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
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
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.
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)
