This is not a review of Garin Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park, but instead it is a review of a loop…read moretrail of segments from High Ridge Loop Trail, Pioneer Trail, and Meyers Ranch Trail. These three trails occur in Garin Dry Creek Regional Park. The common trailhead for both Meyers Ranch Trail (takes you north) and High Ridge Loop Trail (takes you south) occurs about 50 feet away from this parking lot. HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LOOP TRAIL: My photographs show trees shaped like giant mushrooms, where the cap of the giant mushroom-tree is about 30-feet wide. Other photos show rolling hills in the distance, with dense groves of trees situated in the ravines between rolling hills that are far in the distance, and rolling hills closer to the hiker. My photos also show a gnarly tree with trunks looking like octopus arms, with huge 1-foot wide tentacles growing from the tree trunk. Other photographs show a herd of black cows, resting near each other in the grass. Other photos show plush toys (quails, a frog, and a turtle) residing at various places near the loop trail. Another of my photographs shows a triangle-shaped stone, where I used enamels to paint a trail map on the stone. Toy cows sit on the stone. The toy cows know that they should not sit on the enamel-painted trails and, for this reason, these cows are smart and well-behaved BIG LOOP TRAIL CONSISTING OF SEGMENTS OF 3 DIFFERENT TRAILS. I took photos of a group of about 20 black cows, sitting peacefully on the grass in a shaded area next to High Ridge Loop Trail. Continuing in a counterclockwise hiking path, High Ridge Loop Trail includes a hairpin loop and, just beyond this hairpin loop, the trail gets steeper and steeper, and the view gets grander and more beautiful. From the steep part of this trail, one can gaze into the steep ravine by the north edge of the trail, and wonder in amazement at the fact that large trees grow out of the slope above the ravine, despite the fact that the slope is at a 45 degree angle. Looking to the west are more sights that evoke wonder and amazement, and these take the form of rolling hills in the distance, where patches of trees occurring in groves reciding in steep ravines. Some of the hills are entirely covered with trees. FROG AND TURTLE IN THE DRY CREEK BED. Regarding the dry creek running parallel to Meyers Ranch Trail, I went off-trail and hiked along the dry creek bed. I encountered a large puddle, and posed my frog and turtle on top of stones situated in the large puddle. In the dry creek bed, I found a triangle-shaped stone. I painted a trail map on the stone, and then posed some cows on the stone, and took a photograph of the prepared stone. See, attached photo of triangular stone. The cows are from Hobbies Unlimited on Manor Blvd. in San Leandro. On the stone, I used enamel paints, to paint the names of Meyer's Ranch Trail, Pioneer Trail, High Peaks Ridge Trail, May Trail, May Road, and Tamarack Drive. The enamel paint is from Hobbies Unlimited. The frog is from the gift shop at Henry Coe State Park. The turtle was made by Folkmanis Puppets in Emeryville, CA. Several feet away from Meyers Ranch Trail, I inserted a metal rod into the hard earth. This metal rod has a hook on the end of it, and the hook held a sign reading, QUAIL CROSSING. I put two California quails on the ground next to the sign. The QUAIL CROSSING sign is available by mail order from the gift shop at Anza Borrego Desert State Park. The quails are from Wild Republic. See, attached photo of the sign and the quails.

Great trail for everyone, we had kids on boards, electric…read morebikes, dogs, strollers, seniors, and everything in between sharing the trail with us. It's a great trail, again, can't say it enough..views that are unparalleled...we will be back.

This is a nice neighborhood park and lake . It is dogs , birds , ducks friendly scenic lake with a…read more1.2 mile paved loop trail for jogging , leisure walk and biking . The man made lake is beautiful curved with willow trees planted along the shore . A lot of shade and lounge chairs to sit and relax . I sane some young parents with baby strollers , a few people Ja's fishing poles , jogging groups . It is a great place to enjoy the views of the wild life ( birds ) , plants and scenery along the lake . There is a small parking lot at the entrance. If it gets full in the morning , you can easily find street parking with access to the lake . I enjoy the peaceful environment very much .

