This long stretch of trail is primarily on old ranch roads along the main ridge above Castro Valley, Hayward, and Union City. Mostly on open grassland, the trail offers unparalleled views of the bay and its surrounding mountains, as well as views out to the east. This section is best done as a car shuttle as it is about 11 miles one-way. Two miles of the trail’s midsection pass through the Stonebrae Country Club on golf paths and roads. Because Stonebrae is a gated housing development, it cannot serve as a trailhead for the general public.

(This trail description is excerpted from the 2019 Guidebook. For details on all trails, trailheads, and more, buy the book from Wilderness Press. For more resources to plan your trip, visit our Trail Tools page.)