Bort
Meadow Staging Area,
Anthony Chabot Regional Park,
East Bay Regional Park District,
Alameda County
In brief:
5.4 mile loop along the length of a little valley, then climbing up and down a
ridge. Hosts a Bay Area Ridge Trail segment.
Getting there:
• From CA 24 in Alameda County, exit south CA 13 (exit 5). Drive about 4
miles south and exit Redwood (exit 1c). Turn left onto Redwood and drive uphill
about 0.5 mile, to the junction with Skyline Boulevard. Stay in the left lane,
and continue straight on Redwood about 4.3 miles, to the trailhead on the right
side of the road.
• From westbound Interstate 580 in Alameda County, exit Redwood Road (exit
36a). Turn left on Castro Valley Blvd., then right on Redwood Road. Drive north
about 6 miles to the trailhead on the left side of the road.
Trailhead details:
Large dirt parking lot. No entrance or parking fees. Maps available at the information
signboard located just off the parking lot. Pit toilets and drinking water located
at the edge of Bort Meadow. There is no designated handicapped parking, and trails
are not well-suited to wheelchairs. There is no direct public transportation to
this trailhead, but AC Transit will bring you within walking distance of the park;
visit the Transit Info website
for details.
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, pay phones, stores, and restaurants back near CA 13 -- there are also limited
facilities at Lake Chabot. Camping info from EBRPD: "Overlooking the lake
is Chabot Family Campground, a year-round getaway only minutes from the city (camping
fee). The camp has 75 trailer, tent, or walk-in campsites, hot showers, naturalist-led
campfire programs, an amphitheater, and hiking/fishing access to Lake Chabot.
There are reservable youth group campsites within the park as well. Telephone
(510) 562-2267 for camping information or reservations."
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 5.4 mile loop hike is easy, with a total elevation change of
about 800 feet. Trailhead elevation is about 680 feet. The featured hike drops
to about 435 feet, then climbs to a high point of about 950 feet, before descending
a bit, then climbing back to the trailhead.
Rules:
Most trails are multi-use. Some are open to equestrians and hikers only, and a
few short trails are designated hiking only. Dogs are permitted. Park is open
from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Official Story:
EBRPD's
Chabot page.
EBRPD's
Chabot brochure (pdf)
EBRPD headquarters 510-562-PARK
Map Choices:
• Use AAA's San Francisco Bay Region map to get there.
• 
This hike is described
and mapped in 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco, by Jane Huber (yup,
that's me, the creator of this website). Order
this book from Amazon.com.
• Map
from EBRPD (download the Chabot north pdf)
• A Rambler's Guide to the Trails of the East Bay Hills: Central Section,
published by The Olmsted & Bros. Map Co. (order
this map from Amazon.com).
• The East Bay Out, by Malcolm Margolin, has a useful map and park
descriptions (order
this book from Amazon.com).
• The Bay Area Ridge Trail, by Jean Rusmore (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a simple map and park descriptions.
• East Bay Trails, by David Weintraub, has a good map and descriptions
of 2 Chabot hikes (order
this book from Amazon.com).
Chabot
in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.
• View 86 photos from the
featured hike.
Chabot Park is a nice companion 
to
its neighbor, Redwood Park. The two parks are separated only by narrow Redwood
Road, and with an interconnected trail system, you can hike for hours on a long
segment of the the Bay Area Ridge Trail, through both parks. While Redwood is
dominated by its namesake trees, and a riparian corridor, with just a bit of chaparral,
Chabot features a lake, meadows and grassland, eucalyptus forests, and lots of
chaparral. At the southeastern end of Chabot, Lake Chabot is a focal point, and
the area has been developed with a public golf course, family campground, and
marina. The northwestern edge, which borders Redwood Park, and the middle of Chabot
are less developed, although there is a campground at Bort Meadow.
