Urban Delights Along the Iron Horse Trail

The Tri-Valley is nothing if not progressive when it comes to providing DogTrekkers and other residents with outdoor opportunities, and the Iron Horse Regional Trail is a great example. This 32-mile, multi-use path, paved all the way, runs between Concord and the Pleasanton/Dublin BART station along the abandoned Southern Pacific Railway right-of-way. Shared by cyclists, equestrians and pedestrians (including those of the four-legged variety), it connects schools, business centers, parks, regional trails and public transportation.

While scenic and restful, the Iron Horse Trail rarely veers far from civilization. The towns that rose along the rail corridor in the late 1800s (the tracks weren’t abandoned until 1978) stand ready to offer you a latte (and Daisy a bowl of water) as you pass through. Step off the path in historic downtown Danville, and you’ll hit the shopping, dining and diversion trifecta.

You and Daisy can contemplate the next leg of your excursion over award-wining California cuisine served in the shady courtyard of the The Peasant and the Pear, whose name reflects a contemporary take on rustic bistro classics. 

And there’s no need to bolt after your meal if you enjoy shopping or sightseeing. Downtown Danville’s low-rise architecture is easy on the eyes, and many of its more than 200 shops welcome your well-behaved pooch.

If you’re making a day of it, consider a visit to Hap Magee Ranch Park, about a mile toward Alamo along the Iron Horse Trail. It has an excellent off-leash dog park, Canine Corral, where your four-legged companion can run off all that good behavior she displayed while you were browsing antique shops downtown.

Nice to know: Eventually, the Iron Horse Regional Trail will cover a distance of about 55 miles, connecting 12 cities from Livermore in Alameda County to Suisun Bay in Contra Costa County.