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Garin & Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks
Rating Details »
1320 Garin Ave
(between Bello Rd & Cana Rd)
Hayward, CA 94544
(510) 582-2206
(between Bello Rd & Cana Rd)
Hayward, CA 94544
(510) 582-2206
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
23 reviews for Garin & Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks
Charm is not a fan of most dog parks. Mainly because most of the dogs are twice her size and always quick to sniff her butt. She hates this but apparently it's normal behavior among canines.
Since dog parks aren't always an option I have to find alternate ways for her to exercise, and enjoy some off leash fun. Garin is the perfect place. It's one of the few off-leash parks in the Bay Area. And Garin is great because it's easily accessible. It's a short drive from most east bay cities.
The off-leash policy applies only in the trails and not while in the picnic or public areas. Also be cautious of the other dogs since it's not always easy to tell if they're friendly (this goes for their owners as well).
Aside from being great for dogs, it's perfect for picnics and get-togethers. Whenever I'm there, there's always large family gatherings. There's a good amount of tables but they're spread out across the park. And because it's a regional park it's got more of a wilderness vibe. You won't find playgrounds or snack bars here. Just nature and lots of it.
You will find lots of grassy areas, great trails (mildly challenging ) and some wildlife (if horses and cattle count). Big FYI for allergy sufferers: there's lots and lots of pollen. Maybe it's the time of year but the pollen literally looked like a blanket of snow on the grass.
Of course there's a parking and dog fee. So expect to pay $7 altogether for you and your 4-legged friend.
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A decent place for family picnic, bbq, or to walk your dog (short shaded area, but not sure if your dog can last miles up the mountain with no shades). I would give this a 2.5 stars---very "Dry", I was being followed by a varieties of bugs, at a certain point it was getting smelly due to the horses %$#%@, not much of a scenery, although the hike was mostly incline.
On a positive note: safe, you can see beautiful homes surrounding the trails. I did get some workout, but couldn't last for 6 miles--I was bored out of my mind on the Vista Loop Trial and didn't feel like exploring other trials, since they all look the same.
Public restrooms, but it was locked. Attendant booth, no attendant. Sign says $4 parking.
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Went to the Apple festival at this park last weekend and enjoyed it immensely. The park has some nice hills, although steep, but once you get up there, the views are extraordinary. Also the park isn't overcrowded and has a very peaceful feeling to it. The family and I also enjoyed the barn area and all the festivities the park had to offer.
This park is great.
Here's a list of some of my most favorite memories, old and new.
BBQ's in the meadow
Fishing in the lake (don't think i've ever caught anything)
Exploring the empty barn
Catching salamanders and newts in the creek with my bare hands
Avoiding cow pies
Getting older and looking under the cow pies for mushrooms
Cutting myself on chicken wire and getting rushed to the hospital for a tetanus shot (actually not such a favorite memory)
Picking fresh figs
Falling and taking my dad with me into a pond
Catching crawfish with chicken livers on fish hooks
Drinking vodka then taking a hike (bad idea, highly not recommended)
Hiking Garin Trail from Hayward to Union City
Watching my sister fall down a cliff and possibly hurting herself really bad (kinda scary)
Finding specimens in the woods for my sister to dissect at the lab
Planting trees on Arbor Day
Flying a Kite on a windy day
You get the idea. I love this park, however the recent addition of million dollar homes is an eyesore to the area. Ignore the affects of greedy corporate assholes and stop by.
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As an East Bay resident for the last 40 years it's not often you discover a huge park in your backyard that you've never heard of. Some friends found this place a few months ago and we've been several times since. Large grass fields for playing ball or flying kites, creeks for the kids to play in, a pond for fishing and some of the most incredible oak-woodland cattle grazing steep hills for hiking which are not too big and you get to the ridge and you can look out on the whole Bay. I'll never forget going there the first time and turning into this typical suburban development thinking "is this it?" when you suddenly go through a park gate and leave that behind and you are on this huge old ranch. One of my new most favorite parks in the east bay... 40 minutes from home, hearing turkeys gobble and the coyotes yipping as the sun goes down makes me happy !
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OK so I'm trying to review everywhere that I posted photos for :-)
We really loved going here when we lived in Pleasanton, now that we've moved to Tracy we don't go quite so often. There is some GREAT hiking to be had here, everything from easy to rather difficult trails can be found. The little walking bridges around the park are cute and pretty darn sturdy for their size. I really love the trails that go back into the trees and down near the pond.
We have had to "herd cattle" a few times to get to a gate so hopefully you're not afraid of cows like the handsome man seemed to be. I was in FFA class in highschool so I just waded into the herd speaking nice to them and got them to move while he watched from a distance.
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Went to Garin Regional Park on Sat 10/11/08. If you get to the Kiosk before 9am you get in FREE, entrance fee is $5 per car otherwise. Glad we got there by 8:45!! Yay Morning People!
