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Loose Canyon Stopped-by Wildcat Regional Park (WRP) on a random weekend just to see what's what. The Good: *Free parking *Restrooms at the parking lot at McBryde (there might be more but that's the only one we saw) *Approx 5 1/2miles (one-way) from WRP to Tilden Park along the Wildcat Creek Trail *Wildcat Creek Trail is a fairly easy hike with TONS of shade and good, solid and super-wide surface--with asphalt in some sections. *Head up the Mezue Trail for some really fantastic scenery but be prepared as it has ZERO shade and is steep AF. The Meh: *While Wildcat Creek Trail is nice for an everyday hike it can be a little boring as the view gets repetitive and tbh is nothing you've never seen before. The Bad: *Nothing bad here! It's nature and it's fantastic. TLDR: Great place to get your hike on and check out the views or just get some steps.
It only takes one minute of bravery. One minute of insane, embarrassingly crazy courage to change your life. Sometimes, it only takes that one minute for something great to happen -- Max Monroe, Wildcat Or one can just need some exercise and want to hike ;-) Been at this park twice for two very fun hikes. I did the 8.7 loop that goes through Harvey Canyon and up to San Ramon Ridge. Spectacular Bay Area views! Most people are nice on the trail except for the selfish Karen's that don't mask up. Luckily I'm full of antibodies (COVID plus vaccine) so these uncaring types don't bother as much as before. I just enjoy the workout and the views. See the photos I've posted. Highly recommend!
Wildcat Canyon reminds me of home. Those beautiful green rolling hills, those bright blue sunny skies, and those majestic peek-a-boo views of the Bay. And, That's just the Bay Area for you. The hills and the views. Always waiting for me to explore them. Finally made my way over to Wildcat Canyon, and all I can say is damn. If you want exclusion, if you want some inclines, if you want access to those never ending rolling hills, this is it. This is your baby. This park is often overshadowed by its' big brother Tilden, but what you should know is that Wildcat can definitely hold its' own. For one thing, it's so much more secluded when compared to its' counterpart. And during these strange times of COVID, this is what people are longing for day in and day out. It's also what I'd like to call an "explorer" park. The rolling hills will have you wanting to keep going and going until you reach an end. But you may not reach an end in only one day's hike. It'll leave you so curious. Well, at least that's what it did to me. Did a short loop hike from Rifle Road to Leonard's Way and then to the Mezue Trail after I got off work one evening. Felt like I had barely scratched the surface, but this little hike gave me so much life. From the road, it doesn't look like there's anything down there. And then once you make it down the hill and you come from beneath the shaded path, it's like BOOM! Trails! There's a main dirt road trail (Rifle Road) where you can veer off and connect to tons of other trails. I ended up hiking up Leonard's Way which is a steep little jaunt to the top of the hill. It'll definitely have you huffing and puffing a bit, but once you get to the top, you'll be rewarded with the most stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge and beyond. I ended up passing by a few cows too. They're friendly as long as you don't mess with them. This part of the part is pretty much all the way exposed. If you're coming during tbt warmer months, sunscreen and water is definitely a must. But it's so worth it for the amazing views. As I was coming down the Mezue trail to finish out the loop, it felt like I was chasing the Bridge. I loved that even though this hike was exposed, i could still feel the cool breeze on my way back down. Wildcat Canyon also connects to Tilden Park and visa versa. If you're feeling really bold, try traversing both parks in one day. This was a nice change of scenery from my typical Redwood/Beach/Waterfall hikes. Plus, I damn near had the place all to myself. If you want seclusion and rolling hills that seem to be endless, give Wildcat Canyon a try. It's sure to impress.
One of the amazing places in the East Bay regional Park District. Absolutely beautiful hike. Take the circle hike, go counter-clockwise, and do not be discouraged by the lack of scenery for a about the first couple miles. The last few miles of the hike are pretty darn awesome. I am not, but if you are a mountain biker, this is some prime mountain biking territory. Hills and slopes like you will not believe. don't bring the street bike, because you won't make it. Everyone I saw with a street bike was walking their bike. Heels are way too steep.
