From College/Derby to Hills Around Claremont Ave

Difficulty:  Moderate, many uphill roads

Time: 1 1/4 hour

Start at College Ave and Derby St.   Head east on Derby to Tanglewood Rd just past Belrose  Ave.  Take Tanglewood Path uphill to Stonewall Rd and turn right.  

Tanglewood Path

Take Stonewell to Claremont Ave and turn right. Continue on Claremont past Ashby Ave.  Take Oakridge Path on the left, which runs through John Muir School Park, to Domingo Ave and turn left. NOTE:  If the gate to Oakridge Path is locked, go a little further south on Claremont to Hazel Rd, turn left, and take this uphill to Domingo Ave.  Turn left and follow the route below. 

Start of Oakridge Path

End of Oakridge Path

Go a few yards and turn right on El Camino Real.  Take this for several blocks, past The Uplands, until El Camino Real ends at Claremont Path. 

Claremont Path

Take this to Hillcrest Rd and turn right.  At Roanoake Rd turn left and follow it downhill to Manor Crest.  Turn right and go to Chabot Crest.  Turn right again and follow it in a circle as it turns into Chabot Terrace.  When you reach Roslyn Court, turn right.  You shortly reach South Crossways.  

Start of South Crossways

End of South Crossways

Take this uphill to Hillcrest Rd and turn left.  Follow Hillcrest until you reach The Steps.  

The Steps

Take this back to Hillcrest, turn right and go to Claremont Ave.  Turn right and after a few blocks go left on Prince St.  Take this to College Ave and turn right.  Go several blocks, past Ashby, until you return to the starting point at Derby St.

Claremont Ave North and South of Ashby Ave

Difficulty:  part 1 moderate, many uphill and downhill climbs: part 2 easy

Time:  part 1, 1 hour:  part 2, 30 minutes

Start at Ashby Ave and Claremont Ave and head south on Claremont.  Take Oakridge Path on the east side of Claremont. NOTE:  If the gate to Oakridge Path is locked, go a little further south on Claremont to Hazel Rd, turn left, and take this uphill to Domingo Ave.  Turn left and follow the route below. 

Start of Oakridge Path

End of Oakridge Path

It passes through John Muir School Park to Domingo Ave.  Make a left and go a short way to El Camino Real and turn right.  When you get to Park Path on the left, take it uphill (46 steps plus long ramp) to Oak Ridge Rd and turn right.

Park Path

Take it to the end where you get to Oakridge Steps on the right. 

Oakridge Steps

Take it downhill (123 steps) to El Camino Real and turn right.  You shortly come to The Cutoff on the left.

The Cutoff

Take it downhill (37 steps plus long ramp) to The Plaza Dr and turn right.  Take it for several blocks where it ends at Encina Pl.  Turn right and go a few steps to the right where you see  Encina Walk on the left side.     

Encina Walk

Take this to Oakvale Ave and continue on to the left until you come back to Claremont Ave.  Turn left and go to The Uplands, and then turn left.  When you come to The Footway on the right, take it uphill (36 steps plus long ramp) to Hillcrest Rd and turn  left.  

The Footway

Hillcrest then forks into a right and left road.  Take the left road and follow Hillcrest until you come to South Crossways on the right and Crossways  on the left.   

Crossways

South Crossways

Take Crossways down a long ramp  back to The Uplands, turn left and go back to The Footway.  Take The Footway uphill again to Hillcrest.  This time take the right road at the fork and go a short way until you reach The Steps.  

The Steps

Take this downhill (64 steps) to Hillcrest Rd again, turn right and go back to Claremont Ave.  Turn right and go back to the starting point at Ashby Ave .  You can end the hike here.  However, if you have more energy, continue on for a shorter additional hike north of Ashby.

Cross Ashby, go a few blocks north to Garber St and turn left. This runs into Garber Path.   

Garber Path

Take this downhill (40 steps)  and then continue on Garber to Piedmont Ave and turn left. When you get to Stuart Ave turn left.  At Palm Ct go a little to the left and reach Avalon Walk. 

Avalon Walk

Take it uphill (43 steps) to Avalon Ave.  Turn left and go a short way until you get to Pine Path on the right.

Pine Path

Take it downhill (52 steps plus ramp) to Russell St and turn left.   When you get to Oak Knoll Path on the left, take it uphill (long ramp) to Avalon Ave and turn right.  

Oak Knoll Path

Go back to Claremont Ave, turn right and go back to the starting point at Ashby.