I'm realizing more and more how vital it is for one's mental (and physical) health to spend time in…read morenature. During a particularly low day, I was literally craving me some nature. Which makes sense when you're in a concrete urban jungle day in and day out - we just weren't meant to live this way. I literally searched Yelp for a park in the area on my way home, and Lakeshore came up. Tucked away in a residential area, Lakeshore is a small-ish, serene, well-kept park with, as the name implies, a lake being the central point. I strolled on the path for a bit. I'm not sure how long the path is, but it seems like a good spot to get a decent walk in, and there were a few walkers and joggers. After stretching my legs for a bit, I grabbed some bench and watched the birds - geese (these guys are huge!), seagulls, ducks, and crows - hanging out and eyeballing me to determine if I had food. They were so cute. There is nothing that gets me feeling better fast than being around animals. The human animals that passed by were nice as well, with smiles and hellos, how refreshing. I spent some time just sitting and resetting. It was good. I need to do this more. Nice park, enjoyed a much-needed reprieve here, and would return.

What a cute Park! A walk way next to the water to see the ducks. Watch your steps, those birds Poo…read morePoo all over. The skate park always has youngsters in it during the summer. As for the park area, it's small but enjoyable for a child at a to young age...or adults with cowboy hats ;) There's also a work out "trail" for circuit training to do specific core related exercises according to the descriptions on the equipment along the trail. I'd love to give it a try some day. Looks fun!

Nice grassy place for walking, swings for swinging, and a pretty darn neat skate park (as far as…read morethis non-skater can tell). Watch out for 1. Deviant sprinklers 2. LDS Churchgoers nearby. They will follow you no matter how politely you tell them to go away.

The High Ridge Loop Trail is part of the Garin/Drycreek East Bay Regional Parks. This trail might…read morebe considered one of the more strenuous hikes, but also one with great views. You can access this trail from the main entrance "down below," or via the Whipsnake trail. Trail was in good shape today. I was able to traverse it with my mountain bike without any trouble. Not much cover, so can be really hot!

I love coming to this beautiful park because it's so quiet so much space hiking. It has a trail for…read moreany ages and it's also for advanced if you like. The air is so crisp and fresh. I enjoy my sister time in the early mornings so I can get my cardio in for the day and still have the rest of the day for whatever else. It has many hills you can choose to go fir a couple of hills or 10 hills it's many times choose from and if you have time have a seat at one of the benches and just enjoy the sounds if birds and squirls you might even see a bunny. I got to see some cows roaming around too such a treat.

Just moved to the bay not too long ago, and found this great place to hike and hang out.read more

It is a decent park!…read more There is a small gazebo with seating. Children's play area which was Pretty clean. A small Bridge looks beautiful. Besides Bridge you can see Union city trail Entry. I saw some people walking and cycling. Under the bridge saw many ducks were playing. :) You can see so many trees and beautiful flowers around. Park you vehicle the street.

A great trail on the west side of Lake Chabot!!!…read more I'm lucky I live a quick drive away from here. This is one of my go to trails when I want to get a quick mid week hike in and I don't have a lot of time. I access this trail through Chabot Park, this trail is to the left. It's all dirt, small rolling hills until you get to the camp grounds. This trail doesn't always run right next to Lake Chabot, lots of curving in and out from the lake and back with small inclines and declines along the way. This trail is mostly used by walkers and bike riders, and it's a good way to just get away from it all, at least for a little while, or as long as you feel like it!!

