One of those backyard discoveries that makes me question why it's taken me so long to actually get…read morehere. Welp... I finally made it here. And it is truly sensational. I've pretty much been all up, down, and around Tilden Park. But even with that, I always seem to discover trails that I've never hiked before. It's a huge park, so that makes total sense. Wildcat Peak was one of those recent discovery trails and vista points for me. I've always seen it on the park map, but you know when you get used to hiking on your favorite trails and you neglect all of the rest? That was me. I mean, that IS me. A creature of habit I guess. So on this very day, I decided to explore a different part of Tilden. Entered the park through the nature area and started near Jewel Lake on the Wildcat Creek Trail. This trail is super easy, flat, and partially paved. You'll pass by Jewel Lake along this trail. Turned right onto Sylvan and then left onto the Wildcat Peak Trail. This part of the Wildcat Peak Trail features switchbacks that incline up to the peak. It's a nice workout in general, but the views of the Bay is what makes this jaunt super enjoyable. Once you reach the peak, you'll have the most incredible views of the Bay Bridge, Briones Reservoir, San Pablo Bay, and Berkeley city views. There's a little brick barrier wall at the summit where you can sit and admire the views. It's 360 degrees of pure scenic bliss up there. From here, you can go back the same way you came up, or you can connect to another trail. I connected to the Laurel Canyon trail which looped me back around to the Tilden Nature area. There are so many vibrant wildflowers and plants nestled along this trail loop. The trail has a nice mix of covered and exposed paths. You'll pass through beautiful groves and notice the rampant wildlife on the trails. In the late winter and early spring, it's so incredibly green here. Wildcat Peak is such a gorgeous vista point within Tilden Park. I'd highly recommend the Wildcat Creek/Wildcat Peak/ Sylvan/Laurel Canyon trail loops. It's simply marvelous.

It's hard to imagine that the bucolic fire roads in Wildcat Canyon and Tilden Park once connected…read morethe US military with missile radar stations and launch sites during the depths of the Cold War. Or maybe not given the escalating tensions we have with Russia. But back in 1962 during a moment of atypical calm, a stone circle was built by the Berkeley Rotary Club to allow people agitated by the Commies a meditative spot to take in panoramic, 360-degree views of the SF Bay Area to the west and San Pablo Reservoir to the east. Years later it's still a nice respite if it isn't crowded up here as it sometimes does on warm weekends. Most people walk on Nimitz Way, the mostly paved path from Inspiration Point, to get here. However, my favorite route starts on the Wildcat Creek Trail where I take the gradual climb on the Conlon Trail where you get the same bay views you get from the peak. Except maybe for a herd of unimpressed cows in your way. I then descend on the zig-zaggy Wildcat Peak Trail back to Wildcat Creek. Gee, I sound like an actual hiker, don't I? RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

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.

One of the great views of the Bay area is Grizzly Peak…read more I came to visit and my friends took me here to get a view of the Bay area as a whole and it was so amazing. The winding roads that led to the peak were definitely something this Florida gal was not ready for but it was worth the drive! Not too long but definitely a bit winding path upwards. The view is free and you can see all parts of the Bay here, especially if it's a clear day. It seems like a lot of locals (especially kids) come here to hangout. A nice spot to detour and take people from out of town to hang.

A must-see in the East Bay. I love taking out-of-towners here for a guaranteed "WOW" moment!…read moreParking is usually pretty full because of its popularity, so worth getting there a bit before sunset to grab a spot. Dusk/nighttime is beautiful too when the city lights start twinkling. Great spot to bring hot tea and cuddle up with a date to see some stars too

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.

