They finally finished the Rodeo stretch of the San Pablo Bay Regional Trail at Pacific Avenue. They…read morespent money on a large footbridge over the marshland, but there is little to do at the end but turn back since it turns industrial pretty fast. One suggestion I have is considering the walk over the railroad overpass and into this postage stamp of a shoreline park. There is indeed a Rodeo Beach but nothing like the scenic sandbar in the Marin Headlands. Just a lot of concrete rubble. Nicer is the small bluff that drops into the bay, an almost Monterey touch you don't expect to see in these parts. There's also a beached tugboat and remnants of a long-gone pier to consider for photographic purposes. OK, now you can walk back on the trail. RELATED - Exploring the western part of Contra Costa County? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more It's actually not that hard to imagine the motorcycle hill climb races that took place here nearly a century ago. The surprise is how this steep escarpment remained untouched by real estate developers given how suburban this part of El Cerrito feels. I keep picturing that scene in "The Great Escape" where Steve McQueen jumped the POW camp fence as a testosterone-driven act of Nazi defiance. He would've ended up on somebody's backyard deck or in a hopefully filled swimming pool if he tried it now. You can get there from the bottom of the hill on the sorta corner of Navallier and Blake where you see a little staircase and a flyer posted on the fence about the hill's history. Or alternatively, you can take the hidden hillside stairs of El Cerrito and enter at the top through the nondescript path from Potrero Avenue. From the entrance, the first segment affords you a wide foot trail and a panoramic view of the bay (photo: https://bit.ly/2PI6CXp). The hillside trail itself is rustic in either direction with a lot of tall grass and dead trees that look like they were cut and left there for years. And yet, the constant views of El Cerrito make it a more pleasurable experience than you would expect despite the unexpected appearance of immobile wild turkeys (photo: https://bit.ly/3kO4wAM). RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

A hiking trail that's perfect for both uphill and downhill hiking, Motorcycle Hill just proves…read moretrails can not only exist just about anywhere there is public land but it also proves that trails can be created at anytime thanks to the fortitude and creative energy of a group of community nature lovers. In this case Motorcycle Hill was founded by El Cerrito Trail Trekkers, which was formed in order to build, maintain, publicize and use the little known urban trails of El Cerrito, California and they not only lead local trail hikes for community members to participate in and explore but their main goal is to create new safe trails in safe open spaces so all can enjoy and make sure that paths continue to be cleared of excess brush so the fire danger remains low, which in this day and time is remarkable we've been so lucky in our hillside neighborhood. I've have been to Motorcycle Hill about six times and every time I venture downhill (notice not uphill because I'm no fool as I still have to walk all the way home!) and I get to experience something interesting and new every time I venture along Potrero Avenue high in the hills of El Cerrito to begin my trek each and every time. If you're not careful you will miss the start of the trail from the top of the hill each and every times as it literally is a slim dirt pathway in between two single-level homes. Once you keep walking along the dirt path and see a huge swath of small cactuses growing like bushes to your left, you know you are on the right path. From there you keeping walking straight along a dirt path which I believe was created much longer than the rest of the trail as it hugs the hillside until you hit what is basically a naturally-made observation area that looks over the entire cities of El Cerrito and Richmond and you would see it all if it weren't for the numerous eucalyptus trees blocking your view line. From there you will notice a nice wooden handrail that serves as your starting point and barrier for where you are supposed to walk next, down Motorcycle Hill. which is a series of small switchback dirt trails down the steep incline (hence the name Motorcycle Hill and dirt bikes tend to do this as they head downhill as well). And I do mean steep as you can tell this remains a fairly new trail that hasn't been traveling along by a vast number of trekkers as there remains a long of brush and dirt which can get in the way for a smooth trip down the hill. And just be careful because it can be a trip down this hill, as many a time I found myself slipping to the point where I had to grab on to a tree or even the dirt below to make sure I wasn't rolling down the steep hill. And beware of your shoes as they're going to get really dirty as even on a warm day after walking back and forth down the incline, my shoes were filthy of dry brown dirt. But that's just one of the sacrifices one makes when walking down one of El Cerrito's newest trails. Once you're done you'll find yourself among a number of eucalyptus trees that has been cut down to their stumps on the back side of some residences and then you'll once again find yourself in between a narrow pathway in between two homes, this time on Blake Street. Then you're back in the suburban community from where you once came with passing cars whizzing by. But for a little while, you will be as grateful as I was for this tiny and tranquil oasis among all of the chaotic suburban city life. At Motorcycle Hill, one can enjoy a healthy hike with scenic views of San Francisco Bay and beyond, and we have the El Cerrito Trail Trekkers to thank for all of this.

