East Bay Bike With Blossoms

Bike this Charming East Bay Loop Starting From Heather Farm Park

04.17.2024
Woman on a bicycle passing a park lake with a fountain spraying water

Spring wildflowers are in full bloom on this 15.5-mile bicycle loop through the East Bay. The route begins at Heather Farm Park. From the main parking lot, head north along the duck pond and hop onto the Briones to Mt. Diablo Trail, then turn left onto the Contra Costa Canal Trail. After a half mile, turn right onto the Iron Horse Regional Trail.

This paved route winds north through Pleasant Hill and Concord, and is the perfect way to explore the cities without worrying about car traffic. Cross the pedestrian-only bridge, and enjoy the colorful flower beds and artwork that residents have installed along the trail.

As cyclists near the Buchanan Field Airport, the city gives way to open grasslands surrounding Walnut Creek—home to herons, egrets, and geese. Colorful springtime wildflowers like wild mustard and radish line the route. Cyclists looking for a shorter route can turn around at Concord Ave and retrace the trail back for a 10-mile out-and-back.

At the intersection with Marsh Drive, turn left to loop around the airport. To the southeast, the two peaks of Mt. Diablo dominate the horizon—a great photo op with biplanes swooping overhead! At the intersection with Center Avenue, turn right to cruise through town for a mile, then turn left onto the Contra Costa Canal Trail.

This stretch of trail is a biker’s paradise, with rolling green hills, shady parks, and swaths of California poppies adding a pop of bright color to the ride. Continue down Contra Costa Canal Trail until it intersects with the Briones to Mt. Diablo Trail, then turn right and retrace the route back to Heather Farm Park.

Before heading home, kick back and enjoy the beautiful park, from the picnic tables by the lake to the playground and volleyball courts. Or take a tour of the Gardens at Heather Farm, which include botanical gardens, a nursery, and florist workshops.

Heather Farm Park is located at 301 N San Carlos Dr. in Walnut Creek and is free to the public. Map. Dog-friendly.

Story and photos by Heather Werner, @heath.er.wer.ner

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View

  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View

  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View

  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View

  2. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View

  3. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View