eight routes.
zero bad ones.
(one with cows.)
the only Dublin CA running guide written by people who've actually run here. real parking info, honest elevation, and exactly where to eat after. yes, we have opinions about all of it.
Dublin, CA is a runner's city — if you know where to look.
most people driving through Dublin see the 580 interchange and a lot of new construction. runners see the Iron Horse Trail threading north through a corridor of oaks at 6AM. they see the ridge above Pleasanton at golden hour. they see Emerald Glen at first light, flat and wide and entirely theirs.
Dublin sits in the Tri-Valley, where the hills meet the suburbs and the weather is almost always better than San Francisco. we've logged the actual parking, the real distances, and — just as importantly — where to eat or drink after. nothing here is guesswork.
Iron Horse Trail
the Iron Horse Regional Trail is built on a Southern Pacific Railroad right-of-way abandoned in 1977 and runs 32 miles from Concord through Walnut Creek, Danville, San Ramon, and into Dublin. for Dublin runners, the useful stretch runs north toward Danville — flat, paved, car-free, and genuinely scenic. the stretch through downtown Danville at mile 8–9 has a water fountain, benches, and a Saturday farmer's market.
the flexibility is the whole point. 6 miles is a solid easy day. run to the Crow Canyon Road turnaround and you're at 12–14 miles with zero navigation required. training for a half or full marathon? this is your long run route.
- cyclists have right of way — stay right, pass left, listen for the bell. most are fast and friendly. some are just fast.
- the Danville section near the restored 1891 Southern Pacific Depot is one of the most scenic stretches — worth extending to reach it.
- dogs welcome on leash throughout. wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly the entire way.
Emerald Glen Park
Emerald Glen is Dublin's 48.2-acre flagship park at Tassajara Road and Central Parkway. the inner loop is 1.2 miles — do it once as a warm-up, three times for a 5K, or as many times as it takes to clear your head. open 24/7, lit for early mornings, multiple water fountains and restrooms. Peet's Coffee is literally across the street. this was clearly planned.
this is the route for every pace, every day, every reason. beginners love it. speedwork people love it. recovery runners love it. not exciting, but exciting is overrated when you just need to get miles in.
- sports fields close Dec 16–end of February for maintenance. running paths are unaffected.
- summer mornings get warm fast — aim for before 7AM in July and August. most exposed route in the guide.
- the Shamrock 5K uses the Alamo Canal Trail nearby. use Emerald Glen for training loops, then run the actual course once as a preview.
Pleasanton Ridge Trail
Pleasanton Ridge is where Dublin-area runners go when they want to be humbled. the trail climbs 1,450 feet in just over 4 miles through open grassland, dense oak woodland, and exposed ridgeline. on a clear day you can see from Mount Diablo to the South Bay. you will feel extremely good about yourself at the top and then remember you have to get back down.
this is a proper trail run — trail shoes required, carry at least 20oz of water, go in the morning before the heat builds. run it October through May when the hills are green. in summer this place becomes a furnace by 9AM.
- take the Ridgeline Trail up, return via the Olive Grove / Bay Leaf fire road. single-track up is more rewarding, fire road down saves your quads.
- wildlife is real here. rattlesnakes on warm days. wild turkeys everywhere (completely harmless, extremely unbothered). golden eagles if you're lucky.
- run this every other week Oct–Nov and your spring Shamrock 5K will feel like a warm-up. it builds hill strength that flat running cannot.
Dublin Hills Regional Park
Dublin Hills Regional Park is at the northern edge of the city and most Dublin residents drive past without knowing it's there. real trail running inside the city limits — rolling climbs, open ridge views, and a quiet that feels nothing like the suburbs below. 654 acres. the trail network connects to the broader East Bay Regional Park system.
a standard 4–7 mile loop gives you enough climbing to feel the effort without committing to a full mountain day. this is Dublin's best-kept trail running secret — on a weekday afternoon you may have the entire trail to yourself.
- Dublin Hills is best saved for late afternoon — the light on the ridge before sunset is beautiful, and the midday heat has passed by 3–4PM.
- that start time sets you up for the obvious finish: Three Sheets Craft Beer Bar, 10 minutes down the hill on Village Pkwy.
- download the route before you go — less well-signed than Pleasanton Ridge. don't rely on cell signal up top.
Fallon Sports Park Loop
Fallon Sports Park in eastern Dublin is newer, quieter, and less crowded than Emerald Glen. ideal for runs where you want a flat paved circuit without navigating around other people. excellent facilities — restrooms, water fountains — and the surrounding streets are light on traffic and easy to incorporate for longer runs.
this is the best beginner running location in Dublin. flat, safe, well-lit, calm. also excellent for structured speed work — the flat loop gives accurate splits and a clear sense of improvement over time.
Jordan Ranch.
east Dublin's
hidden gem.
