Name: Golden Spike Trail
Rating: 4.0

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Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · River/Creek · Wildlife

Bicycles are not permitted on this trail. Trail users with dogs, though dogs may be off leash on this trail, please note that dogs must be leashed on the trails and in adjacent areas adjoining this trail at each end (Dunn Trail and vicinity at the top and Bridle Trail, Stream Trail, and vicinity at the bottom). Please also control dogs closely near Piedmont Stables and during any encounters with horses on the trail.

Description

The low end of this trail is at the Fishway Site, and also at the low end of Bridle Trail, adjacent to Redwood Gate at Redwood Regional Park headquarters. Traveling uphill, the trail follows the park access road to Redwood Road, then turns right and switches back up a slope, meeting a connector trail (also designated part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and of several other "long trails") that goes right and uphill to West Ridge Trail.

Continuing up the hillside and dipping into several deep canyons, this trail reaches a connector trail (also designated Bay Area Ridge Trail etc.) going left and downhill to Redwood Road and Big Bear Staging Area and on to MacDonald Trail at MacDonald Staging Area in adjacent Anthony Chabot Regional Park. This trail continues up canyon a short distance to reach the bottom of Toyon Trail.

Further up canyon, this trail meets the Tate Trail near Piedmont Stables. Still further up canyon, this trail meets Monteiro Trail (doubletrack/dirt road). The two trails travel a short distance together, so veer right onto Monteiro Trail and then left onto this trail's continuation. This trail now travels through a long stretch of canyons and redwoods without interruption. At one point, however, trail users may notice people using Dunn Trail on the steep hillside above (there is no trail junction at this point). Finally, this trail climbs out of the trees and onto Dunn Trail in Redwood Regional Park's Serpentine Prairie Area.