East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail

Trails: Wildcat Canyon to Lomas Cantadas, Lomas Contadas to Skyline Gate, Skyline Gate to MacDonald Gate, MacDonald Gate to Proctor Gate

Distance: 31 miles of trails

Approximate Hiking Time: 2-6 hours

Difficulty: Moderate to hard

Trail Surface: Paved, gravel, dirt

Best Season: Year round

Other Trail Users: Bikes allowed on MacDonald gate to Proctor Gate trail only

Dogs Allowed: None

Fees and Permits: None

Schedule: Sunrise to sunset

Directions: Wildcat Canyon: From Interstate 80 in Richmond, take the Solano Ave exit, which puts you on Amador St. Go half a mile north to McBryde Ave. Turn right and follow McBryde Ave a quarter mile, stay in the left lane as you approach a stop sign. Continue straight, now on Park Ave for a tenth of a mile to the parking area on the left. Lomas Cantadas: From Highway 24 take the Fish Ranch Rd exit and go uphill about one mile to a four way intersection with Grizzly Peak Blvd. Turn right and go one mile to Lomas Cantadas Dr. Turn right and then immediately left onto a road signed for Tilden Regional Parks Steam Trains, Fire station, and Corporation Yard. Pass the entrance to the Steam Trains left and at a fork bear right and slightly uphill to a large gravel parking area. Skyline Gate: From Highway 24 take the Fish Ranch Rd exit and go uphill about one mile to a four way intersection with Grizzly Peak Blvd. Turn left and go about 2.5 miles to Skyline Blvd. Turn left and follow Skyline for two miles, staying left at an intersection with Snake Rd to Skyline Gate, on the left, one tenth of a mile beyond Shepherd Canyon Rd. MacDonald Gate: From Eastbound Interstate 580 in Oakland take the 35th Ave exit and turn left on 35th and follow into the hills. After about a mile, 35th Ave becomes Redwood Rd and about 1.5 miles later it crosses Skyline Blvd. Stay in the left lane and go straight. Continue another 2 miles until you reach MacDonald Gate.