I think everyone will agree that it's time for rain. But with rain comes that search for trails that are still open to use and if they are open, aren't knee deep in mud. One of those all-weather trails is located right here in the Bay Area and although it may not offer scenic vistas, it does offer a variety of birds and the only trail that allows you to ride your horse UNDER Interstate 880 and other major highways and byways!

The Alameda Creek Trail (depending on how you look at it) begins just a few feet east of Mission Blvd. in the Niles section of Fremont. It stretches through Fremont, Union City, Newark and out into the San Francisco Bay. Its major duty is to act as a holding pond for water in summer, flood control in winter, birds swimming pool year around with secondary uses on the banks as trails'. Future planning on paper is for the trail to continue on east along the Alameda Creek and into Sunol Regional Park with side trails onto the Ridge Trail and into Hayward.

The south side of the Alameda Creek Trail is paved from Niles to its end at Coyote Hills Regional Park and originally was designed for hikers and bikers. The north side of the Trail was originally designed for horse use with hikers often using it also. But about 15 years ago the horse portion that goes through Union City suddenly was paved and so for that section of about two miles, horses are on blacktop. This north section of trail ends at the Alameda Creek Stables Staging Area (and there is no way to get into Coyote Hills Regional Park which is closed to horses anyway).

One can stage from one of two areas with a horse trailer -- Isherwood Staging Area off Isherwood in Fremont C which is a small and cramped area. (Just be able to back your trailer around to get in and out!) From this staging area one can ride east for about 4 miles under the BART train tracks and by the edge of the Quarry Lakes Park. Personally, it's not that interesting!! But it does provide an 8 miles round trip and even without 40 days of rain, I've ridden it a few dozen times just to have a trail' to haul to and ride on during the rain.

Going west from Isherwood one rides about 500 feet and comes to the pavement (actually blacktop) and then to the jog' which leaves the creek trail and follows one of the flood control channel banks up to Alvarado-Niles Road. This spot is hairy!! For one, get off and lead. The sidewalk over the bridge acts as the trail'. And the sidewalk isn't very wide plus you've got two-lanes of traffic comes right at you and only a few inches wide of railing separating you and horse from 18-wheelers. Again, from my point of view, I ride Isherwood back east and forget the trail from there to Alvarado-Niles Road!!! (But if you want to ride the complete 12 miles of trail, do it in the summer. During the dry summer months the channel bed dries up and one can cut across' the channel base from one north side of the trail to the other without having to go across the bridge on Alvarado-Niles Road.)

The best place to stage and ride from is at the Alameda Creek Stables Staging Area just off Union City Blvd. The staging area is WIDE with an easy, huge circle parking lot, handicap outhouse (reasonably clean) and from this point, you can back EAST towards Isherwood. And regardless of the rain, it's always dry with no mud! Or ride west.

Once you've unloaded and saddled up, cross the parking lot and go up to the top of the trail. You will see Coyote Hills Regional Park across the Alameda Creek and I'd suggest going east saving the best part of trail west for when you come back. Besides you'll have to stop at trailer for another coat, sweater, pair of gloves, etc. to stay warm when riding the last 4 miles of trail.

When riding east the first obstacle' you'll see will be Union City Blvd. The trail will seem to disappear but when you get closer to the highway, the trail will dip and go UNDERNEATH the road. The trail is a good 6-8 feet wide but under the highway bridge the road traffic over head is magnified and for some horses it can get pretty scary which is why this trail is also an excellent place to school' horses to noises and traffic.

Continuing along the trail you'll see all kinds of ducks, birds and other water fowl wading, floating and nesting in the reefs along the shoreline. Just keep an eye open for herds' of ducks over 4, they can suddenly decide to take flight and when they do, they often skimp the creek water, circle and come right back at you before they gain altitude to clear you and your horse's head. Some fly under the road bridges. Others live dangerous and fly over the road bridges.

But the one bridge that will often stop trail riders is the where the trail goes under the Interstate 880 bridge!! To go under 880 one has 18-wheelers rumbling over head and since 880 is 8 lanes wide C one travels a pretty good distance under the bridge. It's especially eerie when an ambulance with siren blasting goes overhead. It's rumble, grumble but don't worry about the bridge falling down. That cement dust often sifts down onto riders!

Once you've ridden the trail east and have returned to the Alameda Creek Staging Area, pick up an extra coat and sweater and head for the best ride on the whole trail! West. Out into the San Francisco Bay!!

The Alameda Creek Trail is an all-weather trail for horse owners. It stays mud free east of Alameda Creek Staging Area but out in the Bay area it can get muddy. But not bad enough to stop a ride. Plus on weekends, the dog walkers, runners, bikers and bird watchers flock to the horse trail side to move farther out and into the Bay. So the best days to ride are Monday through Thursday morning and be out by 3 or 4 pm to beat the traffic home!!