Lots of parking available. We parked in one of the upper lots & walked down to the bathrooms. Separate bathrooms under a Wisteria covering. Women's had 3 stalls: 1 stall was dirty, 1 stall had no latch, 1 was ok. Toilet paper is stuck on bars so it's really hard to get any out. Soap was out, water cold. They had paper towels.
We hiked about 7 miles with 948 ft elev gain. Lots of open & wide trails, then some wooded trails w/ shade a bit. We did a loop Jordan pond, taking Dry Creek & Peak Loop, Zeile Creek trail, & Vista Peak trail.
Saw a 1947 Chevrolet in Great condition, cows, a mean looking bull, coots in Jordan pond, sheep & goat feeding on the weed, & some deer.
From the trails on a clear day like today we could see SF downtown & Sutro Tower, Cal State East Bay, & Coyote Hills.
Lots of picnic tables available.
My friend V. said to add: brand new FREE parking lot at the southern end of Garin/Dry Creek. It's on May Road (off of Mission Blvd). It has pit
toilet. No need to park on street on Tamarack anymore. You can also visit
Dry Creek Garden from there (open Thursdays thru Saturdays according to sign, but website says Thursdays and first Saturday of month only).
http://www.ebparks.org...
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A pretty decent park, tucked away in the Hayward hills. I like to ride my mountain bike here for the views, close proximity to civilization, and the good workout it provides. The main entrance is through Garin Avenue, where parking costs $5 if the entrance kiosk has an attendant. I like to enter through the Tamarack Drive trailhead and park on the street in the residential area; the only caveat is that the trailhead is the High Ridge loop trail and you are immediately climbing once you enter through here. The park has a decent amount of multi-use trails. I usually run into hikers with their dogs; not too many runners or bikers (more on this later). My typical loop is alternating the Vista Peak trail with the High Ridge trail, both connected by the Arroyo flats trail. If I'm looking for a beating, I'll hit up the relatively short but steeply inclined Zeile Creek trail, which breaks off from the Vista Peak trail. Primarily most of the 'bikable' trails are fireroads but there are varying degrees of incline which let me work on my climbing. Be warned though as most of the trails are in the open so stay hydrated, try and ride early in the morning, and get plenty of rest in any shade you can get. As a mountain biker, my biggest complaint about the park are the conditions of the trails. A substantial portion of the trails are dry, cracked soil, I assume from the hot conditions in the area. This makes it difficult to get into a riding rhythm with all the bumps/cracks on the road, even on my full suspension bike. I imagine this is why I ran into a handful of runners, too. This really makes you appreciate the few stretches of smooth dirt trails. Overall, a pretty nice park which I'll continue to visit.
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One of the great benefits of living in the bay area is having endless choices for hiking and exploring. I recently discovered Garin Regional Park in an effort to find places that would allow my dog Skylar to run around off-leash. I've been bringing her here at least once a week over the past three months and it has quickly become her favorite. There are several different paths including wide dirt roads for horseback riding and smaller trails that will lead you to some great spots for a secluded picnic. We've seen deer, chipmunks, beautiful birds, horses, humans on horses, and some very happy free-roaming grass fed cows. We've covered virtually every major trail and there are some stunning views of the peninsula and San Francisco if you're ambitious enough to get to the very top of the High Ridge Loop. It's not a very difficult hike unless you're a couch potato who smokes 2 packs a day. Just slap on a nicotine patch, a heart-rate monitor and suck down a sugar free red bull before you head up the hill. For the rest of you, bring some water and some snacks to keep you energized.
Once you get on some of the lower trails, the smell of pine and other various evergreens and shrubs will quickly fill your nose. There are some cool footbridges that will help you traverse over the terrain and the dry creek, which isn't so dry during the winter. Take a few minutes to stop and take in your surroundings and you'll be amazed at how quiet and peaceful it is. You'll quickly realize as I did, that you should be doing things like this more often. As soon as it gets warmer, I plan to invite some good friends to join me for a full picnic. The main entrance is very close to a tranquil pond surrounded by picnic tables and benches. Three or four grills are also available if you feel like having a BBQ and there's also a designated kite flying field and bathrooms.
Garin would easily be a 5 star except for the vast amounts of "cow-pies" we've had to avoid on the upper trails. Oh, Skylar told me to remind you that if you go during the off season (winter), parking is free anytime at the main entrance. If you'd rather not pay the $5 fee during the peak season, you can opt to go through the Tamarack entrance about a mile south on Mission. Have fun!
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WHEN COWS ATTACK!!!!!
Another hiking adventure review.
1 star for great views
1 star for no bugs
1 star for tons of well marked trails
and the all important.......
1 star for cool (but psychotic) cows.
