Iron Horse Trail

The Iron Horse Regional Trail is a railroad track for pedestrians, horse riders and bicycles in the East Bay Area of California.

This trail is located in the inland central Alameda and Contra Costa counties, mostly on the Southern Pacific Railroad right of way established in 1891 and abandoned in 1977. The two counties purchased the right of way at that time, with the intention of using it as a transport corridor; the Iron Horse Trail was first established in 1986. In 2003, BART also proposed to use the DMU line right-of – way from Walnut Creek to Tracy via Pleasanton.

The trail runs through the cities of Pleasanton, Dublin, San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Concord. When completed, the trail will run from Livermore in central Alameda County to Suisun Bay on the northern edge of Contra Costa County, a distance of more than 40 miles (64 km) from two counties and nine communities. The trail also connects directly to both Dublin / Pleasanton and Pleasant Hill BART stations.

The trail is maintained by the Regional Park District of East Bay. It is a wheelchair accessible paved trail along adjacent unpaved or soft trails in some areas.The Iron Horse Regional Trail has several bridges over busy thoroughfares to help improve traffic flow; two notable bridges cross Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek and Treat Boulevard in Contra Costa Centre. Additional bridges are part of the planning process. Despite initial scepticism and even opposition, the trail is now a major transport and recreation corridor. One million trips are made each year along the way.

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. Note: Wheelchairs, Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are currently allowed.

All users of the trail

• Be safe, considerate and aware of your impact on the trail and other users of the trail.
• Keep to the right for everyone’s safety. Proceed a single file around a blind curve.
• Headphones are not recommended for your safety.
• Safety helmets are required by law for bikers under the age of 18 and are strongly recommended for all bikers and riders.
• Dogs must be on leash where they are posted, and under full verbal control elsewhere. Clean up after your dog, please.

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 the bell and establish verbal contact.
• When approaching equestrians, call out, ring a 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 the bell and ride a 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.