Bike Trails in SF East Bay

Below are some of the car-free trails I really enjoyed in the East Bay. 

1.  Iron Horse Trail (24.0 mi., from Dublin/Pleasanton Bart Station (final stop), to Concord)

Although, there are quite a few crossroads along the way requiring you to stop, this 24.0 mi of flat and effortless path is one of the most enjoyable.  The start point of this trail literally begins from the Bart Station.  I never did a round trip from Dublin/Pleasanton Bart Station to Concord then back since it took a considerable amount of time to complete one way for me, at least.  

Source, for more information, map in PDF format: www.ebparks.org/parks/trails/iron_horse

With the every-beginning-has-an-end attitude, our journey begins.

My favorite part of the trail.

Concord! Finally!

2.  Alameda Creek Regional Trail (~11 mi. from Mission Blvd., Fremont to SF Bay)

Not as long and interesting as Iron Horse, but no stop sign, no red light, no intersection, meaning you can bike, bike, and bike some more without leaving your saddle for hours.  Biking in Alameda Creek sometimes makes me wonder where the hell I am?  It doesn't look like the densely populated Bay Area I've always live in.

 I usually get off at Union City Bart Station and enter the middle of the trail from Decoto Road.  Not until recently, I realized it's better to get off at Fremont Bart Station and enter from Mission Blvd, so I can start from nearly the beginning of the trail and heads toward the SF Bay.  Please see the map below.

Source, download map in PDF format, and for more info: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/trails/alameda_creek

3.  Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail (~7.7 mi, EBMUD Valle Vista Staging Area to the intersection of Olympic Blvd. and Pleasant Hill Rd.)

The Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail is somewhat similar to Iron Horse Trail, multiple crossroads preventing you to bike continuously.  I must say the neighborhoods in Lafayette-Moraga are more upscale than the already-very-nice San Ramon, Alamo, and Danville area along Iron Horse Trail.  However, 7.7 miles trail is long enough compared to the above two trails.  Although it's still effortless, terrain is little more challenging especially between the Moraga Park Common and Lafayette Community Park.

Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail in the SF Bay Area, (source: map.google.com)

A closer view of the trail, (source: map.google.com)

I usually park my car in Valle Vista Staging Area, unload my bike, and start from there.  I can also start from the the other end, Olympic Blvd., if I decided not to drive and take the BART to Lafayette BART Station.  Never tried taking BART and bike to the trail before, maybe it's kinda far from the starting point, or maybe not; I dunno.  I think I should try it next time.