Livermore is a city of 80,000 in the East Bay suburbs. It’s known for its hills, lakes, and vineyards. There’s a nice variety of running in Livermore, including multi-use paths, trail running in the numerous open space preserves, and some lovely quieter roads.
Multi-Use Trails
Arroyo Mocho Trail. Google Street View
Arroyo Mocho Trail. This ~10 mile trail between Livermore and Pleasanton is the best option for an easier off-road run in the area. The Livermore section is paved and runs through residential neighborhoods. There are a few short spurs. The western five miles in Pleasanton are more scenic. It’s mainly gravel surface and has options to run both below the street and at street level through the neighborhood. It’s fairly park-like.
Trail Running
There are numerous open spaces in Livermore that offer many miles of scenic trail running.
Sycamore Grove Park. This 775-acre park is one of our favorite places to run in Livermore. There are paved and gravel paths, ranging from easy to moderate, featuring scenic creek and valley views. Combination of open & wooded. Easiest for running is the paved, ~2 mile cycle path that runs the length of the park, on the south side of the creek. PRO TIP: Lovely wildflowers in spring! Can be combined with Del Val Regional Park (below). Parking at northern or southern end of the park. TRAIL MAP
Del Val Regional Park. This is the signature running spot in the area. It’s beautiful, set deep in a valley, surrounded by oak covered hills, and featuring the five-mile long Lake Del Valle. For running, there are wonderful options: TRAIL MAP
E Shore Trail. Our favorite run in the park. Gorgeous, wide trail in the hills along & above the lake, with beautiful water, hill, and valley views. The northern half (miles 1-4) are hilly, while the southern half (miles 5-8) along the water is flat and easy. At the northwest end, can connect to Sycamore Grove Park. ROUTE MAP
Ohlone Wilderness Trail. More rugged trail running on 28 miles of scenic back-country trail.
Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area. Just east of Livermore in Pleasanton. Popular for its 80-acre lake, there are also several miles of trails. TRAIL MAP
Road Running
Two longer distance roads for running are Mines Rd. and Tesla/Corral Hollow Rd. These are scenic roads in the valley, with surrounding mountains. They do have traffic, and a rather small and soft shoulder. But they are runnable. There are also some quieter, roads in the hills off these main roads — some are accessible to the public, while others are private.
Livermore is a city of 80,000 in the East Bay suburbs. It’s known for its hills, lakes, and vineyards. There’s a nice variety of running in Livermore, including multi-use paths, trail running in the numerous open space preserves, and some lovely quieter roads.
Multi-Use Trails
Arroyo Mocho Trail. Google Street View
Arroyo Mocho Trail. This ~10 mile trail between Livermore and Pleasanton is the best option for an easier off-road run in the area. The Livermore section is paved and runs through residential neighborhoods. There are a few short spurs. The western five miles in Pleasanton are more scenic. It’s mainly gravel surface and has options to run both below the street and at street level through the neighborhood. It’s fairly park-like.
Trail Running
There are numerous open spaces in Livermore that offer many miles of scenic trail running.
Sycamore Grove Park. This 775-acre park is one of our favorite places to run in Livermore. There are paved and gravel paths, ranging from easy to moderate, featuring scenic creek and valley views. Combination of open & wooded. Easiest for running is the paved, ~2 mile cycle path that runs the length of the park, on the south side of the creek. PRO TIP: Lovely wildflowers in spring! Can be combined with Del Val Regional Park (below). Parking at northern or southern end of the park. TRAIL MAP
Del Val Regional Park. This is the signature running spot in the area. It’s beautiful, set deep in a valley, surrounded by oak covered hills, and featuring the five-mile long Lake Del Valle. For running, there are wonderful options: TRAIL MAP
E Shore Trail. Our favorite run in the park. Gorgeous, wide trail in the hills along & above the lake, with beautiful water, hill, and valley views. The northern half (miles 1-4) are hilly, while the southern half (miles 5-8) along the water is flat and easy. At the northwest end, can connect to Sycamore Grove Park. ROUTE MAP
Ohlone Wilderness Trail. More rugged trail running on 28 miles of scenic back-country trail.
Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area. Just east of Livermore in Pleasanton. Popular for its 80-acre lake, there are also several miles of trails. TRAIL MAP
Road Running
Two longer distance roads for running are Mines Rd. and Tesla/Corral Hollow Rd. These are scenic roads in the valley, with surrounding mountains. They do have traffic, and a rather small and soft shoulder. But they are runnable. There are also some quieter, roads in the hills off these main roads — some are accessible to the public, while others are private.
It's NOT possible to run all the way from San Francisco to Oakland, but this newly opened path from Emeryville to Yerba Buena Island is 4 miles of running glory. Great views of the Bay, bridges, and skylines. Separate bike and pedestrian lanes.
Popular 3.2 mile path around the lake is a great running option near downtown Oakland. Lovely gardens in Lakeside Park in the north and the Oakland Museum of California in the south. For extra cardio, run the stairs of the Cleveland Cascade.
One of the loveliest neighborhoods in the East Bay, with quiet, tree-lined residential streets and attractive homes. Include Piedmont Park and nearby streets, Dimond Park for trail running and Mountain View Cemetery for hilly paths and great views.
Nearly 12 miles of flat, waterside running. Most of it is lovely, with great views. Best sections are around César Chávez Park in Berkeley and Point Isabel to Marina Bay. We feature a detailed map and table with section distances.
One of the longest continuous stretches of shoreline running along the Bay Trail. It's 7 miles from San Leandro Marina to the San Mateo Bridge, with great water views, salt marshes, and sloughs.
An easy, flat beachside run near Oakland Airport. Crown Memorial State Beach is a wonderfully restored 2.5 mile beach, with a bike/pedestrian path. Continue along Shore Line Dr. for a 3+ mile route. Good beach and water views the whole way.
One of our favorite runs in the East Bay, and right next to Oakland International Airport! 6-mile dedicated path around the island, with great views to the water, Bay Bridge, and San Francisco in the distance. Good add-ons options.
Wonderful running in this area, 2 miles west of downtown Berkeley. A series of three parks and 8+ miles waterside trails along shores, tidal marshes, and beaches, with views out to SF Bay, the Berkeley Yacht Harbor, and South Sailing Basin.
Excellent running on the numerous roads and paths of the university. Can easily put together 4-5 miles on the main campus, seeing key spots and landmark buildings. Just to the east, head up to the Botanical Garden, or enjoy the Fire Trails for some trail running.
A great running option just a couple of miles east of Berkeley. There's Lake Anza, a botanical garden, wonderful wildflowers, and extensive trails. We recommend the paved 4 mile Nimitz Way Trail, with great views of San Pablo reservoir, SF bay and Mt. Diablo.
Wonderful trail running in 1,580 acre park, a few miles east of Oakland. Options include a paved path through redwoods, an 8.2 bike loop trail, and numerous more challenging options. Many trails shaded, which is good for a hot day.
Extensive park east of Oakland, with 70+ miles of trails. A favorite for runners is the 3.5 miles of paved trail along the south and east shores of the lake. There are several other more extensive, challenging loops available. Adjoins Redwood Regional Park.
Wonderful running options in Fremont: Central Park's 2-mile lake loop; The 12-mile Alameda Creek Trail, with additional scenic marshland & grassland trails at Quarry Lakes and the Coyote Hills Regional Park along San Francisco Bay.
Good running options in Pleasanton include the Arroyo Mocho & Centennial/Alamo Canal multi-use trails, and extensive trail running options in Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area & numerous open spaces west of I-680.
Best running options in San Ramon are: the Iron Horse Regional Trail -- a paved rail-trail that runs between Pleasanton & Concord; and scenic trail running at Sycamore Valley Open Space, Las Trampas Wilderness, and Bishop Ranch.
Good off-road running options in Walnut Creek are the Iron Horse Regional Trail and the Contra Costa Canal Trail. There's also wonderful trail running in Briones Regional Park, and the adjacent Shell Ridge & Diablo Foothills open spaces.
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