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Berkeley Fire Trails

4.7 (109 reviews)

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Ivan J.

This trail is a hidden gem. It's a nice relaxing stroll that honestly has one of the best views of the bay. One to two parts of the trail have steep inclines, but the rest is pretty flat. Because you drive uphill to reach the starting point of the trail (which there are many) you already start with some elevation to begin with. Also it was a nice gesture that some residents who live on the trail (there are houses that are close to the trail) provide dog treats, poop bags, and water. I will be back again!

Sunset - May 2021
Angel L.

For my 200th review, I'm finally reviewing a hike that was & is near and dear to me during my 4 years at Cal. When I didn't go to Lake Merritt, I found myself doing this hike to get some fresh air and to have a clearer mind. This hike is pretty steep during some parts so not exactly the most family friendly (for children and the elderly). The fire trails is huge, so you absolutely can go any way you like. The uniqueness of this hike is that you'll see the beautiful cities of Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco and also be encapsulated by the forest and a serene quietness when you're up higher in elevation. There are beautiful spots to pause and sit on benches too! I recommend this hike to anyone in the area that wants something relatively challenging (especially for runners this is awesome for the strength + endurance)!

Top of the stonewall panoramic trail
Katie Y.

Great network of trails that I want to come back and explore! we did the Stonewall-Panoramic Trail, which we thought was only 1.5 miles, but turns out you can extend it way longer. We will do that in the future. Views were really nice and parking is pretty easy in the neighborhood.

Laila W.

Finding parking here was quiet difficult for me. I drove around in circles for a good 30 minutes. On the way however there were some very beautiful views of the bay. You can park on the side of the road to stop and take pictures and watch the sunset. There was a good crowd of people (20 plus) at each view point.

The parking lot between Strawberry Canyon and the UC Botanical Garden. It says "no parking" but you can park here while using the trails
Shayla B.

My love for Berkeley runs far and wide. The Berkeley Fire Trails are just another reason to add to my obsession with this wonderful little city! I had hiked a few of these trails before I even knew that these were Berkeley Fire Trails. One of my other favorite hiking trails is Claremont Canyon, and I recently learned that these two trails actually connect. Furthermore, the Berkeley Fire Trails can be taken all the way to the backside of Tilden Park! Yep yep, there's a lot of exploring to do here! What I love most about these trails is the vast variety that it offers. The main trail is paved and can be accessed from behind UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Lab or between Strawberry Canyon and the UC Botanical garden right off of Centennial Drive. The main paved trail is flat throughout and measures about 3.5 miles one way. This section of the trail is great for walking and running! Many locals and UC Berkeley students frequent this trail. There are a few other trails that are a bit more challenging and offer great inclines and pretty views of lush greenery! These trails are my absolute favorite! You can veer off onto these trails from the main trail, and they can also be accessed from several different points off of Claremont Ave. You'll see big white signs with numbers and cars parked on the side of the road. At each trail entrance, there's a large blue sign that reads "Fire Trail", so it makes it pretty easy to find. The trails seem to be endless and it will make you want to explore forever. Just be sure to retrace your steps because you could end up on a whole different trail. There are trail maps located at each major entry point, and all of the entry points are labeled with a white sign that has a number. If you hike high enough, you'll be exposed to some of the most gorgeous views of the Bay! There are just too many trails for one to ever get bored here! If you're looking for fun and explorative trails that are far less traveled, I would highly recommend coming here.

Beehive!
Ray U.

Oh, hello gorgeous greenery!! It can be hard to find the entrance to this unmarked trail, so check out the attached photos of the parking lot and trailhead! The parking lot is smack dab between Strawberry canyon pool and the UC Berkeley botanical garden, and is just a little gravel patch. The No Parking signs don't refer to the entire lot, just particular spots. It's actually an ecological reserve, and parking is most certainly allowed. Parking isn't bad on weekdays, and sometimes there are even a few spots in the shade. There are two trails that start here, the upper fire trail and lower, and they register on Google if you get lost. The upper trail is partial shade, and has a gentle incline for the first mile until it pops you out onto Panoramic Dr. The views from here, despite not being the summit, are beautiful. From here you can either head back down the trail, walk down Panoramic, or head up a steep incline, where the trail continues (doooooo iiiiiiiit!!!!) I found a beehive (photo), Sharp Shinned Hawk (no photo, too fast), friendly dogs (didn't photograph, too busy petting), and a giraffe (yes, really. See photo!)