With 9 trailheads (the EBRPD calls the largest of
these staging areas), Chabot offers many choices when it comes to hiking. MacDonald
Staging Area, on the park's northeastern edge, serves both Chabot and Redwood
Parks. Going south, Marciel Gate, and the other trailheads off Marciel Road, are
the last subdued set-off points before you reach the developed parking areas at
Willow
Park Golf Course and Lake Chabot Marina. Starting from Bort Meadow Staging Area
allows you to wander southeast or northwest, and it's my favorite trailhead at
Chabot. From here you can take an out-and-back hike west through chaparral on
MacDonald Trail (a segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail), or just wander downhill
to Bort Meadow and lie in the grass. Grass Valley Trail (another segment of the
Bay Area Ridge Trail) meanders levelly south through the valley and joins with
Brandon Trial on a march through eucalyptus forests. Brandon runs all the way
to the eastern edge of the park, ending near the Proctor Staging Area.
Equestrians are commonly encountered on the trails at
Chabot, although less so in the winter, when the equestrian center on Skyline
Boulevard is closed. Trails can get quite hot in the summer, so spring and autumn
are the best times of year to visit. Some wildflowers bloom throughout the park,
and a hike through the grassland and chaparral-lined slopes can be an 
education
in bay area plants.
For the featured hike, head downhill on the paved
road near the entrance to the staging area. Coyote brush and poison oak line
the route. A glance to the left reveals the valley you will soon be hiking through.
At 0.10 mile, the trail splits at a signed 3-way intersection. The paved trail
right goes to Bort Meadow. The trail straight is a spur to Brandon Trail. Turn
left, on Grass Valley Trail.
Grass Valley, a wide multi-use trail, is curvy and almost
flat. This segment is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the East Bay Skyline
National Recreation Trail. In spring, the grassy hillsides of this valley are
dotted with wildflowers, most notably yellow suncups, and tiny purple-blossomed
filaree, which produces a carpet effect in places. Cows graze through the valley,
so the grass is kept short and neat. A few oaks produce shade on the edge of the
trail, but for the most part you'll walk under full sun. Coyote brush and poison
oak continue to be prominent plants along the sides 
of
the trail, although some occasional broom shrubs lend a sweet aroma and yellow
flowers in the spring. At 1.04 miles, Redtail Trail sets out from the left side
of the trail at a signed junction. (Redtail climbs to the Marciel Gate; you can
make an extra loop by taking Redtail to Cottontail, and then turning right onto
Grass Valley Trail, after which you can pick up this featured hike at the stone
bridge.) Continue straight on Grass Valley Trail.
The dirt path winds slightly downhill, and the grass
gives way to tall eucalyptus and redwood trees. At 1.52 miles Grass Valley Trail
comes to a junction near the stone bridge. Grass Valley Trail continues uphill
to the left. Turn right and cross Grass Valley Creek (a good rest spot),
then pass the signed entrance to Cascade Trail on the left and walk uphill
to the left on Jackson Grade.
Jackson Grade is a multi-use dirt fire road that
climbs pleasantly through partial shade. You may see white slim solomon's seal
and wood strawberry, orange
sticky monkeyflower, and purple bush lupine in spring. Maple, creambush, hazelnut,
blackberry, wild rose, toyon, coast live oak, and coffeeberry mix together on
the sides of the trail. Eucalyptus towers over all. After an easy climb to the
ridgeline, Jackson Grade ends at a signed junction at 1.93 miles. Turn right
onto Goldenrod Trail.
Goldenrod, a dirt multi-use trail, climbs a bit.
Tall, scrawny eucalyptus trees tower above the chaparral-covered ridge. To the
right views encompass the eastern section of the park. Goldenrod is mostly level,
but occasional uphill stretches persist. Very little shade makes for hot hiking
in the summer. Blue witch nightshade grows on the side of the hill, along with
blue elderberry, toyon, poison oak, and monkeyflower.
Yellow-blossomed broom, an invasive pest plant, has a strong foothold among the
plants in this chaparral community. In spring, you may see checkerbloom, bluedicks,
blue-eyed grass, scarlet pimpernel, California poppy, and purple bush lupine.
Goldenrod Trail nears Skyline Boulevard and then stays close to the road. Eucalyptus
trees fade away as you continue to hike northwest, and they are replaced by some
pines. The buildings of the equestrian center come into view just before a junction
at 3.60 miles. The signpost stands among a bunch of yellow broom and may be hard
to see if the trail hasn't been brushed recently. Turn left to stay on Goldenrod
before the gated trail crosses into the equestrian center.
