Augustin Bernal Community Park 2015-09-22

Longview trail

Augustin Bernal Community Park in Pleasanton is sandwiched between Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park in the north and south. We had hiked the southern section of the East Bay park last month. To enter Augustin Bernal park from the main entrance (Golden Eagle staging area), non-residents require a permit (no fee) from the City of Pleasanton. Alternatively, you can park on Longview Dr. (off Foothill Rd / Bernal Rd / Hwy 680) and enter the park through a private driveway with public access easement. 

Chapparal trail

We started our hike from Longview trail. For a short distance, the paved road climbs up, goes by a City of Pleasanton water tank before becoming a double track dirt trail. While I didn't come across many bikers today, it was clear from the tracks that this park is a favorite with mountain bikers.

At the next intersection, we turned right onto Chapparal trail. This single track trail winds up the mountains and is exclusively a hiking trail. Chapparal trail connects to Valley View trail. We headed left at this junction. Valley View trail is aptly named, with views of the valley below. There are several vista points along the way as this trail winds its way up the hill. 

Apollo made a new friend this hike. Chewy, a 2 year old husky/GSD mix and Apollo had a field day chasing each other as Chewy's owner and I conversed and walked. While the trail was spacious enough, when we came to the intersection with multiple trails connecting, Apollo and Chewy enjoyed the open space with some rambunctious playing. 

View from Blue Oak Knoll

Blue Oak Knoll trail is another great trail in this park that must not be missed. We first went up the small segment up the knoll that provides some outstanding views of the valley. And we continued the other direction heading north towards the East Bay park, walking by the ridge. 

Blue Oak Knoll trail

Blue Oak Knoll connects to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park's Ridgeline trail. By now, we had steadily climbed about 1000 ft., but the walk in Ridgeline is fairly level. Ridgeline offers the option of a fire road and a single track trail that heads in the same direction. We took the single track trail on the way up and the fire road on the way back. 

There is almost no shade in Ridgeline trail. A small pond with some water was fighting the drought bravely - very similar to the one we'd observed in our previous hike. We walked up nearly a mile in the East Bay park before coming up on another vista point with panoramic views of not just the valley in the east but also the mountain range on the north and west. 

Valley View trail

Turning around at the 3 mile mark, we were back in Augustin Bernal park and the large meadow I mentioned before. From here, we made our way back to the trail head by walking more along Valley View trail and taking the Toyon trail instead of Chapparal trail to make a loop that ends in Longview trail.

Our nearly 6 mile hike involved climbing about 1000 ft. This may be a community park, but offers great trails and connects to the much larger Pleasanton Ridge Regional park.

More pictures from our hike today.
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