Gina N.

awesome trail that will give you a great workout and an AMAZING view once you get to the top. Trust me...the hard work will be worth it once you lay your eyes on the beautiful bay area skyline! The 7 mile trail has some steady gradual inclines with a few steep inclines. Wear a hat especially if you plan to hike this in the heat and make sure you bring plenty of water! It didn't take us more than 2.5 hrs round trip, with quite a few pit stops to enjoy the view! ;) Great hike in the heart of the east bay. Who says you have to travel far for a great hike?

Great views once the fog clears
Jen V.

A hike on the easier side- this one has one super steep hill that makes you think about the houses along the incline- "how do they bring groceries back?" However, most of the trail is flat- and I guess it's because you drive up a mountain to get there. Very small parking area by Strawberry Creek Rec Center- disregard the "no parking" sign- pretty ridiculous. Tips: To avoid some of the incline- you can go up the stairs by Lawrence Hall straight up to the Math Research building. You make up for the hills in stairs but at least you can walk downhill for most of the trail. Otherwise, you better stretch yo glutes! Beware bikers and pedestrians as you make your way via your vehicle towards the trail- narrow roadways. Wear layers- I swear, I alternated between hot and cold so many times!

this is the best way to justify eating cheeseburgers all the time
D-a-v-e's C-r-a-v-e's ..

I stumbled upon these firebreaks when I was in college, and as many times as I've hiked it with friends or enjoyed a solo run, each experience makes me feel thankful for living in this part of the Bay Area. Beautiful hike. Just goes and goes. I suppose I could look up on a map to find the exact schematics, but I have ran for two hours straight with no end in sight. Best place to go for sunsets. It gets pretty chilly after 5 o'clock in the spring or winter. It's fairly littered with people, but not crowded at all. Lots of friendly people in small groups just minding their business and saying hi to each other :-) The best part of the hike/run is about a mile past the 60° angle (beast of a) hill. There is a bench made out of an old tree where the view overlooks San Francisco, Richmond, Emeryville, and a very distant Palo Alto. Beautiful. In the summer there are lots of wild raspberries, every once in a while you'll even see wild turkeys and deer! Great place

Tina H.

Brought my dogs here on Thursday in the morning. Not too crowded. Found a good parking spot just next to the trailhead. Half of the trail is shaded and half of it are not. But overall, this trail is awesome. not muddy. at the beginning, there's a little bit elevation gain, but afterwards, it's all flat. The only con is that it's not a round-loop trail. Once you get to the destination, there's nothing too much to see and you have to go back via the same path. A little bit boring.

From the top
Katie G.

I loved LOVED this trail! It's kinda hard to find! If you're coming down centennial, pass the botanical garden and park in the gravel parking lot you'll see shortly after the garden on your LEFT. The hike is wonderful! A lot of shade and some really gnarly hills. Bring water! The view at the top is breathtaking!

Sara M.

The fire trails run all over the Berkeley Hills. One entrance is on Centennial Drive, just east of Memorial Stadium. The trails are wide and the grade is pretty even, though gets very steep at points. There are lots of side trails, and beautiful views of the entire bay if you climb high enough. This is a great place to take your dog off-leash. It's also a good place for running, so I'm told. You might see wild turkeys wandering about if you're lucky. Beware of mountain lions and poison oak.

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Review Highlights - Berkeley Fire Trails

You may shed a tear heading to the Berkeley Fire Trails as you notice that Memorial Stadium is being torn apart, row by row.

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Codornices Park

Codornices Park

4.6(161 reviews)
1.5 miBerkeley Hills

This park is just really cool. On afternoons and weekends it's usually packed full of people. It…read morecan be hard at times to find a parking spot but shouldn't be too difficult to park on a side street if needed. There are several parts to this park. One is a flat area with a play scape and a cement slide. There's actually a tunnel nearby that goes under the road and crosses over to the rose garden, which is really cool. The cement slide is a must see for anyone with kids and even if you're an adventurous adult. There are plenty of cardboard boxes around for you to try it out. When I first heard about the cement slide, I didn't think it would be very fun, (cement and sliding didn't go together in my mind) but it is great! Then just a little bit south, above that play scape area, there's a baseball field. So many different people come here to meet. Some people for picnics, some people play soccer, some people play softball, some people bring their dogs. And then inside the woods behind the park, there are a picnic benches. I have a friend who had her wedding reception there. You can reserve them with the city. And then behind the picnic area, there's a hike and if you're very adventurous, there is a waterfall hidden, but it's not easy to find if you don't know about it. I highly recommend this park. During the winter, the baseball field is blocked off with Fence to protect the grass but other parts of the park are accessible.

