Celebrate the Ridge Trail on the

East Bay Hills Thru-Hike & Ride!

You may register for the 5-Day Thru-Hike, or for individual days.
To sponsor a hiker or rider, please click here.

Thru-Hike & Ride an Annual Tradition

This will be the 9th year the Tilden-Wildcat Horsemen’s Association and the Metropolitan Horsemen’s Association have sponsored the annual 6-Day Equestrian Ride. For the last 2 years, the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council has joined in the effort so as to add hikers to the trail journey, hiking the Ridge Trail through the East Bay for 5 days.

Hikers and riders are mostly on different trails during the day, share meals, stories & camaraderie, and enjoy entertainment each evening.

Benefits Local Trails

This event has raised $120,000 for the Ridge Trail and other East Bay trails in previous years.

To sponsor a hiker or rider in this year's event, please click here.

More Hike & Ride Info

For more information on the East Bay Hills Trails Benefit Horseback Ride, visit www.twha.org.

For more information on the 3rd Annual East Bay Hills Thru-Hike, read below.

The Thru-Hike Details

Enjoy 35 miles of the Ridge Trail with an additional 25 miles on nearby loops plus opportunities for as much extra distance as you care to trek!  You will enjoy varied terrain, and the stunning views for which the Bay Area is famous. Daily hike mileage will range between 10 and 14 miles.

Fully Supported Event!

Your hike will be fully supported, with all meals and campsites included. Camping gear is shuttled between campsites for you, allowing you to hike each day with only a daypack. 

Trails and Camps

Camping is available the night before the hike begins.

Day 1 - Wednesday

The hike starts on the newest Ridge Trail section at Fernandez Ranch in Martinez, and crosses the Pinole Watershed, Sobrante Regional Preserve, Kennedy Grove Recreation Area, and Wildcat Park on the way to camping at Tilden Regional Park the first night.

Evening entertainment - surprises from Council staff member, Dena Justice.

Day 2 - Thursday

We will start at Tilden, cross EMBUD watershed high above the Caldecott Tunnel, travese Sibley Volcanic and Huckleberry Regional Preserves through Redwood Park to Joaquin Miller Park, where we set up camp.

Evening entertainment - presentation by EBRPD naturalist, Mike Moran.

Day 3 - Friday

Choose between short and longer hikes near Redwood Park. We will again camp at Joaquin Miller Park.

Evening entertainment - performance by the Diablo Lady's Rodeo Team followed by a trip to the Chabot Space and Science Center with a talk by Dan Saito.

Day 4 - Saturday

The thru-hike continues through Redwood and Anthony Chabot Regional Parks to the next camp at Bort Meadow.

Evening entertainment - presentation by Garrett Christensen on thru-hiking plus this is the raffle/auction night!

Day 5 - Sunday

The final day of the hike, we head south from Bort Meadow and circle Lake Chabot. Camping is available this night, please inquire.

Evening entertainment - to be announced.

Shower tents wil be set up at all 3 campsites.

Suggested Packing List

Evening Entertainment

Evening programs may include a visit to the Chabot Space and Science Observatory, a naturalist presentation, a slide show on long distance trail adventures, a drill team performance,  and other surprises.

Swimming will be available a short walk from our Tilden and Joaquin MIller campsites.

Transportation

We will offer pick up and drop off at BART at the beginning and end of the hike or we can assist you in shuttling your car from camp to camp.

Costs/Benefits

This event benefits the Bay Area Ridge Trail and other East Bay trail projects.

The $50/day fee (or $45/day for all 5 days) includes camping, food, and entertainment.

For visitors, dinner in camp will be $15/night.

We encourage you to solicit pledges from friends, neighbors and other trail supporters, but this is optional. Email friends and family and ask them to sponsor you for each mile you hike.  Direct them to make donations at eastbayhillsathon2010.eventbrite.com.  Top fundraisers can win prizes from REI and Wilderness Press.

We encourage participants to bring raffle items for this year’s raffle.

Volunteer!

Volunteers are needed to help with the important tasks that make this event a great one.

Questions

Contact Morris Older, at 925-254-8943 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Bob Siegel at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Reserve Now for this Popular Event

Space is limited. You may register for the 5-Day Thru-Hike, or for individual days.