After a tight squeeze through the broom, the trail cuts
through some grass right beside Skyline Boulevard, then drops away from the street,
crosses the access road to the equestrian center, and returns to chaparral. At
3.74 miles a path to the right leads to Horseshoe Trail, which drops down and
meets Brandon Trail in the valley. Continue straight on Goldenrod.
Cow parsnip pushes up white flowers 
on
tall thick stems on the side of the trail in spring. Look for the delicate white
woodland star flowers in the shade, and colorful scarlet pimpernel and redmaids
growing close to the ground in the sun. To the right (east), if it's clear you
should be able to see all the way to Las Trampas Ridge. In the foreground Grass
Valley Trail and Redwood Road are visible. To the north MacDonald Trail stands
out as it traverses the ridge. At one point the trailhead is obvious, and you
can check to see if your car is still there! Back on Goldenrod Trail, purple bush
lupine thrives in the sun alongside California sagebrush and California poppies.
The trail curves across the hillside where blackberries and creambush are abundant.
At 4.43 miles, the trail appears to end at an unsigned junction with a service
road. Turn right, and walk on the pavement past the water tank. The trail
resumes on dirt at 4.49 miles. A few maples accompany hazelnut and creambush on
the left side of the trail. At 4.70 miles, Buckeye Trail begins at a signed junction
just before Goldenrod shoots uphill. Turn right onto Buckeye.
After miles on multi-use trails, hiking-only Buckeye
is a pleasure. 
Some
tricky, downward-sloping steps descend sharply along a creek, then the narrow
trail twists under some coast live oaks and California bays, and crosses a bridge.
Edging along the creek, the path tends to crumble toward the water, so watch your
step. You may see hound's tongue and fringecups among the ferns. A dramatic patch
of forget-me-nots is a froth of delicate light blue blooms in spring. You might
enjoy a rest stop under the shade on a wooden bench standing off the right side
of the trail. I was sitting here on a hike in April when I think I heard
a mountain lion shriek. I've never heard this sound before in nature (I've listened
to audio clips), and it was loud and distinctive, but probably not closer than
1/4 mile away. When I've heard audio snippets I thought they sounded kind of fake,
but as soon as I heard whatever this was, I was struck by the resemblance to those
clips. I certainly wouldn't say for sure that this rather unearthly screech was
a mountain lion, but I will be on alert at Chabot from now on. Shortly after you
pass the bench Buckeye Trail crosses a second bridge and ends at 5.03 miles, at
the edge of Bort Meadow. Cross the grass and look for a junction near a row
of pit toilets. A group of picnic tables sprawl in the grass to the right.
A paved road makes a sharp curve on its way back to the trailhead, but instead
take the trail, signed horses OK/no bikes, to the right of the gate.
This slip of a trail passes through coyote brush, poison
oak, and eucalyptus. There are quite a few plum trees along the trail, and when
the fruit is ripe you might see animals ranging from birds to coyote gorging on
the sweet plums. In spring California buttercups and blue-eyed grass draw your
attention to their colorful petals. At 5.34 miles the trail splits; stay to
the left and continue uphill. At the crest of a hill, the spur ends at a signed
junction with MacDonald Trail, at 5.40 miles. Turn right and walk the few remaining
steps to the gate at the edge of the parking lot.
Total distance: 5.44 miles
Last hiked: Monday, April 22, 2002
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page
to
its neighbor, Redwood Park. The two parks are separated only by narrow Redwood
Road, and with an interconnected trail system, you can hike for hours on a long
segment of the the Bay Area Ridge Trail, through both parks. While Redwood is
dominated by its namesake trees, and a riparian corridor, with just a bit of chaparral,
Chabot features a lake, meadows and grassland, eucalyptus forests, and lots of
chaparral. At the southeastern end of Chabot, Lake Chabot is a focal point, and
the area has been developed with a public golf course, family campground, and
marina. The northwestern edge, which borders Redwood Park, and the middle of Chabot
are less developed, although there is a campground at Bort Meadow.
