California Riding and Hiking Trail: John Muir Home-Contra Costa Canal

This cobbled-together trail extends between John Muir's home and the Contra Costa Canal Trail. It includes a tunnel under a freeway at its west end to give some idea of the hope and effort with which it was created. It largely follows a pipeline right of way though, meaning it cuts across the landscape through residential subdivisions with no grace, climbing and dropping with abandon.

Most of the slopes are reinforced with segments of wooden power poles, almost completely buried in some places and huge steps in others. Because of how it cuts across the landscape, the power pole segments, and how little the middle sections are traveled, this is a surprisingly brutal trail.