My friend and I started going on hikes sometime in October. We wanted to get out there and find…read moredifferent ways of being active but also just enjoying nature. I found this trail on AllTrails app and we have it a go. I wish I could remember how long it was. This is what I get for doing a review too late but I will say this - it is a lovely trail. The views are picturesque but unbelievable. It is also a busy trail. Say hi to your fellow hikers :-)

MY PHOTOGRAPHS. During the first week of February 2021, I took two hikes on Seaview Trail, each…read moretime taking photos. The attached photographs show: (1) Early in your hike, you will encounter a view of Mount Diablo. My photo shows Mount Diablo framed in between a V-shaped arrangement of two skinny branches of a bush; (2) Lichen clinging to branches of a dead bush. Large networks of lichen cling to the branches of fallen trees, and to the branches of dead bushes. These networks are a treat-to-the-eye, especially when illuminated by the morning sun; (3) Photograph of me wearing my CREAM T-shirt, showing Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker. I am standing on Seaview Trail near the trailhead for Arroyo Trail; (4) Close-up photograph of little berries and pretty lenticular leaves. It is my guess that these belong to a Bay Laurel tree; (5) After about 20 minutes of hiking you can see the sunlit WESTERN side of a line of eucalyptus trees. My photo of this line of trees taken from a distance of about a quarter mile from the row of trees; (6) After about 20 minutes of hiking you can see the shaded EASTERN side of a line of eucalyptus trees. My second photo of this line of trees shows a close-up view of these trees; (7) Hikers heading northwards will encounter little hills on the right side of the trail. Some of these hills have narrow paths leading to the top. One photo shows Strawberry Shortcake posing at the top of one of these hills. The array of trees sitting at the top of this hill, with the motley shadows, is fascinating. SEAVIEW TRAIL is a 2.2 mile trail where the trailhead is located next to a parking lot. This particular parking lot is intended for those intending to hike on Seaview Trail or on Vollmer Peak Trail. The parking lot is located near a separate parking lot that is mainly for folks visiting the STEAM TRAIN. Seaview Trail takes you north, north, north, and it ends at Wildcat Canyon Road, at a spot not far from Inspiration Point. This means that the round trip walk on Seaview Trail is about 4.4 miles. Most of Seaview Trail takes the form of a 15-foot wide dirt road. During my hike, I only encountered hikers and their dogs. There were not any bicycles or automobiles. POSSIBLE NEED FOR A MAP DURING YOUR FIRST HIKE. During my first minute on Seaview Trail, I was a little confused because the trail takes you in the southerly direction. But after about 100 feet, the trail makes a sharp hairpin turn, and then takes you in the northerly direction. It might be a good idea for first-time hikers to bring along a map. Once you are on Seaview Trail, several other trails branch off from this trail and descend into lower areas of Tilden Park. These trails include, Arroyo Trail, Big Springs Trail, Lower Big Springs Trail, and Quarry Trail.

There's free parking available at the Tilden Nature Area, near the Environmental Education Center…read moreand Little Farm. From that point, there are a couple different trails that lead to Jewel Lake, one is narrow surrounded by trees and vegetation, the curvy dirt pathways making for an interesting trek with fallen leaves, twigs, tree branches and logs to climb through along the way. Some parts of this trail were muddy the other day due to the rains earlier in the week, but it was still a nice little hike leading straight to the lake. The other trail is on the opposite side, mainly concrete surface and much wider (can fit vehicles). This was the trail I opted to take back to the parking lot, to avoid the mud on the first path I took. A few benches and seating can be found along both trails. And this is a very easy hike, less than a quarter mile. The lake itself is not the most picturesque and not ideal for picnicking, but visitors can still appreciate the views and observe nature. I didn't see any waterbirds during my recent visit, but I did see a bunch of adorable turtles on the logs in the lake. There are several wooden bridges in the area, as well as the spillway. Also, info boards about the history of Wildcat Creek and the formation of the reservoir now known as Jewel Lake, and reminders of how the lake provides a habitat for local wildlife.