Willow
Park Golf Course and Lake Chabot Marina. Starting from Bort Meadow Staging Area
allows you to wander southeast or northwest, and it's my favorite trailhead at
Chabot. From here you can take an out-and-back hike west through chaparral on
MacDonald Trail (a segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail), or just wander downhill
to Bort Meadow and lie in the grass. Grass Valley Trail (another segment of the
Bay Area Ridge Trail) meanders levelly south through the valley and joins with
Brandon Trial on a march through eucalyptus forests. Brandon runs all the way
to the eastern edge of the park, ending near the Proctor Staging Area. 
education
in bay area plants.
of
the trail, although some occasional broom shrubs lend a sweet aroma and yellow
flowers in the spring. At 1.04 miles, Redtail Trail sets out from the left side
of the trail at a signed junction. (Redtail climbs to the Marciel Gate; you can
make an extra loop by taking Redtail to Cottontail, and then turning right onto
Grass Valley Trail, after which you can pick up this featured hike at the stone
bridge.) Continue straight on Grass Valley Trail. 
sticky monkeyflower, and purple bush lupine in spring. Maple, creambush, hazelnut,
blackberry, wild rose, toyon, coast live oak, and coffeeberry mix together on
the sides of the trail. Eucalyptus towers over all. After an easy climb to the
ridgeline, Jackson Grade ends at a signed junction at 1.93 miles. Turn right
onto Goldenrod Trail. 
Yellow-blossomed broom, an invasive pest plant, has a strong foothold among the
plants in this chaparral community. In spring, you may see checkerbloom, bluedicks,
blue-eyed grass, scarlet pimpernel, California poppy, and purple bush lupine.
Goldenrod Trail nears Skyline Boulevard and then stays close to the road. Eucalyptus
trees fade away as you continue to hike northwest, and they are replaced by some
pines. The buildings of the equestrian center come into view just before a junction
at 3.60 miles. The signpost stands among a bunch of yellow broom and may be hard
to see if the trail hasn't been brushed recently. Turn left to stay on Goldenrod
before the gated trail crosses into the equestrian center. 
on
tall thick stems on the side of the trail in spring. Look for the delicate white
woodland star flowers in the shade, and colorful scarlet pimpernel and redmaids
growing close to the ground in the sun. To the right (east), if it's clear you
should be able to see all the way to Las Trampas Ridge. In the foreground Grass
Valley Trail and Redwood Road are visible. To the north MacDonald Trail stands
out as it traverses the ridge. At one point the trailhead is obvious, and you
can check to see if your car is still there! Back on Goldenrod Trail, purple bush
lupine thrives in the sun alongside California sagebrush and California poppies.
The trail curves across the hillside where blackberries and creambush are abundant.
At 4.43 miles, the trail appears to end at an unsigned junction with a service
road. Turn right, and walk on the pavement past the water tank. The trail
resumes on dirt at 4.49 miles. A few maples accompany hazelnut and creambush on
the left side of the trail. At 4.70 miles, Buckeye Trail begins at a signed junction
just before Goldenrod shoots uphill. Turn right onto Buckeye.
Some
tricky, downward-sloping steps descend sharply along a creek, then the narrow
trail twists under some coast live oaks and California bays, and crosses a bridge.
Edging along the creek, the path tends to crumble toward the water, so watch your
step. You may see hound's tongue and fringecups among the ferns. A dramatic patch
of forget-me-nots is a froth of delicate light blue blooms in spring. You might
enjoy a rest stop under the shade on a wooden bench standing off the right side
of the trail. I was sitting here on a hike in April when I think I heard
a mountain lion shriek. I've never heard this sound before in nature (I've listened
to audio clips), and it was loud and distinctive, but probably not closer than
1/4 mile away. When I've heard audio snippets I thought they sounded kind of fake,
but as soon as I heard whatever this was, I was struck by the resemblance to those
clips. I certainly wouldn't say for sure that this rather unearthly screech was
a mountain lion, but I will be on alert at Chabot from now on. Shortly after you
pass the bench Buckeye Trail crosses a second bridge and ends at 5.03 miles, at
the edge of Bort Meadow. Cross the grass and look for a junction near a row
of pit toilets. A group of picnic tables sprawl in the grass to the right.
A paved road makes a sharp curve on its way back to the trailhead, but instead
take the trail, signed horses OK/no bikes, to the right of the gate. 