Pupper approved! It's a great park for hiking with bay views, even when the hills are dry this time of year. Plenty of parking, even on the weekend. No cost to enter the park either. The loop I like doing is about 2.1 miles and is just a wide circle to one of the main hill bluffs with a bench overlooking the bay. Plenty of moderate uphill climbs to get your heart pumping and check the cardio box. We wanted to tire out an energetic doggo, which half worked lol. If you're hiking with dogs, please be aware that there are a lot of burs on the trail so check your dog's paws during and after the hike. We had to pick out a few, so maybe consider those rocking those trail boots on your dog or just stay on very established main trails to be safe. There are also cattle grazing in certain areas of the park, but as long as your dog is on the leash and well behaved, the cows could care less about your presence. Not a bad way to get a little exercise and fresh air!
Interesting hike ending at the remains of the Grande Vista Sanitarium, founded by Dr. Hendrik Belgum in the early 1900's to treat patients with mental disorders. The remains include fruit trees, palm trees, and the foundation "to insure our guests an abundance of fresh, wholesome, nourishing food, so essential to the restoration of health," per the hospital's brochure. The panoramic view of the Bay Area along the hill includes the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Bay Bridge... with cows scattered along the road. The whole loop along the perimeter is considered as "moderate" level per East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD), which started out as flat along the Wildcat Creek Trail, then the fun begins among the fields of cows when I turned to the Mezue Trail as I hike up and down the hills. Lastly, I took the San Pablo Trail and ended the loop with the Belgum Trail where a mental hospital used to be. The trail described took about 3 hours because I stopped frequently to stare at cows and looked at the panoramic view of the Bay Area - especially towards San Francisco
A very nice park, very clean with nice flushing toilets. Lots of smaller sub parks inside the big park that you can rent for parties or special events. There's lots of privacy and you can play music and is a very nice environment. My union had a party here and it was a very nice private area. Highly recommended for picnics, parties and hiking.
A fun and view filled hike along the San Pablo ridge. All trails gas it down as hard, but for a moderate to experienced hiker it was more middle of the road difficulty, definitely recommend counter clockwise except in the heat of the day. The middle part of the hike is in full sun, given some of the steep slopes I would definitely recommend either way to make it a morning hike, unless the fog is in or winter time. Lots of cattle, wild flowers and butterflies. Amazing views of the bay, delta, surrounding hills and mountains, and the city are to be had throughout. It is a 7 + mile hike, so be prepared with lots of water and snacks. Lots of parking, but come early, cause it fills up fast by mid-day. Definitely worth the hike and a repeat return.
VERY IMPORTANT REVIEW!!!!! Read for Safety before going! alright first off i wanna say it is a beautiful area although i did not get to enjoy the main trail let me get into why.... You must look out for a woman with brown/dark hair and lightish complexion with two either mini poodles or doodles (their fur color is like a redish golden retriever) why i'm saying to look out is because she told us she lived in the neighborhood and she was out on her daily walk! So here's the story i took my dog there this saturday (yesterday) and it was barely into the hike we ran into a woman with two off leash dogs (this hiking trail says dogs have to be leashed) so okay see them i purposely went back a little on the trail to off trail piece to give my dog and her and her dogs space she said nothing to her dogs at all and lets one of them run up to my dog where as they only have a foot of space at most between them so i creat some distance. as she's jsut watching that whole thing not saying anything to the dog or us i simply just say "can you get ur dog" nothing rude and she immediately said why my dogs not bothering you and then basically me and my mom were saying like uh ur dog just went up to our dog bla bla and then this lady say "oh well maybe we'll just go this way" as in the way we're walking like trying to be some smart ass like she can just do whatever she wants and try to harass us and then it become an altercation because that's threatening my family and my dog which is not cool at all and then we basically were saying you don't wanna try us woman and then we continue on because forget that woman and only a couple minutes later.... she's behind us on the trail purposely followed us and had the dog that ran up to us on a lead okay what ab the other one? she then said look my dog on a leash so you guys can calm down and then bla bla she says she doesn't need to leash the other n then the other one RUNSSSSS at us and my mom lightly kicked the dog away as i picked up my dog immediately. then she says she wasn't following us after she clearly said she would and then did and then first thing she said seeing us again was something obviously meant for us so yeah we didn't get to go to the top of the hill and go to where the cows were because of that lady trying to go that way and it was simply not safe for us with her there. so yeah wish we got to enjoy the actual hike of the place but it is what it is an please be careful everyone!