Jordan Ranch is a newer neighborhood in east Dublin along Fallon Road with surprisingly good running — a network of streets, paths, and open space trails that climb the hills above the neighborhood and reward you with some of the most open views in Dublin. seasonal wildflowers in late winter and spring. very light traffic. almost no one from outside the neighborhood knows it's here.
pair it with Fallon Sports Park for a 6–8 mile east Dublin day — Fallon for your flat warm-up miles, then push into the Jordan Ranch hills for the climbing. the sunflowers in August along the trail edges are genuinely ridiculous. plan accordingly.
- parking at Fallon Sports Park — walk or jog the short connector to the Jordan Ranch neighborhood, then pick up the hill trails from there.
- the views from the ridge above Jordan Ranch look east toward the Livermore Valley and west back over Dublin. best on a clear morning before the Valley haze builds.
- wildflowers peak late February through April depending on rainfall. the sunflowers along the trail edges in late summer are worth the August heat to see them.
Dougherty Hills Open Space
the Dougherty Hills Open Space straddles the Dublin/San Ramon border — trailhead north of Amador Valley Blvd and east of Stagecoach Road. panoramic views of Mount Diablo and a quiet that feels like actual wilderness within 10 minutes of downtown Dublin. 107.5 acres of open space that most people just drive past.
the best route runs a loop from the Dougherty Road trailhead. ambitious runners can link down to the Iron Horse Trail for a mixed trail-and-paved day of 12+ miles. dogs are very welcome here — it's why most people come. runners have essentially discovered the dog walkers' secret.
- trail floods after heavy rain in winter. check conditions Nov–Feb after any storm. the dirt becomes genuinely impassable. don't learn this the hard way.
- clockwise = harder climb early, gentler descent. counterclockwise = easier on your lungs, harder on your ankles. pick your poison.
- connecting to the Iron Horse at the bottom makes for a classic hybrid day — trail effort up top, flat recovery miles back.
Heritage Park to the Top of Dublin
this is the route that only locals know. park at Dublin Heritage Park — the 10-acre historic park on Dublin Boulevard with the 1856 Murray Schoolhouse and pioneer cemetery — and run west along Dublin Boulevard. when you reach Schaefer Ranch Park at 9595 Dublin Blvd, pick up the Calaveras Ridge Trail, which heads straight up into Dublin Hills Regional Park through active grazing land.
yes, there are actual cows up here. they are completely unbothered by your pace goals. the trail climbs past them to the ridgeline with views on a clear evening that include the San Francisco skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. the descent back down Dublin Boulevard is the whole training point — long, sustained downhill on pavement. excellent for quad strength and the race-specific form that makes you faster on flat courses.
- start 90–100 minutes before sunset so you hit the ridge at golden hour. the view of the Tri-Valley from the top of Dublin in fading light is not something you'll forget.
- bring a headlamp for the descent — road has sidewalks but light is limited on the western stretch of Dublin Blvd.
- the cows are used to trail users. move calmly, give them space, and they will completely ignore you. do not approach them. this seems obvious. we're saying it anyway.
- rattlesnakes are active on the trail in warm weather. watch the edges of the path, especially late afternoon when they're out sunning.
- the downhill return on Dublin Blvd is the real training load — run it at threshold effort, not a sprint. your quads are already cooked.
Hansen Hill Trail + Stagecoach Loop
the Hansen Hill Trail is Dublin's best-kept running secret — a locally-known trail that doesn't show up on most maps but that regular Dublin trail runners quietly return to again and again. it connects to the Schaefer Ranch trail network, meaning you can link it to Route 07 for a seriously long day, or run it on its own as a satisfying loop most people driving past the trailhead have absolutely no idea exists.
the magic is the Stagecoach Road loop combination. the trailhead sits north of Amador Valley Boulevard and east of Stagecoach Road — a loop combining the Hansen Hill trail with the Stagecoach Road corridor gives you rolling terrain, ridge views, and a course that feels significantly more remote than its suburban location suggests. Mount Diablo dominates the view to the north on clear days.
- exposed trail — little shade on ridge sections. best in the morning or after the heat breaks in late afternoon.
- the Stagecoach Road section has sweeping views of Mount Diablo and the San Ramon Valley. this is the view most Dublin runners never find.
- run it with someone who knows it the first time. seriously.
Running in Dublin CA — your questions, answered.
everything we get asked about running in Dublin CA. click any question for the full answer.
The best places to run in Dublin CA are the Iron Horse Regional Trail (flat, paved, 6–16+ miles from Dublin/Pleasanton BART heading north toward Danville), Emerald Glen Park (flat 1.2-mile loop at 4201 Central Pkwy, open 24/7), Dublin Hills Regional Park (trail running at the city's northern edge with 620 feet of gain), Fallon Sports Park (east Dublin, best for beginners and speedwork), and Dougherty Hills Open Space (dirt trails on the Dublin/San Ramon border with Mount Diablo views). For more challenging trail running, Pleasanton Ridge is 15 minutes away in Pleasanton.