The city of San Pablo should really consider renaming this trail because a lot of people will think…read morethis is within Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. In fact, there is a separate Wildcat Creek Trail over there further downstream. This one is different. It's a paved urban greenway similar in spirit to the Richmond and Ohlone Greenways nearby. It's been the subject of a significant restoration project, very valid in intention, but the reality is that it's badly in need of maintenance because there's a lot of careless dumpling and quite a homeless population roaming on the walkway. It's not without merit, but it definitely needs help on a more consistent basis. Rebranding it might increase local interest in using it for its intended purposes. RELATED - Exploring this part of Contra Costa County? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18

Not many people here when I arrived only one other person was parked here.. but as we sat here…read morewe're now the 4th person within just 10 minutes! One of the downfalls is it's on a fairly packed street when there's traffic! Park ranger was here cleaning up so it's not a dirty place at least in the parking area. Today it was very cold as well since it's right by the water. It's located right after the Richmond sanitary service. I'd come back to walk when I'm not almost being blown away LOL. We got a wonderful concert from across the water. Couldn't understand them since I don't speak Spanish but i was vibing LOL. The park ranger was closing the gates as we were leaving at 4:11pm so keep that in mind before you travel out here ! Would come back and would recommend if you want somewhere not to steep in incline. Thanks for reading hope this helps !

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more I'm familiar with the Albany Bulb from previous walks off Buchanan Street. Most of the challenge came with scaling the craggy surfaces amid the makeshift, 'Burning Man'-style art pieces. I did take glances toward the left and wondered if there was anything beyond the tiny beach. Apparently not until this past July when the East Bay Reguonal Park District built out the shoreline trail that hugs Golden Gate Fields. They didn't skimp as the restoration project cost over $18 million, but the result is worth it as the new mile-long section offers uninterrupted views, intermittent benches, and defined paths that separate the cyclists from the walkers. The beach area looks a lot more inviting with picnic tables, restrooms, extra parking, and a staging area. Now if you combine this with a walk around the Bulb, you've got your 10,000 steps. Just sayin'. RELATED - Exploring Albany? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3ebRKbk

Beautiful trail next to Golden Gate Fields with lots of different paths you can take to explore…read more Love the views of the city and the bay bridge! Parking can be a bit tricky, as the lot is pretty small, but we were lucky enough to see someone pulling away as we got there. There's some street parking too. Some areas could be a bit muddy or pebbly so wear comfortable walking shoes. Would not recommend flip flops or sandals on this path. It connects to the Albany Bulb so you can check out all the cool artwork while you're there. I love that the art always changes and I see new and different pieces every time I go.

Just up the Richmond Parkway, Point Pinole provides a far more scenic walk along San Pablo Bay as…read moredoes the San Pablo Bay Regional Trail between Pinole and Rodeo. Then there's this section of the Bay Trail that fills a gap between Point San Pablo and Point Pinole. I applaud the effort here, but it's not the most attractive part of town. It sits on the edge of an industrial area where there are pools of wastewater, a field of solar panels, and Garbage Mountain. Yes, it's called Garbage Mountain because it was previously a dump. Fortunately there isn't any heavy lingering odor, but you will see and hear a lot of rumbling trucks from Republic Services Recycling while you walk on the Landfill Loop portion. The upside is that much of the trail sits next to the bay where the only distraction are all the darting anorexic squirrels. On the downside is the first part of the trail from the eerily vacant parking lot at the Wildcat Creek trailhead. It's a long stretch of loose gravel without much visual relief before you even get to the loop. It will definitely take up a big chunk of your FitBit step quotient if you follow the entire route. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

Great view and easy to climb. There are steps too that make it easier to get down. It's never too…read morecrowded the times I've come. People also respect the rock and it's usually clean in the surrounding area. Parking can be challenging because it's in a residential area, but sometimes people make their own parking if they're not staying too long. It's a great place that is close enough to get to without long windy roads and still have an amazing, clear view.

Indian Rock Park offers a serene escape, perfect for quiet reflection or quality time with family…read more The views are nothing short of breathtaking.

Cesar Chavez Park is one of my favorite parks to go to in the entire Bay Area during the summer…read more It sits on the water, so we can get very windy here. That's why I prefer to go in the summer when the days are warm. The wind cools you down nicely. The average temperature here at Cesar Chavez Park is probably about 10° cooler than the temperature in Berkeley proper during the summer, because here you get the onshore wind right off the ocean. Kites are extremely popular at this park. Bring your own, and sometimes there is a person selling them for exorbitant prices. To walk the circumference of the park takes about 45 minutes.

Beautiful spot by the bay with tons of space. Loved the large off-leash area for dogs--it made it…read morereally easy to just relax and walk.

We've been missing our Seattle hikes like crazy this year so the last few weeks we've been trying…read moreout the reservoir trails near Orinda. Enter in San Pablo Reservoir. It's a beautiful trail. It's shaded and generally well traveled. We didn't realize until we got to the Orinda Connector Staging Area location that it was permit only, however it was simple to find the permit online and easily purchase a $3 day pass while standing in front of the sign, which is located at 520 San Pablo Dam Road, and the sign-in sheet is down and around the corner from the gate. If you start at the same staging area, the first 5 minutes of the hike is a rocky trip down, but in my opinion is a much easier hike back up, which I didn't expect, and is generally otherwise low impact (although dusty). Our visit really convinced us to try out other trails in the area and we were surprised at how much we enjoyed the area and the view.

This review reflects our experience with only one very rude employee, who literally LOCKED us…read moreinside the park just because we failed to leave right at 4pm. This employee is a male who drives white Mitsubishi, was literally yelling at families with little kids and pregnant women. More than 10 cars started to pile up right in front of the exit gate and he came driving very recklessly towards the exit gate and also inside park and parking lot. This guy needs to control his emotions and need an anger management class.