This is my new favorite hiking spot in the East Bay. My go-to hike is a 3 hour, 7 mile loop called "San Pablo Ridge Trail." My friend introduced me to this hike but he found it on the All Trails app. Download it for free and look up: San Pablo Ridge Trail. If you follow the directions on the app the first half is really spectacular with rolling green hills that give your glutes and legs a great workout. You feel like you're in Ireland, not that I've ever been, but I imagine it would look like this. Beautiful views anywhere you look. On a clear day you get a gorgeous look of the Golden Gate and San Francisco, not to mention all of Richmond laid out in front of you in grid form. COYOTE WARNING: Lots of coyote sightings!!! If you have little dogs, don't risk it. Leash up your fur babies the entire time. I have now seen coyotes in every section of this trail. My babies are all toy breed, ~10lbs, strong athletic little girls but they would be no match to a coyote especially because I often see them in pairs, or even packs of 3. The last time I was there I saw a coyote pack cut across the trail 15 feet in front me. One of them had a limp rabbit in its mouth. My babies were off leash and I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes. Thankfully some other hikers helped me round up my dog children but I learned my lesson. Never again.
If you're looking to remake "Dances With Wolves", this is probably a good place to shoot it since the park is mostly grassland with clumps of trees and random herds of cattle. Sure, they're not buffalo, and you'll have to hire the Native Americans and pay them scale, and oh yeah, you'll need to block out the East Bay 'burbs in the background. Otherwise, it's ideal with 25 miles of trails that range from easy (like the parking lot...yes, that counts) to are-you-effing-kidding-me? (like that nearly vertical uphill slope at the beginning of the San Pablo Ridge Trail). You can probably tell I'm not that hardcore a hiker. If Uber had a rickshaw service, I would have considered it at certain elevation points. But yes, I scaled those hills for the panoramic views that show Angel Island and Mt. Tam in the distance (photo: http://bit.ly/2wGwWnB). The trails themselves are full of rocks and gravel, but they're wide enough to accommodate mountain bikers, dog walkers, and hikers alike. I found the biggest challenge was avoiding the numerous cowpies, but the cows appeared non-negotiable on their location (photo: http://bit.ly/2MIhfXM). It's pretty easy to get to as it's right off the McBryde Avenue exit on 80. The parking lot is spacious at the Alvarado staging area, though I find it interesting how many people just hang out in their cars and trucks here. I'd probably join them, but I have to hold auditions for Stands With a Fist and the rest of the tribe. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here are the places around the Bay Area where I have trod: bit.ly/2OsCCsK
I've been living in this area for 31 years and it's only been in the last couple of years that I found out about hiking at Wildcat. I never knew I could ride up to the end of McBryde and enjoy a beautiful hiking spot like this. We always went to Temelpais and Muir. There's some spots that we hiked after 3 hours that almost made me feel like I was in Scotland. It's nice to see foxes, coyotes and cows. I love coming up here for a picnic and exercising with friends and family.
This park is one of the hidden gems in the East Bay. Even on the busiest of days, I have found that the parking is ample. In fact, I don't believe I've ever actually waited for a space. Most of the time, the parking lot is only about 50% full. In the center of this park, is a large open area where cows roam. They are wonderfully docile, and spend all their time drinking water and eating the grass. Their main purpose is actually to eat the grass, which reduces the fire danger the summer. At various places throughout the park you'll find large metal gates. It's important to close these gates because the cows will get out if there left open. I recommend heading into the park and at every turn simply taking the path that goes to the higher altitude. Once you get to the top laydown blanket and enjoy the amazing 270° views of the bay area. On a clear day and see well past the Golden gate. On our last visit, I could've sworn we could see the Farallon Islands which are about 13 miles offshore. There have been security issues in the parking lot with regards to car break-ins. It is highly recommended that you do not leave anything valuable in your car. In fact I would leave anything visible through the windows.
