For the first mile and half, Wildcat Canyon Parkway is an old paved
road, now closed to cars, wide and mostly well graded, but with one
steep rough climb near the start. Being quite wide and cut into the
hillside, this first mile is not very interesting hiking. If you continue south for another couple of miles you will reach Tilden Park's Nature Area. But if you are up for rough going, at this point you can turn left on Mezue Trail, which climbs the hillside to join San Pablo Ridge Trail. We did not go all the way to the top, but it seems likely that it is possible to do so in dry weather. Rough, steep going made this a challenge. Views and wildflowers were spectacular.
Details: The trailhead parking area is about two blocks down the hill from McBryde and Park streets, and has two van-accessible disabled spaces and one accessible vault toilet. See suggestion above for one alternative. Another, if you want to tackle Rifle Range Trail, is AC Transit #7 on Arlington Ave, which comes within a few (steep) blocks of its west end at Vista Heights Rd. Last visit Fall 2002 |
To
avoid part of it, and the steepest stretch, drivers can continue on
McBryde Avenue until it ends abutting the trail about a half mile south.
Parking may be somewhat difficult there, but by starting your hike at
that point you have only about a half mile of unappealing paved road
to travel before reaching the much pleasanter Wildcat Creek Trail, narrower
and winding, but hard gravel that should be usable year-round. The ups
and downs may be tiring for those using manual chairs, but not too steep
to manage safely. At first the trail goes along the side of the hill,
passing through mixed woods and areas of brush and grass. After about
a mile and a half it gets close to Wildcat Canyon Creek.
Or,
if you turn right (west) from Wildcat Creek Trail, crossing a footbridge,
Rifle Range Road (not a road now, but a fairly muddy trail during
rainy season) climbs about a half mile up the steep hill, to Vista Heights
Road above the Arlington in El Cerrito. In dry weather, this trail is
quite doable with sufficient assistance, but an adventure because of
bad traction and rocky stretches.