A speed-controlled, beginner-friendly trail designed for riders of all ages and abilities. Here are the specs, design, timeline, and environmental review status.
A professionally designed trail for all ages and abilities — with features that control speed and let every rider choose their own comfort level.
The trail would be located in the western portion of the park, alongside the existing Mezue service road — where bikes and vehicles already operate today. The park spans 2,789 acres in the hills above Richmond and El Cerrito.
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park — map courtesy of EBRPD
Proposed alignment (green) — EBRPD project description (PDF)
Interactive map — explore the park and surrounding area
Designed by Pointe Strategies, a Colorado-based firm that specializes in sustainable, purpose-built mountain bike trail systems.
Smooth, wave-like undulations that help manage speed naturally while keeping the ride fun and flowy.
Banked turns that let riders carry speed safely through corners — like a velodrome built into the hillside.
Optional jump features with rollable alternatives, so every rider can choose their own adventure regardless of skill level.
Designated rest and passing zones built into the trail so faster riders can pass safely and everyone can catch their breath.
One-way, downhill-only traffic eliminates head-on conflicts and creates a predictable, safe riding experience for everyone.
A dedicated bike-only corridor keeps hikers and equestrians on their own trails. EBRPD is also proposing to close nearby Leonards Trail to bikes — hikers gain, not lose.
A local 5-year-old and her dog riding Wildcat Canyon. Kids (and pups) like these are why this trail matters.
The Park District commissioned a design study by a third party, Pointe Strategies, to identify a proposed alignment within the study corridor and explore features typically seen on bike trails throughout the nation. The study explored the use of prefabricated features made of wood and metal framing commonly used in trail design as an alternative to sculpted dirt features to reduce soil erosion and reduce maintenance burden. The Park District will analyze the environmental impacts of both prefabricated and dirt trail features during the CEQA process.
Conceptual rendering — a narrow trail of switchbacks on existing grazing land, alongside the Mezue service road. Source: Pointe Strategies / EBRPD
From initial proposal to environmental review — here's where things stand.
NorCal NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) chapter first proposed expanding mountain bike use in Wildcat Canyon to serve high school cycling teams.
Site visit with Director Echols, Director Rosario, and Assistant General Manager Kristina Kelchner to evaluate the proposed corridor.
Wildcat Flow Trail included in Park Advisory Committee trails presentation — project enters the public planning process.
First public meeting on the Wildcat Trail project — over 285 community members attended.
Brian Holt (Chief of Trails, Planning, and GIS) and Suzanne Wilson presented the conceptual plan to the Board of Directors, confirming mountain biking is an appropriate use under the existing Land Use Plan.
Pointe Strategies delivered the preliminary trail design, including alignment, feature placement, and environmental considerations.
The EBRPD Board voted to proceed with a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) — a major step forward.
Project presented to the East Richmond Heights Municipal Advisory Council — the local neighborhood advisory body.
Board meeting authorized awarding the EIR contract to Ascent Environmental.
Project presented to the El Sobrante Municipal Advisory Council.
EBRPD issued the Notice of Preparation (NOP) for the EIR, officially kicking off the formal environmental review process and public comment period.
Public scoping meeting held to gather community input on the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Report. Completed
The Draft EIR is targeted for completion, which will include a full public comment period. This is when detailed environmental analysis will be available for review. In Progress
If the EIR is certified and the project receives final Board approval, construction could begin. The trail would be built to the specifications in the approved design.
EBRPD has already proven that dedicated bike trails and environmental stewardship go hand in hand — right here in the East Bay.
In April 2023, EBRPD launched a 20-month pilot project at Briones Regional Park to test dedicated trail management strategies — including bike-only directional trails, separated use by user type, and habitat restoration. The pilot ran through December 2024.
Community volunteers at a Briones Dig Day — kids and families building and maintaining trails together
The Briones Pilot demonstrates that EBRPD can successfully build and manage dedicated bike trails while improving environmental outcomes. The same organization (BTCEB) that helped make Briones a success is behind the Wildcat Flow Trail. The same park district that approved Briones is reviewing Wildcat.
Briones proved that purpose-built bike trails don't just coexist with nature — they replace unsanctioned bootleg trails and actually restore habitat. That's exactly the model for Wildcat Canyon.
Learn more about the Briones Special Management Area on EBRPD's website →
The Wildcat Flow Trail is going through a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) study under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) — the most rigorous environmental review process in California. The project's potential impacts will be thoroughly studied, publicly debated, and addressed before any construction can begin.
The Environmental Impact Report will analyze potential impacts in areas including:
The CEQA process is designed to be transparent and participatory. Key public opportunities include:
This process ensures that the trail, if built, will meet rigorous environmental standards. The project's supporters welcome this thorough review because they're confident the trail can be built responsibly.
For official CEQA documents, visit the EBRPD Wildcat Canyon page.