French Trail

Dogs Off-leash

Features Birding · Views · Wildlife

This trail is very popular with trail runners.

French Trail extends between West Ridge Trail near the northwest end of the park and Orchard Trail near the southeast end. Along the way, it crosses Tres Sendas Trail, Redwood Peak Trail, Star Flower Trail, Madrone Trail, Mill Trail, Fern Trail, and Chown Trail. Trail users will travel along a steep hillside under a redwood canopy on this unique East Bay Trail. The northwest end of this trail, between West Ridge Trail and Madrone Trail, features some significant ascents and descents. Between Madrone Trail and Orchard Trail, this trail "contours", not changing very much in elevation.

Route-finding note: this trail's junctions with Tres Sendas Trail, Star Flower Trail, Fern Trail, and Chown Trail have "offsets" in which the intersecting trails join together for a short distance–so there are really two junctions at each of these locations. Note the junction posts and their trail name and arrow disks to be sure you remain on course.

The central portion of this trail (between Tres Sendas Trail and Chown Trail) is shaded mostly by coast redwoods, with some California bay laurel, oak, and madrone. The understory includes lots of ferns. The northwestern and southeastern ends have few redwoods and bay laurels, and the understory is drier and includes some poison oak. You may see deer, hawks, and turkey vultures, and sometimes an owl.