Jewel Lake is in the Tilden Regional Park area very close to Little Farm. The lake itself is…read morenothing spectacular, but the hike there is perfect for little ones. It's a 0.2 mile hike through beautiful redwoods from Little Farm. The path is flat, partly paved, and partly gravel. We also found a wooden pathway that parallels the trail, that our kids loved running through. It's shaded by trees and very safe from little trips. There's also a few benches along the way, which is perfect for resting and have a little snack. Our 2-year-old hiked all the way to the lake and back without needing to be carried. The lake itself was a bit of a disappointment. It was covered with algae, and we only saw 1 duck. This was late June, so it's probably nicer earlier in the year.

This has been on my want to hike list for a long time and I finally got to do it on a perfect day…read more The weather was great, overcast and cool. We hiked it so fast and the views were spectacular. I can't wait to hike this in the spring with all the flowers in bloom. There are so many surrounding trails and I want to do them all! Lots of bathrooms throughout the trail. There is a visitor center at the top which you can drive to also. Please come and creat your own adventure.

My God-father lives nearby, and he thought this would be a nice little distraction from the…read morebustling cities below. He was right. The drive up was intense. It's been a while since I drove roads similar to this, so it wasn't too bad, up. Hopefully down is OK too. There is a small entry fee (per car), but also a senior discount. So we only had time for the Summit. There are more Yelp! listings for other parts of the park. OK, so I was not prepared for the breathtaking views! It was a slightly hazy, or was it smoggy, day... But the views were still fantastic! If the views were not enough, there is a visitors' center in the light tower at the summit. Inside is lots of information, a Rangers' Station, and several informative and/or interactive displays. And there is camping in Mt Diablo too! To make things even more interesting, we took a different route down. I don't like backtracking, so this was a bonus... And i wasn't too bad.

My favorite hike in the Bay Area (so far)! The grand loop consists of the Juniper Trail, Summit…read moreTrail, North Peak Trail, Bald Ridge Trail, Meridian Ridge, and finally Deer Flat Road. 6.8 miles with a total elevation change of 1,800 feet sounds like a lot, and it is (especially if you're used to flat trails). Definitely bring water and snacks for energy. Driving to Mt. Diablo is easy enough. Entering via South Gate, there is a $10 vehicle entrance fee. Going up the mountain itself can take up to 30 min, with avoiding bikers going both up and down the roads. I managed to find one of the last spots at the massive turnaround at Juniper Campground at 11am. I definitely recommend coming early just to find a spot. There's also bathrooms at the campground. Since the "trail" is a loop you can either start on the Juniper Trail and go clockwise or start on Deer Flat Road and go the opposite way. We chose to go clockwise and ascend ~700 ft up to the peak. There's a cool info center at the top detailing the mountain's history and wildlife of the area. The rest of the hike was descending 1,800 feet down and re-ascending 1,000 feet to make it back to our car. Honestly, I don't know if one direction would be easier than the other, but if you want pics at the top you might want to start at Juniper Trail first so you're not too sweaty at the top. The weather was nice for the first half of the hike, no clouds and barely any wind. But the second half was around the other side of the mountain so winds picked up. Definitely bring layers!

I haven't been to Mt. Diablo since I was a kid, so it was a blast from the past coming back! You…read morecan drive all the way to the summit, so my friend and I decided to hike the "grand loop," which covers ~7 miles and goes around the whole mountain. We were fortunate enough to have a very clear day, and you can see for miles and miles all the way around the mountain. Views were amazing. It was an eighteen hundred foot elevation gain, so no joke, but only about 400-500 per mile for the 3.5 miles that went uphill. Definitely was steep at points but very doable, even for those who aren't in the best hiking shape. Not sure I agree with my dad, who claims the views from the summit are some of the best in the world, but it was definitely well worth a visit, and I really enjoyed getting the 360 degree view throughout the course of the hike! A few tips: set your GPS for the juniper campground to get you to the nearest parking lot. I recommend going clockwise so you can end on a high with the summit (and a downhill!). The trail is hot always the best marked, so I recommend downloading a free app such as AllTrails to make sure you don't lose your way!