Dry Creek and Garin give Union City a ranch-hills escape

Union City has BART, neighborhoods, schools, and older Alvarado and Decoto roots. On the east side, Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park adds a different view: hills, ranch history, and open space above the flatland city.

Dry Creek and Garin are adjoining East Bay Regional Parks with former 19th-century ranch land at their core. Together they cover more than 5,800 acres, with over 35 miles of trails through narrow valleys and rolling hills. That scale matters when you are used to seeing Union City from Mission Boulevard, Decoto Road, or the BART station. The hills are close, and they change the whole feel of the city.

The parks hold plenty of history along with the open hills. Garin has a red barn visitor center with ranching and farming displays, old equipment, and orchard history. Dry Creek has garden and trail access from the Union City side, though storm damage or seasonal closures can affect specific areas.

This is one of the easiest ways to see Union City as part of the East Bay’s older ranch-and-orchard landscape. Bring water, watch the sun and wind, and check trail rules before taking dogs, bikes, or a longer route.