Berkeley Aquatic Park

Yesterday we decided to OptOutside for Black Friday (thank you REI!) and headed down to the Berkeley Aquatic Park. Having lived in the area all my life, I'd somehow never been here. It's a pretty funky park - a skinny strip of land tucked between the railroad tracks and the freeway with a strip of grass running along a lagoon. There's a paved path that runs the whole length of the park that's very popular with walkers and runners and bikers. It was a beautiful sunny day and there were lots of people! It's completely level. We parked at the north end at the foot of Addison St. and walked all the way to the south end, almost to Emeryville. The round trip was almost exactly 3 miles.

The reason we chose to spend the afternoon at this funky little park? Butterflies! For the first time anyone knows about, there are Monarch butterflies clustering in the ash trees near the 14th hole of the disk golf course. They are amazing! There were huge clusters of butterflies that looked like some growth on the tree and lots of them flittering around.

There's a playground with some pretty awesome structures. There's a disc golf course running the length of the park. It's actually pretty, if you avoid thinking about the freeway that's always in your view. It's also not a park you want to visit when it's getting dark since it's got quite a reputation for being a hang out for some pretty shady characters.

 Park information here.

Complete image set here.

Pt. Pinole Salt Marsh

Because it was supposed to rain this weekend (yay!) we decided to take the dog on a long-ish hike on Saturday. We headed to Pt. Pinole and ended up in an area that was new to us. When we went into the park toward the play structures, we headed right toward Cook's Point. Just before the point at the trail intersection, we headed left on Marsh Trail. This trail runs along the bay toward the fishing pier. The marsh is beautiful in its own unique way. There's a great display that explains how the marsh was formed and illustrates all the plants. Thanks EBRPD naturalists! After we spent some time educating ourselves and watching the birds, we headed back on Owl Alley. We went about 3 miles.

We love Pt. Pinole! It's less than half an hour from our house so we can go there without any advanced planning. Huge amounts of the park are off-leash, which the dog loves. It's flat, which my knee loves, and there are so many trails you almost never repeat a hike. And its' beautiful!

Trail information here:


Complete photo set here.

Fall at Pt. Pinole

We spent Veteran's Day afternoon hiking in Pt. Pinole. The sun was out and it was crisp and perfect for a hike. We always start along the Bay View trail since we love looking at the water. At the end, about a mile in, the trail is closed due to a fallen tree. We turn up away from the Bay and seem to take a different route every time. We've had two rain storms recently and you can see the start of little blades of green poking up. Yay! We were hoping to see butterflies since it's almost that time of year but had no luck. We'll be back in a couple of weeks to check again!

Park information here.

Complete photo set here.

Fall on the Gorge Trail

Due to a combination of a heat wave (I'm a wimp when it's hot!), a family illness, and school starting my hiking has been minimal for a few weeks. I realized yesterday, however, that the Wildcat Gorge Trail is now one of our fallbacks for those "we need to take the dog somewhere" moments. This trail used to scare me. For a long time I couldn't make it all the way to the top. Now, I don't think twice. I wouldn't say it's really easy, but it's definitely not hard and I never hesitate to tag along with my husband and the dog. It's beautiful right now! There's no water until you get really close to Lake Anza but the creek is still pretty. There are scattered trees changing color, including much of the poison oak, and there are beautiful yellow and red leaves on the ground. I can hardly wait to see it when (if...) it starts raining again!

Rodeo Beach: Coast Trail

Labor Day weekend we braved the traffic and headed across the bay to Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands. The beach is popular with surfers and dogs and sand castle builders alike. Last time we were here the rest of the family took a hike up the hill while I hung out at the beach. This time I joined them! We headed up from the parking lot on the Coast Trail, taking the bike route since that's where the dog wanted to go. There was a lot of evidence of wild animals so she was probably hoping to meet a coyote. This was a steady climb up the hill, with beautiful views of the coast and the hills. Last year I couldn't have done this; this year it was fine. The area is an old WWII military base and the barracks are now being used by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We hiked up to the Townsley Battery and then headed across the hill and down toward the Marine Mammal Center and back to the parking area. Instead of going along the busy road, we walked through the barracks where we got to see the Blue Whale skeleton at the Nature Bridge offices. Very cool! We went about 2.5 miles. You could easily do longer and harder hikes here.

