Pleasanton Ridge to Shady Creek to Bay Leaf Trail

The area is multi-use, so you will be sharing the trails with mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners, equestrians, and cows. Most people start at the parking lot at the base of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park off of Foothill Road. Most of the Ridgeline Trail section has very little shade so expect a lot of sun exposure. The air can also be quite dry during the dry seasons, and temperatures can get into the 90s during the summer. There are more shades from trees when you get to the Shady Creek area, and it is also quieter once you are on the other side of the ridge away from the highway. There are a lot of intertwining trails so it’s easy to make a wrong turn, but often (but not always), if you keep going it will reconnect back. When you approach some of the steeper peeks, you typically have the option of going over or around. There are more connected trails beyond Shady Creek Trail so if you are so inclined you can go well beyond the ~14 miles covering Ridgeline and Shady Creek. You could go south on Ridgeline Trail instead of north, but it ends relatively quickly. It just ends at some private property so it really isn’t worth going there unless that was your property. Most of the creeks in the Shady Creek area are dried out by late summer, but if you go in winter or early spring you may need to get your feet wet at a few of the creek crossings.