HomeCaliforniaOakland › Moon Gate

Moon Gate

4.8 ★★★★★ 168 Google reviews · Running trail in Oakland, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
40 mi
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Moon Gate's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

40 miScenicDog-friendlyStroller / ADAFlat & fastHillyWaterTrailhead parking

Redwood forest, popular for hiking, biking and off-leash dog walks.

What runners say about Moon Gate

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (168 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 9 mentions

“Great view with many trails, varies from easy to very hard with steep hills, narrow & slippery pathway.”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 4 mentions

“Great for cooling off on a hot day due to the canopy and very dog-friendly trails that are too narrow to allow mountain bikes or switchback.”

Parking for about 10 cars. If you take the path to the right you'll get to the Chabot Space and Science Center.

★★★★★ — Julian , Nov 2021

Another entrance to the Reinhardt Redwood Regional space! Tons of hiking and biking trails. The wider trails around the edge are off leash for your dog, and the inner ones are steeper and tighter and are on leash only. Can be a bit busy on weekend, but nice trail system with good shade

★★★★★ — Paul-Elie , Jun 2023

My favorite entrance to Redwood Regional Park. Love the Tres Sendas / French Trail loop that dips down into the trees and has some rigorous ups and downs. Great for cooling off on a hot day due to the canopy and very dog-friendly trails that are too narrow to allow mountain bikes or switchback.

★★★★★ — Julian , Nov 2017

Pretty much one of the best places of the trail. Almost always parking. Close to the backside of Chabot space Center, dogs off lease, and solid biking all over! Do your part and leave it better than you found it. Enjoy!!

★★★★★ — David , May 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 168 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🐕 Dog-friendly 19 mentions

“Lots of elevation gain, winding across tiny streams, with bridges, lady beetles, lots of dogs, and trail junctions to customize the length of your hike.”

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🏞️ Scenic views 12 mentions

“Great view with many trails, varies from easy to very hard with steep hills, narrow & slippery pathway.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 6 mentions

“Lots of elevation gain, winding across tiny streams, with bridges, lady beetles, lots of dogs, and trail junctions to customize the length of your hike.”

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Flat & fast 2 mentions

“You can stick to the flat main path if you have a bike or a stroller and if you’d like something more vigorous there are plenty of regular hiking paths!”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 2 mentions

“Parking for about 10 cars.”

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Stroller / ADA accessible

“You can stick to the flat main path if you have a bike or a stroller and if you’d like something more vigorous there are plenty of regular hiking paths!”

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🚰 Water fountains

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+)

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Plan your run at Moon Gate

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • Distance40 mi as reported — check whether that is one way or a round trip before you commit. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Stroller / wheelchairReported as smooth and step-free enough for a running stroller or a chair.
  • Websiteebparks.org
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 5 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 5 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 5 AM–10 PM
Thursday 5 AM–10 PM
Friday 5 AM–10 PM
Saturday 5 AM–10 PM
Sunday 5 AM–10 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Moon Gate

Connector Trail, Oakland, CA 94611

Get directions

Running trails near Oakland

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Roberts Regional Recreation Area

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An 82-acre park in a stand of second-growth redwoods, popular for picnics & recreational sports.

under a mile away

All running trails in Oakland, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.