This is a great place to go hiking. The views are awesome, it's clean, has well marked trails and a lot of wild life. One of the best things about hiking in the East Bay is it's way less crowded. I only saw a few people in the hours I was out here today.
Thing to note, there's not a lot of shade so don't come here when it's 80 degrees without 10 gallons of water.
Dex (my Akita) and I ran into a lot of cool cows but a couple were rather bitchy and decided to chase us. So wtf is up with that? Since when do cows attack? And no they weren't bulls, I freaking know the difference. I was seriously reconsidering my vegetarianism. I thought the saying was happy cows come from California. Not psychopathic cows come from California.
Anyway, to sum it up, bring water, and small firearms.
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This place charges on weekends so look out. If you drive down Mission and park in the residential area, you can get free parking and free entry. Plus now you don't have to drive up the steep hill to get to the parking lot.
This place is primarily a giant oval hike, but there are a bunch of alternative ways to get around the oval. The barbeque areas are usually taken during the weekend, but the hiking trail is typically barren. It's pretty peaceful. Sometimes it can feel a little creepy.
The hiking trails that lead up the hills can get quite steep at times. This is not for the unhealthy or brittle bones. Not too difficult, but it might give you a huff and puff. If you happen to get to the top of the hills, it offers a great view.
There are cows, so beware. They're docile yet they do walk through hiking trails from time to time. Also, some of the hiking trails are unkept. Weeds and vegetation have overgrown the paths, so look out. Overall most trails are clear for hiking.
Maps are offered at the parking entrance. But you can easily find one on website. If you're unfamiliar with the trails, I highly recommend bringing a map because the trails can get very long. Additionally bring a backpack with water, comfortable hiking shoes, sunscreen, maybe a hat, and some granola bars or snacks.
_______
This park is pretty empty for the most part, except for the rare cross country race. If you're looking for isolation and a good hike, head here.
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Went here for the first time on a warm late winter day and loved it. Did a little two mile loop south of the meadow, that was just right for my kids. Had lots of little side trails for exploring, with a good mix of sun and shade. Lots of other trails that I want to come back and explore when i have more time and minus 1 three year old. Nice picnic meadow area for a place to eat after hiking and no obvious scumbags to spoil the day.
Cooper and I have hiked just about every trail in Garin, and there are only two reasons it doesn't get 5 stars: a.) I have a visceral hatred for anything connected to Hayward, after being trapped there for a year and a half; and b.) not enough doggies to play with.
The main parking lot charges during the summer (per car, then per dog, I believe), so if you're not looking for a picnic table and a restroom, you should start at the "locals" entrance, down on Tamarack (Google Tamarack Dr. and Mission, Union City for directions). You can park there for free and get access to all the good trails. I'd feel bad for the residents that live there, except that they own a friggin' house RIGHT on the park, so screw the rich bitches.
Dog parents beware -- there is lots of cow poop to entice ecstatic rolling and, if you're as culinarily refined as my dog, eating. And there are many stretches of unshaded trail, so bring plenty of water in the summertime (it's fucking hotter-than-hell Hayward, remember...).
Though I am but a slave to the whims of the basset hound, I should mention that this park is also great, though underutilized, for cross-country runners and mountain bikers.
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I love love love this park...I can totally get lost in the hills. makes me feel like I'm far far away from the traffic of the east bay.
Personally, I LOVE THIS PLACE.
I used to work here as a gate attendant for a couple of seasons a few summers ago. It was the best job I've had so far.
The park is great, many days its very quiet (especially weekdays even on the weekends). Its great place for large picnics, family reunions, even wedding receptions. You can go fishing in the pond, they actually stock it with catfish, I've seen many happy guests leave with some fat fish. There are a ton of shady trees around the picnic and pond areas. A few of the trails are in wooded areas, so thats nice too. The view from the High Ridge Loop Trail is awesome.
If you're into nature/trails/the outdoors this is a place for you.
Say Hi to the rangers that drive by and feed them, they're great guys!
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Update 5/12/08:
So after going back a few more times, it's taught me not to go back during certain times of the year. My sister took my dog here and he came back with 12 ticks (7 while they were there, we found 5 more in the next couple of days). ONE TRIP. They stayed on the trails the whole time and they weren't event here that long. Maybe 45 minutes? Good thing he's on frontline. This was when all the grass was dead and dry about a month ago. Anyone else find tons of ticks on their dog here?
Original review:
This is a pretty nice park, although not as nice as lake chabot (the parts I've explored, at least). But then you don't get the big crowds either.
When I've gone, we've only seen maybe two or three other groups on the trails. That could be bad too since the trails aren't always clearly marked and we could possibly get lost there. Maybe.
There's also some predator roaming around in the park big enough to devour a deer (see pic). So it's best not to go alone when it's about to get dark... or be adventurous as long as it doesn't result in the park getting shut down.