Information about Rodeo Beach and links to trail maps can be found here.
Complete photo set is here.

Tilden Park: Gorge/Curran/Meadows Canyon

Earlier this week we hiked from Lone Oak to Inspiration Point and back down. This was a huge milestone for me! Last year (let's be honest, earlier this year) I wouldn't have even attempted this hike. But my husband and daughter, who both hike with me frequently, basically said: OK, we're doing this! The Wildcat Gorge trail heading up toward Lake Anza is now pretty easy for me. Yay! Just below Anza, there's a trailhead and I took a deep breath and followed them up the Curran trail. This is a steady uphill climb, mostly not too steep, with great views and beautiful trees. After a couple of very short breaks, we made it to the trailhead at the top. We kept going up the steep, but very short, section and arrived at Inspiration Point. What? I made it to the top? I wasn't breathing hard? Me? After a break to enjoy the views we headed back down Meadows Canyon trail. This was a long, fairly gradual incline, with not much shade. Great views of the canyon and beyond! Our round trip was 3.5 miles. If you do this hike, look for the fairy house!

Also, we heard owls!!!!!


Information about Tilden Park here.
Complete photo set here.

Cesar Chavez Park - Berkeley

This week we walked about 2 miles at Cesar Chavez. This park sits right on the edge of San Francisco Bay on the site of the old landfill. The huge open grassy area (currently drought brown) is a popular place for kites. There are benches and picnic tables scattered throughout. The perimeter trail is popular with walkers and bikes and gives great views of the bay. The inside has an off-leash dog area with plenty of place to run. There are trails throughout the park so you can take a shorter walk around outside or go up and down and around for a longer hike.

Park information is here.
Complete photo set is here.

Wildcat Canyon - Alvarado

This is one of our regular spots to walk the dog. It's especially great if it's been raining (if it ever does again) since it's paved. It's a multi-use trail so you'll see hikers and runners, kids on scooters and tricycles, bikers, and horses. If you're really ambitious, you can hike from the Alvarado staging area to Tilden's Nature Center, just over 4 miles. We're now doing just over 2 miles in and back. The trail is fairly level - except for the part at Alvarado. The first part has a pretty good hill from the parking area to the gate and it's steady uphill for about half a mile. I still need to take a break once in awhile but we realized today that my breaks are fewer and farther apart and we have a much faster pace. There are great views of the grassland and oaks on the hills. Today we spent some time watching a group of hawks on the hunt. It's amazing that this trail feels so far from humanity and you're actually hiking just feet from someone's back fence.

Park information is here.

Complete photo set is here.

Miller-Knox

Yesterday we spent time in the hills at Miller-Knox park. This is a great little park tucked away in Pt. Richmond, surrounded by houses and industry. There's a beach and playground and big picnic area and across the road you can hike in the hills. That's where we headed.

This hike was a push for me, even though it was only about 2.25 miles, because of the hills but I took my time and it was great! We started at the trailhead by the Richmond Ramblers and headed out Old Country Road Trail toward West Ridge Point. Then we took The West Ridge and Crest trails back to Nicholl Knob. We definitely needed our map because most of the trail signs are broken.

 I couldn't have done this hike a year ago but now? Yay! This time of year the trail itself isn't that beautiful - everything's brown and dry. Other times of the year there will be wildflowers galore, so we'll be back. The great thing about this park is the view. Every few steps you see another gorgeous view of the bay or the hills.

Also, be sure to stop at the Model Railroad Museum if it's open. So much fun!

Park information here.

Complete photo set here.

Redwood Park - Stream Trail

Redwood is a gorgeous park but we don't go there too often; it's about 40 minutes away and we have so many options so much closer. Yeah, we're spoiled by the East Bay Regional Parks! The park includes land on either side of Redwood Creek and there are trails that go along the ridge tops. (We're going back soon to try one of the ridge trails) The Stream Trail follows Redwood Creek from one end of the park to the other. It's essentially level so it's been a great trail to help me note my progress; each time we hike there I go farther. Yesterday we did about 3 miles in and out - the farthest I've done!

