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Alameda Creek Trail
Alameda Creek Trail
A casual ride on an easy and flat recreational trail that is not too special other than being somewhat more scenic than usual and giving you a choice of paved or dirt riding.
23 miles
300' climb
3 hours
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62% FIRE ROAD38% PAVED
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Black Diamond Mines
Black Diamond Mines
A ride that provides a heaping dose of mining history and a heaping dose of fire road riding, through admittedly interesting terrain (though not from a mountain-biking point of view).
14.5 miles
3400' climb
4 hours
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95% FIRE ROAD5% PAVED
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Briones (Suggestion 1)
Briones (Suggestion 1)
A short fire-road loop over the roller coaster of rolling East Bay hills that follows ridgetops along most of its length.
8 miles
2000' climb
2 hours
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7% SINGLETRACK89% FIRE ROAD4% ROAD
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Briones (Suggestion 2)
Briones (Suggestion 2)
A strenuous ride through picturesque terrain with occasional views, but on trails that only fire road lovers could cherish.
14 miles
3400' climb
4 hours
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100% FIRE ROAD
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Brushy Peak
Brushy Peak
A short ride at what is no more than a local workout option, but it's not without a pleasant surprise. Be prepared for climbs and for the absence of shade though.
6.5 miles
1400' climb
1.5 hours
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26% SINGLETRACK74% FIRE ROAD
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Calaveras Road
Calaveras Road
A scenic and easy local favorite turned into a torture fest with the addition of a brutal extension, which you can easily leave out.
42.5 miles
4300' climb
4.5 hours
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100% ROAD
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Carquinez Scenic Drive
Carquinez Scenic Drive
An easy and nicely scenic road ride option that can fit the bill when you don't have too much time for your ride, unless you greatly extend it by using one of many options.
19 miles
1600' climb
2.5 hours
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10% PAVED90% ROAD
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Coyote Hills
Coyote Hills
A small but scenic park with mostly flat dirt-road riding with a handful of short and steep climbs thrown in.
13 miles
1250' climb
2 hours
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2% SINGLETRACK71% FIRE ROAD26% PAVED1% ROAD
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Crockett Hills
Crockett Hills
A true mountain biking gem that unexpectedly shot up to being the most desirable East Bay park for sweet singletrack and great views, not to mention three flow trails.
12.5 miles
2100' climb
3 hours
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79% SINGLETRACK20% FIRE ROAD1% ROAD
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Del Valle
DelValle
A bit of a hidden gem in the amount of available singletrack with respect to other East Bay parks, though that's only true for this one route. A scenic, non-technical ride, for those who are okay with some steep climbs.
14 miles
2700' climb
2.5 hours
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45% SINGLETRACK55% FIRE ROAD
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East Bay Canyons
East Bay Canyons
An easily overlooked, out-of-the-way ride that involves relatively little physical challenge, a fair amount of solitude, and just as much beauty and fun as many routes that are much more popular.
36 miles
2350' climb
3.5 hours
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100% ROAD
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Fernandez Ranch
Fernandez Ranch
A small park that can reward with a surprising percentage of singletrack as well as a pretty and scenic setting especially in the right season, as long as you're okay with a short ride.
8.5 miles
1550' climb
2 hours
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73% SINGLETRACK26% FIRE ROAD1% PAVED
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Garin and Dry Creek
Garin and Dry Creek
A typical East Bay fire-road ride with all of its pros and cons: Many steep climbs, uninteresting fire roads, great views, and a beautiful landscape in springtime.
13.5 miles
2200' climb
3.5 hours
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3% SINGLETRACK95% FIRE ROAD1% PAVED1% ROAD
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Iron Horse Trail
Iron Horse Trail
An easy, flat, and wide casual trail that doesn't involve too much fun or scenery, but provides pleanty of mileage. Lots and lots of unchallenging mileage.
29 miles
700' climb
3 hours
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100% PAVED
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Joaquin Miller
Joaquin Miller
A small city park with trails for all skills levels, most of them singletrack. This place is the East Bay's only claim to first-class singletrack.
11.5 miles
2200' climb
3.5 hours
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58% SINGLETRACK40% FIRE ROAD1% PAVED1% ROAD
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Lake Chabot
Lake Chabot
Starts out as an easy and paved lake-shore ride. Continues as a moderate fire-road climb and hillside stroll.
13.5 miles
1900' climb
3 hours
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76% FIRE ROAD24% PAVED
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Las Trampas
Las Trampas
A ride of extremely steep climbs, partially redeemed by good views and pretty nature, but with little else to offer overall.
14 miles
3100' climb
3 hours
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60% FIRE ROAD21% PAVED19% ROAD
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Mission Peak
Mission Peak
An otherwise undistinguished ride up a fire road leading to a popular East Bay mountain peak that's worth it just for the views. Stay away if you hate steep climbs, though.
10.5 miles
2350' climb
3 hours
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6% SINGLETRACK67% FIRE ROAD2% PAVED25% ROAD
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Morgan Territory (eastern trails)
Morgan Territory (eastern trails)
A ride to be done not for the trails (which are boring fire roads) but for the views and the scenery, especially in the spring. This ride is the easier one compared to the other option listed for this park.
11 miles
2000' climb
3 hours
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100% FIRE ROAD
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Morgan Territory (western trails)
Morgan Territory (western trails)
A ride whose appeal is limited to lovers of nature and the outdoors, and whose climbs are meant for masochists and superhumans.
12.5 miles
3350' climb
4 hours
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100% FIRE ROAD
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Morgan Territory and Vasco Road Loop
Morgan Territory and Vasco Road Loop
A long loop deep in the East Bay hills that's very scenic and that traverses very secluded stretches of country.
