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Iron Horse Regional Trail

About The Trail

This multi-use, whole-access trail between the cities of Concord and Pleasanton follows the Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way established in 1891 and abandoned in 1978. The completed Iron Horse Regional Trail, as of 2014, spans a distance of 32 miles. The latest segment of the Trail, which closed a gap of 1.8 miles from the Pleasanton/Dublin BART station to Santa Rita Road in Pleasanton, opened to the public on August 19th, 2014, after almost 30 years of planning and funding efforts. Representing interagency cooperation and a community-wide effort by individuals and groups, this trail creates an important recreational and commute component for the communities it serves. The trail connects residential and commercial areas, business parks, schools, public transportation (BART, County Connection), open space and parks, regional trails, and community facilities.

The developed Iron Horse Trail begins in Concord near Highway 4. It runs south through Walnut Creek and crosses eastward under I-680 at Rudgear Road near a Park & Ride. From there the trail passes through a rural/residential area to connect with downtown Alamo and the Alamo Square shopping center. Continuing south, the trail follows a greenbelt through residential areas and into downtown Danville. It takes a jog across Danville Boulevard, passes back under I-680, and continues south past Pine Valley Road to the county line in San Ramon extending to the Dublin/Pleasanton BART and further on to Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area. Eventually, the Iron Horse Regional Trail will continue extending to cover a distance of about 55 miles, connecting 12 cities from Livermore in Alameda County to Suisun Bay in Contra Costa County.

Mileage

Trail Mileage Guide

Download: Iron Horse Regional Trail [PDF]

Trail Accessibility

Iron Horse Trail is wheelchair accessible.

Responsible Trail-Use Rules

Multi-Use Trail

Safe use of this and other multiple use trails requires everyone's cooperation. Each trail user is asked to exercise common courtesy. BICYCLES YIELD to horses and hikers. HIKERS YIELD to horses. Stay to the right of the trail except when passing. NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES are permitted on the trail, wheelchairs excepted.

Violations of any of the following may result in a citation.

All Trail Users

Be safe, considerate and aware of your impact on the trail and other trail users.
For everyone's safety, keep to the right. Proceed single file around blind curves.
For your safety, headphones are not advised.
Safety helmets are required by law for bicyclists under age 18 and are strongly recommended for all bicyclists and equestrians.
Dogs must be on leash where posted, and under full verbal control elsewhere. Please clean up after your dog.

Bicycles

Bicycles are not permitted, either walked, ridden or carried, on trails marked "No Bicycles."
Bicycles shall not be ridden at an unsafe speed, or greater than the posted speed limit. Be aware of how you are perceived by other trail users.
Bells are required on bicycles on Park District trails.
Bicycles always yield to pedestrians. Before passing, SLOW DOWN, ring bell and establish verbal contact.
When approaching equestrians, call out, ring bell and STOP, whether you are seen or not. Ask for instructions on how to pass safely.
On blind turns, SLOW DOWN, call out, ring bell and ride single file.

Pedestrians

Keep to the right when approached by others.
Always yield to equestrians.
Look behind and to both sides before changing course.

Equestrians

Keep your horse to the right or where safe when encountering other trail users.
Communicate. Let other trail users know how to pass your horse safely.
Please clean up after your horse on paved trails.

In case of emergency dial 9-1-1.
Trail conflicts or violations should be reported to the Trail Hotline at (510) 733-6991.
For an immediate response, call (510) 881-1833.

Trail Map

Iron Horse Trail Map - North

Iron Horse Trail Map - Central

Iron Horse Trail Map - South

PDF Maps [PDF]

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