M.O.R.E.: Hart Park Trail

Monday, November 10, 2008

Hart Park Trail

Yesterday we took the train to Union Station to check out Olvera Street. Very interesting. Anyhow, as we were approaching the tunnel, I noticed that there was a great, fairly flat trail just past the historical buildings in Hart Park. It seems to go on forever. Does anyone else know about this trail? There's a lot of oak trees and the path looks like it's dirt. I wonder if we are allowed to run back there. The only concern I have is that it looks like mountain lion territory, but then so is Mentryville. It's very lush and wooded and there was even a campground along the trail. I can't believe I've never seen it before, but then again I wasn't looking for running trails the last time I took the train, which was about 10 years ago!

3 comments:

Patty said...: It sounds like it could be a good run, we will have to ask around. Is it on the SCR website where they show different routes? We definately need to find new territory as it seems we are stuck in a rut. I am looking forward to tomorrow, 7:30 @ Pavilions. See you there!; November 10, 2008 at 3:09 PM
marathon mom said...: I spoke to a park attendant and she said the trail is open to the public. The park doesn't officially open until 8 a.m., but she said the park employees arrive at 6 a.m. and open all of the gates. She also said the trail winds to the back of the park and up to the mansion. She wasn't sure how long the trail was. She also cautioned against going very early or later in the evening due to coyotes and mountain lions. She thought we should bring a stick, hmmm.... I'm not sure if I can run with a stick, but I have pepper spray. She said it would probably be okay around 7 a.m. or so. The trail does wind up the hill to the mansion, which is only about a 200 feet elevation gain. I think we can handle that. Maybe we can do it on a weekend run?; November 10, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Patty said...: Sounds good, something different, let's plan on it next chance we get.; November 10, 2008 at 5:36 PM

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Favorite Trails

South Fork 3.1: Start from dirt parking lot on Magic Mtn Pkway and run to the loop at Wiley Bridge and return the same way.

Tesoro 3.25: Start in Albertson parking lot and take sidewalk/trail until it ends and then enter the water tower road to the top two towers where the ends. Return the same way.

Chesebrough 3.25/4.60: From Chesebrough Park, N. to Copperhill, So. on Bike Trail, turn around at Decoro, back up trail to power lines to bridge at park. Turn around at Heritage will give you 4.6 miles.

Chesebrough 3.5: Chesebrough Park down to McBean, south to Northpark Dr., the paseo trailhead. Take the paseo to Helmers and back. Very hilly.

Bridgeport 4.0: Fairly flat, run toward Lowes and under Bouquet bridge to RiverPark community until you reach the closed gates and return. For a hilly run, go north into Helmers and run up the paseo switchbacks into Northpark where the paseo ends and return the same way.

Chesebrough 4.0: N. to Copperhill to west side of river trail, run S. on Bike Trail past Decoro bridge, across Decoro to the east side of river trail, up back to power lines trail, back to park.

Chesebrough 4.0: From park down power line trail to Heritage Park and back same way.

Bridgeport 4.0: From School, cross McBean via bridge or street and head into industrial center on Ave. Scott Bridge and enter bike trail going south toward the train bridge. Turn around at train bridge and return same way or cross the bridge and head toward Peet's after crossing train bridge and back onto the Lowes Trail.

Heritage 4.0: From park, run up bike trail to Decoro, over McBean Bridge into Helmers, and into Bridgeport through lake trail back to park. Can be done in reverse. Moderately hilly.

Chesebrough 4.25: Chesebrough north to Copperhill, left to Albertson side of bike trail. Run south on trail to Decoro and cross over bridge and head north all the way to Copperhill on east side of river trail and back to the park the same way as started.

Cheese/Decoro/Helmers 4.25: From the park, down dirt trail to bike path, south to Decoro. Leave bike path at Decoro and cross paseo bridge at McBean. Stay on paseo up hill towards Helmers. Run up water tower trail once then continue on to switchbacks and paseos back to park.

Heritage/Bridgeport 3.3: Heritage Park south to McBean Bridge @ Panera. Cross and head toward Lowes bike trail and head east toward Bridgeport Park. Halfway mark is at park bathroom, head back by entering trail along the lake and back onto the bridge.

Lowes 4.25: Lowe's parking lot to McBean, cross the bridge and to South Fork. At Valencia Bridge, enter trail behind Hart Baseball diamonds. Continue on trail to Bouquet and across the bridge on the east side and back under the bridge again towards Lowes.

Peet's & Decoro 5.2: Peet's Coffee to train bridge path; to Decoro and across bridge; back down McBean side of bike trail back to Peete's.

Peet's & Wiley 6.0: Start at Peet's Coffee and head east toward South Fork trail and past the Wiley Bridge. Keep running another 200 yards to where the trail forks left and right. Turn back same way.

Peet's & Copperhill 6.0: From Peet's to bike trail heading north to Copperhill and back.

Albertson 7.0: From the Albertson parking lot on Copperhill, enter the westside bike trail and head south until the train bridge. Return the same way.

Peet's 8.5: Run to Copperhill on east side of river trail and return via train bridge on other side.

Lowes 10: Start in the Lowes parking lot. Enter the bike trail heading west. At McBean, cross the bridge and head east toward SouthFork trail. Continue on trail until you come to the Wiley bridge and head back the same way.

McBean 14: This route can be done from anywhere along the trail route. Starting from McDonald's across the post office, run to the end of the South Fork trail and return the same way, cross the McBean bridge and run on the Lowes trail until you hit Bridgeport Elementary and then cross Newhall Ranch via the bridge or street and run back towards McBean. Continue north on McBean until you hit Copperhill. At Copperhill, cross McBean and enter San Francisquito bike trail and run south on the trail until you are back at McDonalds.