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Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,266 Google reviews · Running trail in Richmond, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- 25 mi
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Wildcat Canyon Regional Park'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.
Spacious park offering miles of multi-use trails plus a children's playground & picnicking areas.
What runners say about Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
“This place is huge, lots of trails to enjoy, beautiful views of Richmond, and lots of picnic areas to enjoy food and friends.”
“Be careful and bring lots of water, sunblock and hats because there are no shaded spots due to absence of trees.”
“Very tranquil, quiet, with an occasional cry of a bird of prey overhead looking for a meal.”
I use to drive to Mission Peak every weekend based on the intensity and thrill of that hike. All until I discovered Wildcat with an equal intensity plus thrill fulfilled here. I enjoy how you can customize your outdoor gym on this trail. There are many entrances and routes to take.
Plenty of parking at Alvarado park. Hiked the wildcat creek trail, Havey creek trail, San Pablo ridge trail, Belgium trail (7.2 miles). Started off at Alvarado park and went counter clockwise.
This place is such a gem! There are so many different areas to explore and it’s a great spot to go running. Parking can get really busy on the weekends so I would suggest parking on the street near the neighborhoods and walking into the park.
I never knew about this place. Found it through San Pablo Health Centers Walk with a Doc program. This place is huge, lots of trails to enjoy, beautiful views of Richmond, and lots of picnic areas to enjoy food and friends. Here you will find a wide variety of trails; it even connects to Tilden Park in Berkeley.
Trail conditions & character
“This place is huge, lots of trails to enjoy, beautiful views of Richmond, and lots of picnic areas to enjoy food and friends.”
“I have a reactive dog but the trails are spread out enough to where i get enough space.”
“The trails can be steep, so be mindful that not everyone will be able to make the trek, but there are easier trails near the picnic areas.”
“Parking can get really busy on the weekends so I would suggest parking on the street near the neighborhoods and walking into the park.”
“Be careful and bring lots of water, sunblock and hats because there are no shaded spots due to absence of trees.”
“Very tranquil, quiet, with an occasional cry of a bird of prey overhead looking for a meal.”
“Just hiked 9 miles full loop of the park last Sunday with my husband.”
“And the trail to Tilden Park is pretty flat, so that's also a possibility for those who don't like hills.”
“Hiked the wildcat creek trail, Havey creek trail, San Pablo ridge trail, Belgium trail (7.2 miles).”
“The paved portion of the trail is so spacious and wide as well as the hiking paths.”
“There's accessible pit toilets, picnic grounds and easy parking lot to trail access.”
Plan your run at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- Loop distance25 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, 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
- Phone(888) 327-2757
- 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 |
Running trails near Richmond
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Alvarado Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 687 reviews
Part of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, this area has a playground, picnic sites & historic stonework.
Wildcat Canyon Upper Entrance
4.7 ★★★★★ 96 reviews
Neighborhood park featuring kid-friendly hikes and scenic views of San Francisco.
Tassajara Park
4.6 ★★★★★ 242 reviews
Kids' park featuring play structures, a sand pit and basketball courts plus tennis courts.