Nice park, good playground for toddlers, and for babies, nice large grassy area, sort of a mini…read morehike to walk around, some barbecue / camping table spots, right next to the rose garden, bathrooms.

Photos
Codornices Park - 01.17.2025

01.17.2025

Codornices Park
Codornices Park

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Shorebird Park Nature Center & Adventure Playground - View from across the Bay

Shorebird Park Nature Center & Adventure Playground

4.4(146 reviews)
4.3 miWest Berkeley

This Adventure Playground is a very unique place for kids. Unlike regular playgrounds with fancy…read moreequipment, this one is designed to encourage creativity, imagination, and hands-on play. Children can explore a more primitive, open-ended play environment where they are free to build, paint, and create. Instead of just slides and swings, kids get to use real tools like hammers and nails, paint wood, and build their own little structures. It's amazing to watch how children use their imagination here. They learn problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, and confidence while playing. Kids can: Learn to use simple real tools (hammer, nails) Paint and decorate wood Build small structures ‍ Climb and explore the handmade wooden playground Sometimes playgrounds don't need to be fancy. What kids really need is freedom to create and explore, and this place gives them exactly that. Best part: Free admission Kids can play for hours Encourages creativity and independence Beautiful location near the water Shorebird Park Adventure Playground 160 University Ave, Berkeley, CA A great spot if you want your kids to play, explore, and use their imagination instead of just sitting with screens.

OK early morning stop. I wanted my parents and kids to see some water and we stopped by since we…read morewere in the area and this park is open early. It's too cold to go into the water but you can see a bit of San Francisco on a clear day. Its actually a perfect representation of the Bay Area for visitors. Cold, sky is gray, and rocks near the water is covered with slippery seaweed. At the very end of University Ave you can find plenty of parking and two of the odd/unique attractions. There is a giant sundial near the pier. Its 10 foot in diameter and a gift from Berkeley's sister city Sakai, Japan. There is a giant proto-asian culture style statue called "The Guardian" on the grass. The Guardian is an extrapolation of a six-inch clay and wood sculpture in a Buddhist temple in Penang. The city fiercely resisted Frederic Fierstein's plopping of the Guardian. Fierstein fiercely fought back. Fierstein gathered signatures and placed an initiative on the ballot in support of the Guardian. The worst thing about coming so early are there was a person smoking weed in their car and kept loudly cursing on the phone even with kids and old people visibly around.

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Shorebird Park Nature Center & Adventure Playground - Beautiful waterside park

Beautiful waterside park

Shorebird Park Nature Center & Adventure Playground - Covered in seaweed during low tide

Covered in seaweed during low tide

Shorebird Park Nature Center & Adventure Playground

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Live Oak Park - Trees, creek, and stairway

Live Oak Park

4.5(37 reviews)
1.8 miNorth Berkeley

I love love love this park. There are several parts to it. There's a very nice grassy hill,…read moresurrounded by trees that you can lay a blanket down on and read a book or hang out by yourself or with your friends or family. And then there are tennis and basketball courts and then there's a kids play scape for younger kids and we spent so much time at this park. The community center is also very nice and they have plays or other events there. I've seen quite a few events there and have also taken Zumba classes. There's also an area between the two parts of the park that has a stream and picnic tables and we often met groups down there and had celebrations. I've also seen work groups meet there for lunch. My kids loved to go hang out there because there were so many things you can do there. The Parks in Berkeley, in general I find just amazing.

This is a lovely park with plenty of lush green grass for picnicking and trees providing ample…read moreshade, as well as concrete stairways connecting to the creek and a bridge leading to the Live Oak Theater. I attended the showing of SF Mime Troupe's "Disruption" this past Saturday, an entertaining and comedic musical production reminding the crowd that everything is politics. In addition, I laid out my mat in the grass to enjoy a meal and read a book, appreciating the relaxing and carefree atmosphere.

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Live Oak Park - Drawing of each dog models and the map/ locations of the shootings.

Drawing of each dog models and the map/ locations of the shootings.

Live Oak Park - Trees, trails, and bridge over creek

Trees, trails, and bridge over creek

Live Oak Park - Creek and stairway

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Creek and stairway

Berkeley Fire Trails - parks - Updated May 2026

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