Anthony Chabot Regional Park
Turn-by-Turn Mileage Log
Mile 0.0: Begin near the information board, on a gated paved service road. The trail descends through poison oak, blue elderberry, and coyote brush. Look left for a view of the next segment through Grass Valley. Mile 0.1: Junction. Turn left onto Grass Valley Trail. Mile 0.1: Cattle gate. Although cows may not be present year round, be sure to close all the gates you cross through. Ignore any side trails and cow paths, and walk along the easily graded fire road. Wild radish, buttercup, and filaree are common in spring. Mile 1.0: Junction. Continue straight. During a slow descent the valley narrows, and eucalyptus and redwood squeeze toward the trail. Mile 1.5: Junction. Turn right. A pretty stone bridge crosses Grass Valley Creek. Mile 1.5: Multi-trail junction. Take wide Jackson Grade uphill to the left. At first coast live oak, creambush, and hazelnut line the trail, but as you ascend the trail enters a drier area, where sagebrush, monkeyflower, and toyon bask in the sun beneath eucalyptus. Mile 1.9: Junction. Turn right on Goldenrod. The broad fire road passes through an area choked with poison oak, broom, and eucalyptus. The general trend is an upward one, but the trail does wander up and down slightly. Mile 2.9: A fire road feeds in from the left. Continue to the right on Goldenrod. Skyline Boulevard runs just to the left, and is audible and visible along this stretch. Mile 3.6: Just before the stables, take the path veering slightly uphill to the left. Mile 3.7: Goldenrod Trail crosses the stables' service road. Mile 3.7: Junction with Horseshoe Trail. Continue straight. Goldenrod Trail spends some time under coast live oaks, but you'll also see some chaparral plants along the trail, such as sagebrush, poison oak, and monkeyflower. Mile 4.4: It seems like the trail ends, at an unsigned paved road. Turn right and skirt the fenced reservoir tank. Mile 4.5: Back on dirt. For the most part you'll find yourself descending, with creambush, hazelnut, coast live oak, and even a few maples on the sides of the trail. Mile 4.7: Easy-to-miss junction with Buckeye Trail. Turn right. The narrow path stumbles down some steep and dicey wooden stairs, under a dense canopy of California bay and coast live oak. Once across a bridge, the trail levels out a bit, but be careful not to take a tumble as you walk along the unstable creekbed. Buckeyes are common on the lower stretch of the trail. Mile 5.0: Buckeye Trail ends at Bort Meadow. Walk straight across the flat grassy area, and aim for a junction to the left of a row of pit toilets. There are picnic tables in the meadow, if you're ready for a lunch stop. Mile 5.2: Multiple trail junction. Take the footpath to the right of the gated fire road, uphill through eucalyptus, poison oak, and coyote brush. Mile 5.3: The trail forks at an unsigned junction. Stay to the left. Mile 5.4: The trail ends at a T junction. Turn right and head back to the trailhead. Mile 5.4: Back at the edge of the parking lot.