47.5 miles
3650' climb
4.5 hours
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100% ROAD
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Mount Diablo (Mitchell Canyon to the peak)
Mount Diablo (Mitchell Canyon to the peak)
A killer climb that takes you to a killer mountain peak with killer views. While the ride is mostly on fire roads, you'll still get to flex some technical singletrack riding and tricky loose descent muscles as well.
15 miles
3900' climb
5.5 hours
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7% SINGLETRACK71% FIRE ROAD22% ROAD
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Mount Diablo (Mothers, Diablo Ranch, Buckeye Trails)
Mount Diablo (Mothers, Diablo Ranch, Buckeye Trails)
A tough ride for those who are okay with plenty of steep climbs that samples several of the precious few bike-legal singletrack trails on Mount Diablo. The panoramic views and some appeal for those who like creek crossings are bonuses.
12 miles
3250' climb
3.5 hours
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22% SINGLETRACK66% FIRE ROAD12% ROAD
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Mount Diablo (North Gate Road climb)
Mount Diablo (North Gate Road climb)
An unbroken climb that serves as a shorter and potentially quieter alternative to reach the peak of this mountain on a road bike. It's not easier though, and no less scenic.
24.5 miles
3750' climb
4 hours
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100% ROAD
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Mount Diablo (Oyster Point Trail)
Mount Diablo (Oyster Point Trail)
An out-and-back ride for sampling a singletrack gem on Mount Diablo, which makes this a worthwhile ride option even though it doesn't provide you much else.
12 miles
3100' climb
4 hours
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57% SINGLETRACK43% FIRE ROAD
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Mount Diablo (South Gate Road climb)
Mount Diablo (South Gate Road climb)
Possibly the most well-known mountain climb in the East Bay. I can't say it's a piece of cake, but it's not brutal either. It's as pleasant and as scenic as one could expect of any mountain climb.
29 miles
4000' climb
4 hours
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100% ROAD
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Mount Diablo (Walnut Creek to South Gate Road)
Mount Diablo (Walnut Creek to South Gate Road)
A fire-road ride that takes you halfway up Mount Diablo, featuring good views, some of the best rolling landscape during the green-grass season, and including a treat for creek crossing fans.
17 miles
3500' climb
4.5 hours
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2% SINGLETRACK98% FIRE ROAD
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Palomares Road
Palomares Road
An unchallenging road loop that manages to stay away from heavy traffic for the most part while also managing to be relatively secluded and fairly satisfying.
28.5 miles
2050' climb
3 hours
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100% ROAD
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Patterson and Altamont Passes
Patterson and Altamont Passes
A popular ride through backcountry roads traversing a very distinctive landscape with one or two iconic and tough climbs. Stick to weekends for safer traffic and to early spring for the best scenery though.
28 miles
2400' climb
2.5 hours
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100% ROAD
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Pleasanton Ridge (Suggestion 1)
Pleasanton Ridge (Suggestion 1)
A substantial ride in one of the more popular East Bay mountain biking locations. There's a ton of climbing and the singletrack amount is negligible, but it's still worth a try.
18.5 miles
3700' climb
5.5 hours
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7% SINGLETRACK93% FIRE ROAD
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Pleasanton Ridge (Suggestion 2)
Pleasanton Ridge (Suggestion 2)
This option allows a more complete exploration of Kilkare Canyon and includes more of the higher trails in the northern reaches of the park, at the cost of slightly more mileage and slightly less singletrack.
19.5 miles
3400' climb
5 hours
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5% SINGLETRACK95% FIRE ROAD
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Redwood Regional Park
Redwood Regional Park
Ride virtually all bike-legal fire roads in this East Bay park in one medium-length medium-difficulty ride.
10.5 miles
1850' climb
3 hours
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100% FIRE ROAD
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Round Valley
Round Valley
A mostly flat meander through a wide-open East Bay meadow.
7.5 miles
800' climb
1.5 hours
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100% FIRE ROAD
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Skyline Loop
Skyline Loop
A reasonable road loop that provides a good mix of the pretty country and suburban roads as well as some excellent scenery of the East Bay without killing you of exhaustion.
29 miles
3100' climb
3 hours
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100% ROAD
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Sunol Regional Wilderness
Sunol Regional Wilderness
Don't ride here for mountain biking bliss. Ride here to see the wonderfully picturesque landscape, but only if you're okay with climbing. The ride can be made easier by skipping some side loops, though.
15.5 miles
3800' climb
4.5 hours
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87% FIRE ROAD13% ROAD
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Tesla and Patterson Pass Roads
Tesla and Patterson Pass Roads
A very scenic and peaceful backcountry loop that you'll enjoy if you can tolerate a little fast traffic and some semi-industrial Central Valley mileage.
41 miles
2800' climb
4 hours
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100% ROAD
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Three Bears Loop
Three Bears Loop
A famous East Bay road loop that's not long and not too strenuous. It takes its name from three climbs but, for many riders, the traffic near Orinda will be a bigger headache than the climbs.
23.5 miles
1800' climb
2.5 hours
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100% ROAD
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Tilden Park (into Wildcat Canyon Park)
Tilden Park (into Wildcat Canyon Park)
A long but easy ride in these conveniently located parks with first-class views as a bonus.
16 miles
2250' climb
3 hours
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10% SINGLETRACK53% FIRE ROAD31% PAVED6% ROAD
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Tilden Park (southern trails)
Tilden Park (southern trails)
A fire-road ride that weaves back and forth across most of the bike-legal trails available in the southern portion of this park. Plenty of climbing and good views, but true mountain biking appeal is slim.
11.5 miles
2900' climb
3.5 hours
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6% SINGLETRACK72% FIRE ROAD4% PAVED18% ROAD
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