SUNDAY DRIVE

Redwood Regional Park

What you’ll see: People might not expect to see redwoods in the Oakland hills, but the majestic trees make Redwood Regional Park one of the Bay Area’s better finds. Pretty Redwood Creek, recharged by recent rains, roughly bisects the park. Earlier this month, wild trout jumped the fish ladder near the park entrance. The park features one of the Bay Area’s best mountain bike loops.

Location: Redwood Regional Park is in the East Bay hills just over the ridge from Oakland. The entryway is set in a valley, framed by ridges. The park is bordered by Chabot Regional Park to the south and Huckleberry and Sibley regional preserves to the north. They are linked by the 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Trail.

Stream Trail: From the main park entrance at Redwood Gate, take the park road to its end at the Canyon Meadow Staging Area. A trailhead here provides access to the Stream Trail. It is routed a quarter-mile upstream to a bridge over the creek, then another 1.2 miles to another bridge crossing. The route goes

another 0.8 miles up to a third bridge. Most turn around here. It’s a 4.5-mile round trip, pretty and easy.

Fish ladder: Just beyond the entry kiosk at Redwood Gate, a fish ladder is a short distance ahead to your left. After February rains, a strain of wild trout found nowhere else swam from Upper San Leandro Reservoir, jumped the ladder and spawned in the stream — a rarity.

Mountain bike: A challenging 8.2mile trek loops the ridges of the park. From the Canyon Meadow Staging Area, ride out on the Canyon Trail to the East Ridge Trail, turn left, and circle the park, where you complete the loop on the West Ridge Trail.

Map/brochure: Available at kiosk, map box at trailhead; pdf file online.

Cost: Parking, access free in offseason. $5 per vehicle on weekends, April through October only at Redwood Gate.

Dogs: Free in offseason, must be leashed on Stream Trail. $2 per dog on weekends, April through October,

at Redwood Gate.

GPS address: 7867 Redwood Road,

Oakland.

How to get there: From San Francisco, take Interstate 80 across the Bay Bridge east for 6.4 miles (stay to the right) to the split and bear right on I-580. Go 6.2 miles on I-580 to Exit 24 for 35th Avenue. Exit on the right to the stop sign at 35th Avenue, turn left, drive 0.2 miles uphill (becomes Redwood Road), then continue straight for 2.3 miles to Redwood Regional Park on the left. Turn left and continue past the kiosk to the end of the road, where you’ll find parking for the Canyon Meadow Staging Area and trailheads for the Stream Trail (walks, hikes) and Canyon Trail (bikes).

Distances: 10 miles from UC Berkeley, 20 miles from downtown San Francisco, 20 miles from Walnut Creek, 29 miles from San Rafael, 34 miles from San Mateo.

Worth the drive: When you exit the park, turn left on Redwood Road and the two-lane road along the ridge. Watch for occasional glimpses of Upper San Leandro Reservoir in the canyon to your left. You’ll pass the Bort Meadow Staging Area and the main entrance (Marciel Gate) to Chabot Regional Park on the right. It’s 9 miles past Chabot to Willow Park Golf Course, then 2.8 more miles to I-580 in Castro Valley.

Contacts: Redwood Regional Park, (888) 327-2757, option 3, Ext. 4553; East Bay Regional Park District, (888) 327-2757, www.ebparks.org.