Sunol’s newest hiking trails offer scenic vistas and challenging terrain

After years of planning and trail work, an entirely new network of trails at Sunol’s Tyler Ranch Staging Area opened this winter. The move expanded Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park by 2,844 acres and added roughly 18 new miles of trails for use by outdoor lovers on foot, bike or horseback or with leashed dogs.

A recent hike provided ample evidence that these particular paths are not built for the faint of heart — major uphill stretches, but they lead to rewarding views.

Start at the spacious parking lot near downtown Sunol, a tiny town east of Fremont. You’ll find newly minted restrooms next to a vintage barn once used for cattle ranching — a legacy you’ll see in action when you hike past clusters of happy grazing cows near the trails. Take the trailhead to the left of the barn and up along either the Tyler Ranch Trail or the Sunol Ridge Trail, following it up to Sunol Peak.

Make it a lollipop route by coming back along the Woodside Spring Trail before returning down Sunol Ridge Trail for a roughly 8-mile excursion. (Trail visitors warn about thistles and cow pies along the way, so remember to bring adequate protective gear and watch where you step.)

The actual top of Sunol Peak is fenced off off to pedestrians, but you can get pretty close, and the views from the ridge of the East Bay are stunning.

Amid the trail expansion, the East Bay Parks system has made efforts to preserve the pastoral atmosphere, which manifests in the tall grasses, now brown, that shimmer on the hills, replacing the wildflowers that bloomed just a few weeks earlier.

The project to expand Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park began years ago, when the East Bay Parks District acquired the 1,476-acre Tyler Ranch in 2009, followed by the 1,368-acre Robertson Ranch property in 2012. Work to build the trails and parking area began in 2021.

Coming downhill, you’ll notice the trail’s verticality in your knee joints, but overall, it’s a pleasant descent with scenic vistas the whole way down to the barn. Make sure to bring water; much of the trail is exposed to the sun.

Fortunately, JJLand Sunol, a new gift and snack shop around the corner from the trailhead, has cool drinks and ice cream available and ready to quench your thirst (plus a fun sock collection).

Want to make a day of it? The Niles Canyon Railway hosts two-hour round-trip weekend train tours through Niles Canyon that depart from Sunol. Keep an eye out for their upcoming “Beer on the Rails” events on Aug. 4 and Sept. 1, which include beer tastings from three Bay Area breweries plus lunch during the train tour.

If you go:

• JJLand Sunol is open from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends at 11853 Main St, Sunol; 925)-264-9707.
• Niles Canyon Railway runs on select summer weekends with departures from the Sunol station. Check schedules and buy tickets at  ncry.org.
• Access an interactive trail guide and map for Sunol Peak at AllTrails at alltrails.com/trail/us/california/sunol-peak.