The Iron Horse Regional Trail is the best overall running route in Dublin CA — flat, paved, car-free, and connecting Dublin to Danville over 32 miles from the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station. For trail running, Dublin Hills Regional Park offers the best combination of accessibility and views within city limits. For the most rewarding challenge, Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park offers 1,450 feet of gain with panoramic Tri-Valley views from Mount Diablo to the South Bay.
The Iron Horse Regional Trail is 32 miles total, running from Pleasanton to Concord. Approximately 2.48 miles passes through Dublin proper, but Dublin runners typically access the trail at the Dublin/Pleasanton BART Station and run north toward Danville and San Ramon. A standard 6-mile out-and-back from BART is an easy day; running all the way to the Crow Canyon Road turnaround in San Ramon gives you 12–14 miles with almost no navigation required.
The City of Dublin Shamrock 5K starts on Dublin Boulevard across from Dublin Civic Center at 8:30AM. The course winds west through residential neighborhoods, then turns onto the Alamo Canal Trail and finishes behind the Dublin Public Library. The race is held each March as part of Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Festival and draws 2,000+ participants across competitive, untimed, Para, and Adaptive divisions. Rain or shine. See our full Shamrock 5K guide →
The best running routes for beginners in Dublin CA are Emerald Glen Park (flat 1.2-mile paved loop at 4201 Central Pkwy — three laps equals a 5K, open 24/7, water fountains throughout) and Fallon Sports Park in east Dublin (flat paved circuit, very light crowds, excellent facilities). Both are entirely flat, well-lit, have parking and restrooms, and are appropriate for any fitness level. The Iron Horse Trail from BART is also great for beginners wanting a longer straight, flat route.
Yes — several Dublin CA running routes welcome dogs on leash. The Iron Horse Regional Trail allows leashed dogs the full 32 miles. Dougherty Hills Open Space is especially popular with dog owners (it's known locally as the "dog park hills"). Emerald Glen Park, Dublin Hills Regional Park, and Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park all allow leashed dogs on their trails. Three Sheets Craft Beer Bar — the post-run spot for Dublin Hills — is also dog-friendly.
Yes — the Tri-Valley has excellent trail running near Dublin CA. Within Dublin city limits: Dublin Hills Regional Park (654 acres, 4–7 mile loops), Dougherty Hills Open Space (107.5 acres, 5–9 miles), and the Schaefer Ranch/Calaveras Ridge trail network (access via Heritage Park on Dublin Blvd, cows included). 15 minutes from Dublin: Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park (1,450 feet of gain, 8–12 miles) is the most technically challenging trail run in the area. All require trail shoes.
We Run Dublin is Dublin CA's running community and lifestyle guide, covering routes, races, and group runs in the Tri-Valley. The site is published in partnership with Running Fit Lab and Coach Francisco, who offers personalized training plans for Dublin-area runners at every level. Sign up for the We Run Dublin newsletter for upcoming group run dates and route picks delivered weekly.
Dublin CA has excellent year-round running weather. October through May is ideal for trail running — hills are green, morning temperatures are 50–65°F, and Tri-Valley views are clearest. Summer (June–September) is best for early morning runs on flat routes like the Iron Horse Trail or Emerald Glen before 8AM, as valley temperatures regularly reach 90–100°F by midday. March is the best racing month — the Shamrock 5K and Pleasanton Run for Education both typically offer ideal conditions.
where to buy your shoes. (go here.)
there's no specialty running store in Dublin itself — the nearest genuinely good one is Forward Motion Sports in downtown Danville. family-owned for 32+ years. proper gait analysis, full range of road and trail shoes, staff who actually run. for any trail route in this guide, it's worth the drive. do not buy trail shoes for Pleasanton Ridge from a mall chain. we're being serious.
local races worth your calendar.
the Tri-Valley running calendar is legitimately strong. here's what matters.
Dublin's signature race, held each March as part of the St. Patrick's Day Festival. 8:30AM start on Dublin Blvd across from Dublin Civic Center. course winds through residential neighborhoods, finishes on the Alamo Canal Trail behind the Dublin Library. 2,000+ participants. competitive, untimed, Para, and Adaptive divisions. rain or shine.
full race guide →5K and 10K through downtown Pleasanton on Main Street. costumes encouraged, dogs on leash welcome, proceeds support Pleasanton student scholarships. the Halloween theme makes it genuinely fun.
race details →5K, 10K, and 2-Mile family run each April at Pleasanton Middle School. PPIE fundraiser for Pleasanton Unified schools. flat, fast courses, strollers and walkers welcome.
race details →not a road race — the most spectacular running event in Dublin. California's largest high school distance-only track meet. 4,700+ student athletes from 241 schools. world records for most runners breaking 5 min (boys) and 6 min (girls) in the 1600m at a single meet. DJ, sombreros for heat winners, bells for personal bests. come watch.