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Garin and Dry Creek
Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park can be reached from Tamarack Rd off of Mission Blvd. It is the southernmost park on this site. Parking is on a neighborhood street. There are three trails to choose from at the gate.
Go straight for the Flattest route, the trail is called Meyers Ranch, when you pass the ranch site look for a trail that leads off to the left. The trail is called Dry Creek. It moves through shade trees to Jordan Pond in Garin Regional Park. Return on the same trail. Length is 2.5 miles. You may turn this into a very tough outing if you stay on Meyers Ranch Trail for the climb to Pioneer Trail or the higher Ridge Loop Trail. Go to the right when you get to them and they will loop back to Tamarack Gate.
Go right for a medium hill route, stay to the right at each fork to stay on Tolman Peak Trail. Bikes are not allowed on the last section of trail that goes behind Tolman Peak. There is a sign showing bikers where to stop. If your hiking or running continue on around, it climbs steadily and drops you back down onto the trail you came in on. It is a loop trail around the peak.
Go left for a moderately hilly trail called High Ridge Loop Trail. You can connect up with Dry Creek Trail next to Jordan Pond for a return trip or run back on High Ridge Loop Trail...go over each peak to increase difficulty on the well used trail that goes over each hill.
Garin Regional Park is situated between the Zielle Creek trails and Dry Creek Trails. Dozens of combinations can be made to create interesting an extremely challenging trails. Mot of the trails are biker friendly only a few are closed to ATB use. Park entrance (fee charged usually on weekends and some weekdays) is up Garin Rd. off of Mission Blvd. Park in lower lots to access south area and upper lots (further around entrance round-about) to get to the trails that lead to the Zielle Creek and newt pond areas.
Ridge Loop Trail including Gossip Rock is a strenuous run. Start up the trail that goes up hill east of the Garin Barn Visitor Center. It will climb for quite awhile, level out to swing south and down to Pioneer Trail and till down further to Tolman Peak Trail. Go right Tolman Peak Trail and head to High Ridge Loop Trail to get back to the parking lot in Garin. You will run by the Tamarack Gate entrance. Five to six miles of trail with almost 1,000 feet of elevation.
On hot days run through Dry Creek Trail to the back of Tolman Peak on Tolman Peak Trail. Come back the way you started. Turn around before the climb up behind Tolman peak to have a flat workout. This will give the most shade possible.
Go northeast on the paved park road passed the rangers house and you will get to the Newt Pond Trail. Go left up hill to High Ridge Trail. Go left on High Ridge, right on Vista Peak to Zielle Creek Trail and right on Peak Loop Trail to return to the Newt Pond Area. Please consult the MAP.
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