Berkeley Upper Fire Trail: Flat Section

Berkeley
Trip Type: Day Hike / Trail Run
Elevation: 1200 - 1200 ft
Distance: 1.7 miles one way
Surface: Dirt
Vegetation: Open Woods

This is really part of the routes to Tilden post, but I'm posting it separately for emphasis.  For all the fire trails around the bay, it can actually be quite hard to find a pleasant, flat route on a soft surface.  This upper section of the Strawberry Canyon fire trail (seems to be called the Jordan Trail on some maps) is completely flat, very wide and even.  A quick look about this blog should make it clear that in general, I'm happy to climb a big ole hill (and so is Presto), but sometimes if you or a running/hiking partner are coming back from injury, you really want something pleasant and gentle that's more exciting than taking a few laps around a softball field.   Thankfully Presto is still young and sprightly, but this trail might also be nice for an older dog that's no longer up for climbing any mountains but could use an outing that's more substantial than a trip to the neighborhood park.

Getting There:

Take the Berkeley Campus Shuttle H-line to the end, or drive up Centennial Drive up past the Berkeley Hall of Science, then take a right on Gauss Way.  You'll pass a large building on your left and around the back of that building is a small parking lot, open to the public on evenings and weekends.  If you want to go during a weekday, just part on Grizzly Peak Road east of the intersection with Centennial Drive.

The Route:

Walk down a hundred yards of so of trail as it descends past a radio telescope on the right.  You'll quickly hit the flat section.  From here it's 1.7 miles of completely flat trail about half shaded in woods, and about half open with nice views to the west.  You know you're done when you hit the park bench and the trail starts to descend.


Caltopo Map:http://caltopo.com/m/9VPN