MY PHOTOGRAPHS. (1) View to the south, of a deep canyon. At the top of my photo, you can see the…read moreBay-O-Vista neighborhood in San Leandro. (2) Later on, you pass a little peninsula of land, where people sometimes go fishing. Here and there by the water's edge there are thick patches of tall reeds. (3) Further along on Bass Cove Trail, there is a transition in the trail, where long branches from thousands of trees cover the entire trail, like a tunnel. (4) Gulch that is covered with arching trees, where the tree are covered with bright green moss. (5) Further along on Bass Cove Trail, you will encounter a second trail sign at a fork in the trail. The sign indicates the direction to Bass Cove, and the direction of Goldenrod Trail. I am posing in this photo. (6) Close up photo of one of the thousands of trees covered with bright green moss. (7) View of a beautiful little bay, located at the western edge of Lake Chabot. As you can see from this photograph, Bass Cove Trail is now about 200 feet above the Lake Chabot. (8) Photograph of several ducks. The ducks are swimming at the northern-most part of Bass Cove. BASS COVE TRAIL. The most direct access to Bass Cove Trail is by starting at the parking lot at the end of Estudillo Ave. The initial part of the hike is uphill and, once beyond the dam, it remains mostly level, where you are taking a clockwise route around Lake Chabot. Early in your hike, you will encounter a chain linked fence at the right side of the trail. Just beyond this fence is a very steep hill (almost a cliff) where a canyon resides at the bottom of the cliff. The view of the trees growing near the bottom of this canyon is beautiful. Dramatic photographs can be taken from the top of the very steep hill. Further along Bass Cove Trail, hikers will encounter a beach that has thick clusters of reeds. On occasion, one or two fishermen practice their fishing hobby near these reeds. A tiny restroom is at the edge of Bass Cove Trail, next to this beach. DISTINCTIVE STYLE OF BASS COVE TRAIL. From the beach with reeds, all the way to the northern-most area of Bass Cove, the trail consists of about 20 loops that loop inland and away from the lake, and about 20 loops that loop towards the lake. The trail loops inland where there is a gulch (the gulch is like a notch in the mountain, and the trail takes you through this notch). The trail loops towards the lake, wherever a narrow hill extends from the mountain to the west. This extending hill is sort of like an arm reaching out from the mountain to the west (here, the trail allows you to skirt this arm, and to walk around the extending arm). When hiking northwards, the gulches to your left provide opportunities for taking photographs of moss-covered trees and bushy clusters of ferns. To the right side of the trail, which is filled with gnarly-looking trees, some of them covered with electric-green moss. Because the brightly-lit waters of Lake Chabot are in back of the gnarly trees, the outlines of the gnarly trees are easier to see. DUCKS. My 300 millimeter telephoto lens enabled me to take several photographs of the ducks that make their home at the northern-most area of Bass Cove. This northern-most area had another cluster of reeds. Once at this northern-most area, hikers have the choice of continuing their clockwise hike around Lake Chabot, or continuing in the northwards direction on a straight trail (not a loop trail) that follows along Grass Valley Creek. HUMOR WHILE HIKING. Near the end of my return hike, I noticed two women walking uphill towards me, and one of them was wearing a long coat with an unusual color. I paused in my walk and said, "Can you tell me the color of your coat? I know that it is not pink or scarlet." Then, the woman with the brightly colored coat answered, "It is fuchsia ! ! !" Within a blink of an eye, I replied, "Oh, I was so CONFUCHED ! ! !" The two ladies responded with a cascade of merry laughs. Then, I continued my walk, and I was glad that their response had made my day.

Great place to do outdoor activities such as playing baseball soccer cricket, and also has space…read morefor toddlers to enjoy the rides and swings. Awesome place to bring your dogs for walks.

a review from @amom2kidsandapark…read more It was hot today and this park seemed like the perfect destination...sea breeze, amiright? No. No, I'm wrong. There's a large man-made hill between the park and the shore blocking any and all "sea breeze". With zero to no shade over the structure, it's safe to say we didn't stay here long. The park is pretty large with two ball fields and plenty of grass in between (no permanent outfield boards so it's essentially a huge open field with some dirt and a backstop on either corner). The entire park has paved sidewalks all around, especially near the playground where the sidewalks weave in and out of picnic tables and a man-made grove of small/someday giving shade trees. That's one thing this park really has going for it, there's a lot of trees. The play structure is in a circle format with bridges or a crawl tunnel connecting platform to platform. This format really allows for younger children not yet ready for the suspended lily pads or monkey bars to have fun and enjoy the entire structure. There are three slides (sidewinder, tube, double), steps, various ladders, activities, and the before mentioned crawl tube that can almost act as a fourth slide because of the angle. No swings or playground extras. While there is a parking lot and bathroom it couldn't be any farther from the playground. We parked on Point Lobos Ct which is much closer to the playground but we still had to walk a few minutes to get to the playground since it's tucked in the back corner. This park is great for biking and scootering or even stroller walks since it has a lot of long sidewalks.