HIKES WITH TYKES

East Bay Trails to Enjoy with Young Walkers

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At the bottom of the page you'll find a list of additional resources for family hikes.

BERKELEY -- Cesar Chavez Park

Go to University Avenue in Berkeley. Follow University west toward the water, following signs to the right which take you to Cesar Chavez Park. Park at or near the end of the road. Take the paved path off to your right. There is a mile and a half loop.
Paved trail; strollers possible. Picnic tables available. Not for windy days.

BERKELEY - UC Botanical Gardens

BERKELEY - UC Campus Stroll

LAFAYETTE RESERVOIR

Take Hwy 24 to the Acalanes Road/Mt. Diablo Blvd exit in Lafayette. At the end of the exit, head straight on Mt. Diablo Blvd. After about a mile, turn right into the Lafayette Reservoir. Bring plenty of quarters for parking.. ($2.00 will get you two hours).
This is a 3 mile paved trail-- strollers possible. It's fairly gentle. Picnic tables available.

POINT PINOLE

From I-80, take the Hilltop Drive exit and go west toward the Bay. You should eventually see signs for Point Pinole. Turn right on San Pablo Road, go a short distance and turn left on Giant Highway, (or possibly left on Atlas). After winding around for a mile or two, watching for signs to Point Pinole parking area on your left. Take paved path toward the water/trees.

Paved trail. Toddlers and preschoolers should be able to walk to the picnic site, a few hundred yards from parking lot - carry your lunch. Not for windy/foggy days. There are beautiful views of the bay at the end of the walk, which terminates in a fishing pier. There is a posted schedule in the parking lot of a free shuttle to the pier.

REDWOOD PARK -- Stream Trail

From Berkeley and Oakland: Make your way to Skyline Blvd. Where Shepherd Canyon Rd. hits Skyline, you will find Pinehurst Road. Follow Pinehurst a very long way to Redwood Road. Turn right and .3 mile later turn right again into Redwood Regional Park. Continue to parking lot at end of road.
Paved trail, then dirt. Picnic tables, play area. A good trail for hot days - mostly shaded.

TILDEN - Botanical Gardens
TILDEN PARK -- Inspiration Point -- Nimitz Trail

Make your way to the Brazilian Building in Tilden Park. From here take Wildcat Canyon Road for about a mile to Inspiration Point.

Paved trail; strollers possible. Children can bring tricycles or bicycles, but after a while there will be hills which are too steep for little guys to manage on their own. Picnic tables in parking lot.

TILDEN PARK -- Jewel Lake

Start at the Environmental Education Center by the little farm. Go inside at take the kids on a walk through the model of Wildcat Canyon. Then pick up a trail map which shows you the way to Jewel Lake, nearby. Of course you can also visit the Little Farm.

TILDEN PARK -- Lake Anza

Best for: babies in backpacks or preschoolers on foot. Not appropriate for toddlers.

Find your way to Grizzly Peak Blvd. Take Grizzly Peak to any of the Tilden Park entrances and follow the park signs to Lake Anza. Park in the parking lot. The walk around the lake is a nice "introduction to hiking" for preschoolers, and you can play afterwards at the beach by the Lake.

TILDEN PARK -- Lone Oak Trail

Toddlers or preschoolers will enjoy a short ramble along the Wildcat Gorge trail, along the stream.

Take Grizzly Peak Blvd to any of the Tilden Park entrances. Follow signs to the Merry-Go-Round. You will be on Central Park Drive. Shortly before or after the Merry-Go-Round (depending on which way you're heading) turn onto Lone Oak Road. Park near the end of the road at the Lone Oak picnic area. This can be done as a loop. Take the Wildcat Gorge Trail to your right and enjoy exploring the stream area.

Additional Resources for Family Hikes

Gail DeLalla leads "Babes in the Woods", "Stroller Strolls" and other hiking classes for parents with children of various ages. Call her at 376-9629, or ask for a schedule from the Orinda Community Center, 254-2445.
Tilden Park Environmental Education Center has occasional outings for "Tilden Tots." Call 525-2233 to find out when the next one is scheduled, or call the East Bay Regional Parks District at 562-7275 to get on the EBRPD mailing list for monthly schedules of park activities. Visit the EBRPD web site for trail maps and other useful information.
Best Hikes with Children - San Francisco's South Bay by Bill McMillon is an excellent resource for families. The "South Bay" includes the East Bay. There is also a book for hikes in the North Bay. Find this at REI, Easy Going Travel Bookstore, Cody's, etc.
Easy Hiking in Northern California, by Ann Marie Brown contains 17 hikes in Marin, 4 in the East Bay, and many in Yosemite, Tahoe, etc. which are appropriate for sturdy pre-schoolers.
Hidden Walks in the Bay Area by Stephen Altschuler is a guide to (mostly urban) walks.