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.