From the trailhead, the route climbs sharply to gain the top of the ridge. Once on top, the road goes up and down, but doesn’t climb nearly as steeply as it did from the gate. Consequently, while the initial climb is much too steep for beginners, if you’re willing to walk up it, the rest of the ride gets much easier.

The road along the top of the ridge breaks out of the trees in numerous spots, providing beautiful vistas of the East Bay Area. These wide-ranging views come as a welcome respite after being tucked away deep in the trees on so many of the other trails in this area.

Once you reach the western half of the loop, you can choose to detour into Joaquin Miller Park for some delectable bike-legal singletrack. But if you prefer to stay the course on the fire roads, continue around until you reach the descent back to the trailhead. Like the climb, the descent is steep and despite being wide and smooth, the sharp waterbars could prove a little sketchy for beginners. Ride the brakes, and you should be fine.

All told, Redwood Regional Park can be a disappointment for advanced riders as you pass singletrack all along the way that’s marked as off limits to bikers. But if you’re a beginner or early intermediate rider looking for a doubletrack ride with beautiful views, Redwood Regional Park delivers.