Iron Horse Trail

The Iron Horse Trail stretches over 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Bay. There are many different sections of this trail, and each section is marked with a color.

The Iron Horse Trail starts in downtown San Francisco at Market Street near the Ferry Building. From there you can walk or bike along the Embarcadero, cross over to Fisherman's Wharf and head north up into Golden Gate Park.

The trail follows a scenic route through the park with plenty of opportunities for picnics, hiking or jogging. The last stop is at Ocean Beach in San Francisco which is also called "the city's front yard." After leaving the beach you can continue on past Baker Beach and then wind your way back southward towards Market Street near Ghirardelli Square where you started! This part of the trail is about four miles long. Other sections are farther from downtown but provide different perspectives on this very large urban area! It's a fantastic way to explore these communities and see some beautiful scenery along the way!

History of Iron Horse Trail

Iron Horse Trail (often called the IHT) is a long-distance bicycle and pedestrian trail that stretches over 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Bay. The route crosses San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Piedmont and El Cerrito connecting urban neighborhoods with parks as well as open spaces along the way.

The Iron Horse Trail was named because it follows the right-of-way of an old railroad on which freight and passenger cars once ran to carry goods to Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville and points east. The rail line has been discontinued since 1952 but serves as a scenic byway for bicyclists now with many opportunities for picnics or jogging. It's also a great way to explore these communities and see some beautiful scenery along the way!

Is Hiking enough exercise?

Sometimes people think that hiking or jogging is enough exercise, but it's not! Any type of aerobic activity - like biking, dancing to music at a club, playing soccer with friends in the park - will get your heart pumping and help you burn calories.

What To Eat Before hiking

If you're going to be out hiking for a while, it's important that you eat something beforehand.

A few hours without food can cause your blood sugar levels to drop and make you feel faint. Be sure not to skip breakfast the next morning too! A big hearty meal with protein is great since it will help build up muscle strength over time.

• A peanut butter and banana sandwich on whole wheat bread.

• Greek yogurt with berries.

• Oatmeal with low fat milk and fruit.

• Apple and peanut butter.

• A handful of nuts and raisins (2 parts raisins, 1 part nuts)

The Iron Horse Trail is a fantastic destination for anyone looking to get some exercise. You’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery, and who knows you may even spot an animal or two!  If hiking isn't enough of a workout for you though, we have plenty more options in our blog posts section. Check out what other exercises are available here at Trails & Tails!