

​From the May Street parking lot:

​From the Garin Ave parking lot:

​From the Ziele Creek Drive entrance (Loop from Ziele Creek Trail to Vista Peak Loop Trail: 
(This loop was a little over 3 miles with 400ft of elevation change)
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  • Home
  • Browse All
    • Alameda County >
      • Albany Bulb
      • Alameda Creek Regional Trail
      • Anthony Chabot Regional Park (Lake Chabot)
      • Aquatic Park
      • Chabot Park
      • Barlago Italian Kitchen
      • Buchanan Dog Beach
      • California Canoe & Kayak (Oakland)
      • César Chávez Park
      • Claremont Canyon
      • Coyote Hills Regional Park
      • Crab Cove
      • Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area
      • Dimond Canyon Park
      • Don Castro Regional Recreation Area
      • Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge
      • Dublin Hills Regional Park
      • Fairmont Ridge
      • Five Canyons Open Space Preserve
      • Fremont Central Park
      • Garin/Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park
      • Greenbelt Trails
      • Hayward Regional Shoreline
      • Heron Bay Trail
      • Holy Land Restaurant
      • Ikaros Greek Restaurant
      • Jerusalem Organic Kitchen
      • Joaquin Miller Park
      • Lake Anza
      • Lake Chabot
      • Lake Merritt
      • Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve
      • Leona Heights Park
      • Marina Park
      • Martin Canyon Creek Trail
      • Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline
      • Mission Peak
      • Montclair Railroad Trail/ Torii Gate
      • Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
      • Oyster Bay Regional Shoreline
      • Park Street Classic Car Show (Annual)
      • Pleasanton Ridge Regional Preserve
      • Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
      • Robert's Park
      • Room 389
      • Shoreline Park
      • Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
      • Skyline Gate Staging Area
      • Strawberry Canyon Fire Trail
      • Sunol Regional Wilderness
      • Temescal Regional Recreation Area
      • Tilden Regional Park
      • Upper Anthony Chabot Regional Park (Oakland Entrance)
      • Upper Knowland Park
      • Vargas Plateau Regional Park
    • Butte County >
      • Feather Falls
      • Motel 6 - Oroville
      • Riverbend Park
    • Contra Costa County >
      • Acalanes Ridge Open Space
      • Briones Regional Park
      • Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline
      • Crockett Hills Regional Park
      • Diablo Foothills Regional Park
      • EBMUD Trails
      • Fernandez Ranch
      • Frowning Ridge
      • Geppetto's Caffe
      • Hacienda de las Flores Park
      • Hillside Nature Area
      • Howe Homestead Park
      • Indian Rock
      • Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area
      • Lafayette Community Park
      • Lafayette Reservoir
      • Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
      • Lime Ridge Open Space
      • Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline
      • Moraga Commons Park
      • Mulholland Ridge Open Space Preserve
      • Point Isabel
      • Point Molate Beach Park
      • Point Pinole Regional Shoreline
      • Point San Pablo Harbor
      • Rubio's
      • San Quentin Beach
      • Shell Ridge Open Space
      • Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve
      • Sugarloaf Open Space
      • Sycamore Valley Open Space Preserve
      • Tender Greens
      • Tilden Regional Park
      • Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
    • El Dorado County >
      • Angora Lakes Trail
      • Bijou Community Park
      • Cascade Falls
      • Horsetail Falls
      • Inspriation Point
      • Motel 6 - South Lake Tahoe
      • Mt. Tallac
    • Marin County >
      • 101 Surf Sports
      • Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve
      • Blackie's Pasture
      • Camino Alto Preserve
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      • Cascade Falls
      • Cataract Falls
      • Dawn Falls
      • Ignacio Valley Preserve (Fairway Falls)
      • Indian Valley Open Space Preserve
      • King Mountain Open Space Preserve
      • Marin Headlands (Coastal Trail)
      • Old Saint Hilary's Open Space Preserve
      • Phoenix Lake
      • Ring Mountain Open Space Preserve
      • Roy's Redwoods
      • Sam's Anchor Cafe
      • Tiburon Peninsula Historical Trail
      • Tucker Trail Falls
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      • Yosemite National Park
    • Mendocino County >
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      • Carmel Beach
      • Fishwife
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      • 2.2 Mile Urban Hike
      • Bernal Heights Park
      • The Brixton
      • Billy Goat Hill Park
      • Blackwood
      • Clipper Cove Beach
      • Crissy Field
      • Dynamo Donut + Coffee
      • Fort Funston
      • Fort Mason
      • Glen Canyon Park
      • Golden Gate Park
      • Grand View Park
      • The Great Lawn/ Avenue of the Palms
      • Java Beach Cafe
      • John McLaren Park
      • Interior Greenbelt
      • Lake Merced
      • Lands End
      • Letterman Digital Arts Center
      • Marina Green
      • Mount Davidson
      • Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve
      • Ocean Beach
      • Palace of Fine Arts
      • Philz Coffee Truck
      • Stern Grove
      • Sutro Baths
      • Sutro Heights Park
      • TreasureFest
    • San Mateo County >
      • 7 Mile House Sports Bar & Grill
      • Barbara's Fishtrap
      • Bedwell Bayfront Park
      • Bob's Vegetable Stand and Pumpkin Farm
      • Cafe Pacifica
      • Devil's Slide Coastal Trail
      • Esplanade Beach
      • Flying Fish Grill
      • Half Moon Bay Kayak Co.
      • McNee Ranch State Park (Montara Mountain)
      • Montara State Beach
      • Mori Point
      • Mussel Rock Park
      • Panera Bread
      • Pedro Point Headlands
      • Poplar Beach
      • Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve
      • Rancho Corral de Tierra
      • Seal Point
      • Taqueria La Mexicana
      • Wavecrest Open Space
    • Santa Clara County >
      • Byxbee Park
      • Calero County Park
      • Uvas Canyon County Park
    • Santa Cruz County >
      • Byrne-Milliron Forest
      • Greyhound Rock County Park
      • Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
      • Jaliscos Restaurant
      • Mount Madonna County Park
      • Roaring Camp Railroads
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      • Peña Adobe Regional Park
    • Sonoma County >
      • Doran Regional Park
      • Fishetarian
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      • Archives 2016-2018