Pac Striders Weekend Run, Sun Aug 28, 8:30, Skyline Trail from Skyline Gate

Greetings Everyone,
Ah, ready to return to the Sunday run in a contemplative mood. I'm ready for some natural beauty and a zen like state of quiet, focused effort. Ya, I'm calling a hilly run and I'm trying to butter everyone up.

The beautiful stretch of the Skyline National Recreation Trail (aka Bay Ridge Trail) between Redwood Park and the Land Bank Area (the other side of Sibley Regional Park) is the choice of the week. We will do an out and back from Skyline Gate to or past Sibley. There are many options for distance. Doing Round Top Loop as a keyhole is about 7 miles. Out and back on Skyline Trail to the gate past Sibley is around 7.6 miles. Fish Ranch Road is 9.8 miles round trip. Longer options available. The run is hilly with a good amount of single track running.

TRAIL DESCRIPTION: This trail is fairly well marked by Bay Ridge Trail signs. Take East Ridge trail out of Skyline Gate for .16 miles and turn left onto the Bay Ridge/Huckleberry Trail. It will cross Pinehurst Rd. near the 5 way intersection. Stay right at the first three intersections, the last is a hairpin right around a post and rail fence. Shortly after the last right you will cross a culvert, then turn left and cross a stream bed. This will mark the beginning of about 480 feet of climbing up to Sibley, which is 2.9 miles from Skyline Gate. Water and bathrooms at the Sibley visitor's center. Near the visitor center is the continuation of the trail marked "To Tilden". Following this trail to the first road crossing is the 7.6 mile turn around. Coming back, remember to turn right after the stream bed and keep taking lefts after that until East Ridge.

DIRECTIONS: Skyline Gate can be reached from the Park Ave. exit off Highway 13 in Oakland. Heading north on 13, turn left at the stop sign at the end of the ramp onto Mountain Blvd. Turn right at the second light onto Snake Rd. Heading south on 13, take a left at the stoplight at the end of the ramp onto Park Ave., a left at the light onto Mountain Blvd., and a right onto Snake Rd. Proceed on Snake Rd. and go straight onto Shepherd Canyon Rd. where Snake takes a sharp left. Proceed up Shepherd Canyon (watch for the sharp hairpin right) until you reach a five way intersection at which you have a stop sign. Turn right onto Skyline Blvd. and look for the Skyline Gate parking lot 0.5 miles on your left.
Have a good weekend,
Mike