This trail is beautiful! You hike through redwoods - what? in Oakland? The creek currently has almost no water (thanks, drought...) but there are still some areas with little ponds. The trees are huge and there are lots of ferns and wildflowers at certain times of the year. It's a multi-use trail so there are dogs and kids on bikes and runners and sometimes a horse. There are picnic tables and benches randomly scattered along the trail (and bathrooms) but no water except at the entrance. There's also a playground and a spot where you can create your own structures and forts out of branches and logs.

Park map is here.

Complete photo set here.

Blake Gardens

Yesterday we stayed in our own neighborhood and explored Blake Gardens. The Blake Estate was the home of Anson and Edwin Blake - streets in our neighborhood are named after them. Edwin's house is now the Carmelite Monastery. Anson's property became the home for the U.C. President. It has seismic issues and needs renovation so it's currently empty. The Blakes deeded the gardens to U.C. as a teaching laboratory. The gardens are open from 8:00 am to 4:30 on weekdays. I suspect that part of the abbreviated hours are due to U.C. Presidents actually living in the house until just over 10 years ago.

There are garden "rooms" and paths everywhere. Benches are placed to maximize the views and you often find people reading or drawing. It's well-worth exploring!

Blake Gardens web site here.


Complete photo set here.

Point Pinole: Cook's Point Trail

After several days of 90 degree weather where I barely left the house (yeah, I'm a heat wimp) we were able to get out for a real hike today. Pt. Pinole is one of our favorite parks - not too far away, right on the SF Bay, and most of it allows dogs off leash. We usually head along the Bay Trail and then branch off from there. Today we headed to the east side of the park, a place we'd never explored. The park is mostly level with what seems like endless trails. Most of it is multi-use and we usually encounter people on bikes and often horses. Almost any trail you pick ends at the water and today we spent some time enjoying the view from Cook's Point. This park is built on the site of an old gunpowder and dynamite company and there are remnants of the buildings scattered through the park. This trail leads you to the black powder press where there's an interesting description of the old manufacturing, including statements that workers left "because we never knew when it was going to blow up." With all of our exploring we ended up hiking about 3.5 miles today!

Park information is here.

Complete photo set is here.

Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve

Yesterday we took a hike in the Sobrante Ridge, starting at the Heavenly Trail. I've been in this park 3 times now and will post later about my other visits. It's a hidden gem, tucked away in suburbia. My sister-in-law lives just 4 or 5 blocks from the Heavenly trail entrance and one of my best friends can stand in her front yard and see the Morningside entrance. You go from the flats up to the ridge, so there are substantial uphill grades at the beginning - it's worth it! On this hike, we went to the Manzanita Loop to check out the endangered Alameda manzanitas. You'd never know you were about a block from civilization until you go around the bend and look down to see a guy washing his car (which he should NOT have been doing in the drought) just below you. After the loop, we hiked up to the ridge where the Manzanita and Ridge trails intersect. There are picnic tables in a few choice spots in the park, mostly where there are great views. This time we only hiked about a mile and a half but the hills gave me a workout.

Park map here.

Complete photo set here.

Briones - Old Briones Road Trail

On Mother's Day I forced my family to go hiking with me. This was my first visit to Briones and I'll be back! We had a map but no real plan, just wanted to go explore. We headed out on the Old Briones Road trail for about a mile before we headed back. This was an easy hike through the grasslands with lots of hawks. This is a really popular park, judging by the number of cars in the parking lots, and there were lots of families out hiking but it didn't feel crowded.

Park map here.

Complete image set here.

East Bay Skyline National Ridge Trail - Huckleberry

In early July we hiked part of the East Bay Skyline Ridge Trail at Huckleberry Botanic Preserve. The Skyline Trail is 32 miles long and goes from Wildcat to Chabot, through 5 regional parks. There are people who do the trail in one day - hats off to them! Most people do it in 5 to 6 mile chunks. Completing all 32 miles might be one of my long-term goals. We did about 2 miles, up and back, in the section that intersects Huckleberry, starting at the Upper Pinehurst trailhead. The trail is beautiful and the views are incredible! There's a lot of hiking down into the valley and back up to the ridge so this wasn't an easy hike for me, but I did fine! Although dogs aren't allowed in Huckleberry, they are allowed on the Skyline trail that goes through the park.

