Review Date
July 12, 2011

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Chris S ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Awesome trail! I ride it at least once a week. Lots of trails to ride there and they usually connect to main ones. Lots of uphill, lots of good downhill, just be courteous to the horse back riders and you will have a good time. Nice to blast through the creeks on the way back too!

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Dan Cook, Lime Ridge trails.

Review Date
May 8, 2010

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: pdugganus ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
Very cool trail, through a lot of little stream. Got pretty wet but it was fun blasting through with little risk of hitting big rocks. Totally going up again. Got about 4mi in and almost 1000ft vertically on the main bike trail - not sure of name but follows the creek.

Review Date
July 2, 2009

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Ridden Once

Reviewed by: dirtyBob ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
pretty solid trail. I've been riding forever and would be considered advanced, but I had fun on it once we started up the shady section around the barbecue trail. horseback riders were all cool. the terrain was varied from hardpack, to giant boulders (cool to ride), to loose gravel. I'm sure the folks who gave this a bad review didn't get far enough up into the hills. The lower part is pretty tame, and if the horsebackers were grouchy I can see it putting a damper on the day. But it's definitely worth a ride. Just make sure you keep heading up the mtn.

Recommended Route:
stone valley to borges ranch

Other recommended trails in the same area:
the alhambra/pleasant hill side of briones.

Review Date
July 17, 2002

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Karl , from Walnut Creek

Summary:
Pine Canyon is a beautiful trail that follows a stream. It's shady which can be a nice respite from the sunny hills surrounding. A number of stables abutt the park so you will, indeed, be treated to some equestrian company. There also tends to be a lot of hikers, especially on weekends, because it's such an easy trail with little elevation change. (Until BBQ Terrace and others!!) The horses grind trails to a fine dust in areas so hose down the chain and derailleur when you're home again.

Recommended Route:
I usually use the Pine Canyon trail as an outlet back to Walnut Creek when riding through the Shell Ridge/Mt Diablo Foothills trails. However, given the gentle incline it's a nice way to warm up if you start here on the way up to BBQ terrace and other connecting trails that have steeper inclines.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
While the Pine Canyon trail in Castle Rock is beautiful, I prefer using the Shell Ridge/Briones-to-Diablo trailhead to access this area because it's closer to downtown W.C., has no horses, and is endowed with some nice hill climbs in comparison.

Review Date
July 5, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Reviewed by: CHRIS , from walnut creek, california

Summary:
I dont know what Chunk was talking about but I find the trail as he said peacful but there is uphill and its not easy. If you want harder uphill, shift up. The downhill is interesting, its very short and leads to more hills but you can get a lot of speed on it.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
(towards the beginning of the downhill, there is a somewhat legal trail which no one is every one that has roots and drops that is VERY technical. I suggest advanced riders ride this trail. I just power over it with my Jamis Dakar Comp. I GAVE IT A 5 BECAUSE OF THE OFF TRAIL