I haven't explored too much of the place. I haven't been to the cow area that everyone is talking about. I'll have to check it out one day...
The parts I have seen have been really nice, and my dog seems to like it too. I haven't seen any other dogs at the park, but I did see three horses one time. One guy didn't have his horse under control so we stayed back a few minutes.
It was $7 for the car and the dog. The attendant recommended the $50 east bay parks annual membership card so I got it, but you can't buy it there (Lake Chabot has them).
nice part of hayward, damn i wish i could live in the hills like this. me, wifey, boston biggie went for this trek up in the wilderness of Garin. great place to bbq, nice and quiet i guess not as popular as Chabot. has a little pond not too many ducks which is good for the owners that have duck poop eating dogs. has a trail that leads into the bushes dry creek i believe, you can take it for a walk but when it gets to the part where the trail starts to look like a gutter with leaves all over it, it's time to turn back. The map they give you is totally useless... even with military map reading i say it's useless so for the average joe or jane it'll mess u up more than help... nothing is marked up in the trails past the pond. the worst part of it is that you have 3 mini bridges that look exactly the same so adds to the confusion... and dont doubt Boston Biggie because he knows his way back we figured that out later on... oh yeah my wife twisted her ankle and i fell on my butt tweaking my shoulder and neck muscles... end up sleep with ICY HOT... so be careful if you take the trails up into the mountains past the pond some end up going into barb wire fences (like in a prison break)... not all the trails are like what they are on the map and some aren't even on the map so be advised. BBQ great place because open flat land... for trail trekking not so great... but will go back again...
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I'd like to give this place a 4.5, but I guess that a 4 will do. It's a great place to take the pooches and have them follow their noses. I did have to call back my 'lil 20 pounder when he wanted to go after a cow that was giving him the ol' stink-eye. There are many trails to go on and you should be able to find something for your energy level. I, of course, chose a route that was above my fitness and ended up quite sore for a couple of days. Coming out here in the Spring and Fall seem like the best idea, but for you hardcore hikers- I'm sure you can handle it. Bring water for you and your pup and some treats for both.
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These two adjacent and jointly managed regional parks are yet another example of how lucky we are that people had the foresight many decades ago to set aside large chunks of land for parks before everything got covered up with houses. Not to sound corny or anything, but let's hear it for the East Bay Regional Park District!
Ok, back to the review....
While Dry Creek Pioneer Park is pretty much an undeveloped park with lots of hiking and little else (no complaint from me on this point, however), Garin at times also takes on the feel of a neighborhood park. Next to the main entrance at the end of Garin Avenue, you'll find lots of parking, a visitor's center, lots of picnic tables and grills, a small pond, a large grassy playfield, and even a kite flying area. For those who really want to get away from everything, this area also provides many trailheads that provide access to the 20 mile trail system that crisscrosses both parks. Most of the park consists of open rolling grassy hills (something to consider if it is particularly hot), while the Dry Creek Trail between Jordan Pond and Meyer's Ranch takes you into a small wooded valley with a meandering stream (that I suspect may in fact be dry in the summer as the name suggests). Hiking along the High Ridge Loop Trail will give you a panoramic view of the central Bay Area, possibly an up close and personal encounter with some grazing cattle, and a view of the underbellies of several Southwest Airlines jets coming in for a landing at the Oakland Airport.
Simply stated, this is a nice park that has a lot to offer. You won't necessarily feel like you're really out in the middle of nowhere if you're here just to go hiking, but you'll still enjoy yourself.
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I love Garin Park! Although I live nearby, and have only visited twice, I really like it - it's like leaving the city and being far away in a lil' mini-forest! It's wierd how it's situated - up a steep hill, then ta-dah! My favorite visit was my first - while walking around, I came across a doe and her lil' Bambi, who pranced across a pathway right in front of me. I get sappy when I see happy animals, and tears came to my eyes...Nothing like a bit of nature right in the middle of the city!
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A very nice park in the Hayward hills that is a good location for people of the Bay Area as it's centrally located and easy to get to. Even in you're coming from the Peninsula you can shoot over the Dumbarton or San Mateo bridges and get to a park trailhead fast. The views from the park are pleasing although there are points where you and suburbia come into too close for comfort contact. Still, there are miles of winding, steep trails working their way through steep stream valleys that hide the outside world from you and leave you with a sense of peace.
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you go up and keep going up and up some more. Flattens up there. Be glad it's downhill from there
This is my spot. I love coming here because its close by my house and the view is great. If you come here on weekdays its free parking but at weekends you have to pay $5 i belive. Once you park you should walk up the gigantic hill. It doesn't look steep. But once you get into the halfway mark it becomes really hard. I did my morning walks and jogs up there and its worth it. Think about it this way. It takes you about 10mins to get up if you walk up normally and don't stop. But once your done you have a reward. The reward is seeing the view of the east bay
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