Location:  Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park.  From I-680 in Pleasanton, exit at Castlewood Drive and go west towards the hills.  Turn left (south) onto Foothill Road, towards the town of Sunol.  The Foothill Staging Area is about two miles from Castlewood Drive, on the right.  Plenty of parking.

Miles:  25 miles for Intermediate and up; 12 miles for Beginner

Type of bike:  Mountain

Ride Classification:  Beginner (fire roads, gravel trails, some steep hills and almost no obstacles); Intermediate and up (some singletrack, steep hills, some small rocks)

Climb Rate:  Beginner about 2,300 feet; Intermediate and up about 6,300 feet

Description:  Pleasanton Ridge is a popular mountain biking location in the East Bay.  It offers mountain bikers almost exclusively fire roads, steep climbs as well as beautiful landscapes, great views of the Livermore Valley and thrillingly fast fire-road descents.

About the Park:  This beautiful 5,271-acre parkland is on the oak-covered ridge overlooking Pleasanton and the Livermore Valley from the west.  It is planned as the core of a Ridgelands Regional Park to be acquired over a period of many years.  Parkland development has been intentionally limited to preserve the pastoral atmosphere.  The park occupies Pleasanton Ridge and beyond.  To the northwest it spills down off Pleasanton Ridge into upper Kilkare Canyon, where it continues up onto Sunol Ridge, finally terminating at its westernmost corner in Stoneybrook Canyon.  Inside the park, elevations exceed 1,600 feet.

Ride Leader:  Len Gonzales; LLGonzales3@aol.com.  Please confirm by email several days in advance.  Extreme temperatures or fog conditions may modify the route at the leader's discretion.  Rain cancels.

Safety:  Wearing helmet is mandatory.

Route Planner:  Ethan Bernstein