Shepherd Canyon Trail - Montclair Village

The Shepherd Canyon Trail or the above name Montclair Railroad Trail truly starts next to the buildings at 1900 Mountain Blvd above the retaining walls. Those retaining walls were actually once the train bridge. 1900 Mountain Blvd is across the street from the Montclair Park tennis courts.

The better entrance to the trail is behind the Montclair Village Parking garage which is located adjacent to Alain Pinel Realtors at the top of La Salle Ave at 6211 La Salle. The trail is now paved the entire length up to the end of the trail at the intersection of Saroni Dr and Shepherd Canyon Rd. This point is actually where the train went underground into the tunnel. Up until about 1985 the trail stopped at the corner of Shepherd Canyon and Paso Robles. But Mel Copland a local Broker-Realtor and builder built and paved the path improving the accessibility to the trail for more residents of Shepherd Canyon Rd. Mel Copland built homes along the trail and has video of the inside of the rail tunnel prior to it be filled in.

Mel Copland grew up playing in Montclair as a child and remembers when the trains still came through the Village.  Mel Copland donated the path to the City of Oakland along with a lot on Paso Robles for a Green Belt. The City is now responsible for the paths maintenance.

The Trail is about 1.5 miles one way. There is a slight incline going up to Shepherd Canyon but it isn't a strenuous walk at all. The trail is primarily used by neighborhood residents to go back and forth from Montclair Village. The trail is bike friendly and great for your children and pets.