Here's a description of the Skyline trail.

Complete photo set on Imgur.

Huckleberry Botanic Preserve

I hiked in Huckleberry in mid-May on an adult Girl Scout hike (thanks Libro!) and it was spectacular! This hike was definitely at the upper edge of my current ability but it was well worth it. We hiked about 2.5 miles down into the canyon and along the stream, up and down the hills. There's a guide to the diverse and sometimes rare plant life - well worth doing. The trail is lovely and there are amazing views of the surrounding hills. This was a push for me because of the up and down and up and down. I was also with a group of women who are in way better shape than I am and our pace was on the fast side for me. But I kept up and had a great time, even if I was wiped when we finished. I definitely want to do this hike again soon! Note: because it's a preserve there are no dogs. Sorry, Isis!

Map is here.

Complete photo set is here. 

Lake Temescal

We hiked Temescal in April. Since I had started my Trails Challenge in Tilden, one of the original regional parks, I decided to end it at Temescal, another original. This lovely lake is tucked away in the Oakland hills, surrounded by the 13/24 freeway intersection. The approximately mile-long hike around the lake is level and easy with lots of families enjoying the park. We took the Oak Bay trail around the western edge where a very short part is steep, ending in stairs.

Park map is here.

Complete photo set on Imgur.

Tilden Park: Wildcat Gorge Trail

Today we hiked a part of the Gorge Trail in Tilden, around 2 miles round trip. I've been on this trail several times, each time going farther, but had never made it all the way to Lake Anza. Today I did! We started at the Lone Oak picnic area - lots of parking and a bathroom. The trail winds up the hill along the creek and ends at Lake Anza, a favorite swimming area for kids. It was gradually up hill all the way, with a steep and slippery part at the very end. It's a beautiful trail and I'm glad I can make it all the way to the top now!

Here's a map of the entire trail.
Complete photo set on Imgur

Lake Anza

Point Isabel

Yesterday we took the dog to Pt. Isabel - our fallback dog walking spot. We walk here several times a week and are always thankful we have this beautiful off-leash park next to SF Bay. Some days, like yesterday, we have lots to do and only walk one side of the park - just over a mile. Sometimes we cross the bridge to the McLaughlin Eastshore State Park and do the second loop. There are benches and picnic tables, though I don't think I'd want to picnic among all those hungry dogs, and a fabulous view of the bay.

When we first got the dog,  I was taking a break halfway through the first loop. Now I can do both loops, 2 miles plus, without thinking about it. Yay!

Click for a trail map.

brown is the new green

Ye Olde School Trail

This trail in Kensington is literally 30 seconds from where I work. It's popular with dog-walkers and bikers and kids walking to and from school. It's a gradual elevation change (except for the dip in the middle) with lovely views of Wildcat Canyon. The round trip is just over a mile. Lots of street parking at the Kenyon/Grizzly Peak intersection. If you start at the other end, please don't park in the school lot or walk your dog through school while kids are there.

 Here's a map.

Note: the first time I did this trail I had to stop a couple of times. Not anymore! 

squirrels! + poison oak = usually on leash

Wildcat Canyon

Motivation

After a "come to Jesus" meeting with my doctor about my blood pressure, where she really wanted to double my meds, I promised to start walking. Even though I only did it sporadically, and not very far, 3 months later she decided to leave things as they were. I promised to keep walking.

Then I remembered that we live 5 minutes from Tilden Park and my daughter started hiking with me - slowly, with lots of breaks. With her encouragement (and a lot of trepidation), I signed up for the East Bay Regional Parks Trails Challenge. It took me all year, but I finished! Lots of mile and mile and a half hikes, but I manged to hike 26.2 miles. Yay! Three years later, I'm on half my blood pressure meds, continuing to trend in the right direction. I did the Trails Challenge in 3 months with lots of 2 and 3 mile hikes.

My New Year's present to myself of a FitBit and access to 10 years of Trails Challenge guide books have made me just a little bit obsessed. In a good way. Here's my attempt to keep track of my hikes.