Touring * Fitness * Artistic *

Approaching from the south on Interstate 680, exit at Highway 84, the Livermore exit. This road is named East Vallecitos Road up to the Livermore city limits, where it becomes Holmes Street. (North of downtown it becomes First Street all the way up to Interstate 580.) Turn left at Murietta Boulevard (it's College Avenue on the right). Make a U turn two blocks up at Stanley Boulevard and drive through the ARCO station and out into the small dirt staging area in the back to park in a stand of eucalyptus trees. From Interstate 580, exit at North Livermore Avenue heading south. Turn right onto First Street and follow it as it veers south and becomes Holmes Street. Make an immediate right onto Murietta and follow it to the Stanley intersection, where you'll make your U turn to pass through the ARCO station.

Map: The Livermore Area Recreation and Parks District's Parks and Facilities map is available at the parking lot.

The Cross Livermore Trail is exactly what its name implies, but in spite of the fact that it's a convenient way for residents to do some human-powered commuting across town to their places of work, a good portion of the trail-side scenery is entirely natural and even has great views. What a way to start the day!

The path runs through several mature stands of stately eucalyptus trees, and some of the grassy open spaces on the south side offer spectacular views of the Ohlone Wilderness, miles to the south. When I skated this trail, a rare blanket of snow was still faintly visible on those peaks the day after a winter storm had caused flooding. Unfortunately, the high waters of Arroyo Mocho Creek also made it necessary to wade across the overflowing culvert with skates in hand. Though the trail is generally pretty flat, there are two underpasses that require good control or braking skills.

Starting at the ARCO station staging area (it doesn't look like a park, but a map labels it as Oak Knoll Pioneer Memorial Park), skate to the east next to Arroyo Mocho Creek, passing the high school on a stretch of trail that is unshaded and likely to be hot on a summer day. The area after the school is Mocho Park, but here, too, there is no development indicating it as such. After crossing Holmes Street, you'll enter Madeiros Parkway on the left and Sunset Park on the right. A dip under Arroyo Street takes you to the Robertson Equestrian Center, offering the best view of the Ohlone Wilderness. From here, the trail jogs sharply north to cross South Livermore Avenue (a crosswalk is provided).

On the other side of South Livermore, you'll pass signs for the Concannon and Retzleff Vineyards next to their grape-producing vines. (The Wente Brothers Sparkling Cellars tasting room is also quite close to downtown, just four miles south on Arroyo Road.) Now the scenery opens up on the north side of the trail as you pass Sunken Gardens Park. All too soon, the path enters a residential area. The trail system is quite civilized as it passes the homes on Findlay Way. There are three--count 'em, three--paths provided here: the sidewalk, the asphalt bike path, and a gravel path, all running parallel to Findlay Street for half a mile. At Madison Avenue, you'll jog left and then right to skate along the west and then north borders of Almond Park. The dedicated bike path terminates here, although the city maps show the bike route continuing on city streets, first up Almond Avenue and then to the right along East Avenue.