"Can we go hike with the cows this weekend?" "With the cows??... Oh yeah! We haven't done that in a while, huh?" "Yeah. I want to go hike with the cows this weekend." "Ok, my little darling. Let's go hike with the cows." "Can I pet the cows??" "No. Don't touch the cows. Remember that time I tried to pet one of the cows and it almost ran all over me?" Plenty of car parking. No bathrooms. Spectacular views! Latch the gate after you go through so the cows don't get out. Don't pet the cows. If you choose to give a thumbs-up or not, I hope you found my review helpful! read more
3 years ago
Although I've historically preferred hiking in Tilden Park, I usually park in Wildcat Canyon, because it's closer to me, and because I essentially consider Tilden and Wildcat to be the same park. Wildcat Canyon and Tilden Park sit right next to each other, and are connected by Wildcat Gorge Trail. Tilden is easier to access from the Bay side, while Wildcat is easier to access from Sacramento. Overall, Tilden is more oriented towards small children, while Wildcat is more oriented towards serious hikers and cyclists. The thing about Wildcat Canyon is, if you only hike Wildcat Gorge Trail, and don't take any of the hard trails up the mountains, then you will miss almost everything there is to see. All of the scenic views are up on top of Leonard's Trail, Mezue Trail, Havey Canyon Trail, etc. Most of these trails are located on the side of Wildcat that is closest to Tilden. Wildcat Gorge Trail itself is mostly boring and flat. It starts out as an abandoned paved road, which eventually gives way to a dirt road, a smaller gravel road, and then the trail to Tilden. The entire time I was hiking Wildcat Gorge Trail, I was having thoughts like, "This would have been so much better on a bike. There's not much to see." (Or, at least, nothing that couldn't have been seen in Tilden Park.) On the other hand, Mezue Trail, which is accessible through the park via Wildcat Gorge Trail, is one of the prettiest trails I've hiked in the area, and was so hard to hike that (combined with the rest of the day of hiking) it left me barely able to get out of bed the next morning. Technically, I didn't get to the top or finish Mezue trail (this time), but from a mile or so up, it felt like I could see the entire bay area. The views were comparable to Mission Peak. Since it was a clear day, I was even able to see the Golden Gate Bridge. The distance from the parking lot at Wildcat to the edge of Tilden is just over three miles. Technically, the space between them is "closed," but the closure is nothing more than a sign which literally everyone ignores. (Dozens of runners passed me on my way to Tilden, and I didn't see a single one of them turn around and run back the other way-- they all passed through the "closure.") Overall, I'm not the biggest fan of Wildcat Canyon itself, but love it for the free/easy parking and the trails that it leads to. read more
Loose Canyon Stopped-by Wildcat Regional Park (WRP) on a random weekend just to see what's what. The Good: *Free parking *Restrooms at the parking lot at McBryde (there might be more but that's the only one we saw) *Approx 5 1/2miles (one-way) from WRP to Tilden Park along the Wildcat Creek Trail *Wildcat Creek Trail is a fairly easy hike with TONS of shade and good, solid and super-wide surface--with asphalt in some sections. *Head up the Mezue Trail for some really fantastic scenery but be prepared as it has ZERO shade and is steep AF. The Meh: *While Wildcat Creek Trail is nice for an everyday hike it can be a little boring as the view gets repetitive and tbh is nothing you've never seen before. The Bad: *Nothing bad here! It's nature and it's fantastic. TLDR: Great place to get your hike on and check out the views or just get some steps. read more
It only takes one minute of bravery. One minute of insane, embarrassingly crazy courage to change your life. Sometimes, it only takes that one minute for something great to happen -- Max Monroe, Wildcat Or one can just need some exercise and want to hike ;-) Been at this park twice for two very fun hikes. I did the 8.7 loop that goes through Harvey Canyon and up to San Ramon Ridge. Spectacular Bay Area views! Most people are nice on the trail except for the selfish Karen's that don't mask up. Luckily I'm full of antibodies (COVID plus vaccine) so these uncaring types don't bother as much as before. I just enjoy the workout and the views. See the photos I've posted. Highly recommend! read more
Wildcat Canyon reminds me of home. Those beautiful green rolling hills, those bright blue sunny skies, and those majestic peek-a-boo views of the Bay. And, That's just the Bay Area for you. The hills and the views. Always waiting for me to explore them. Finally made my way over to Wildcat Canyon, and all I can say is damn. If you want exclusion, if you want some inclines, if you want access to those never ending rolling hills, this is it. This is your baby. This park is often overshadowed by its' big brother Tilden, but what you should know is that Wildcat can definitely hold its' own. For one thing, it's so much more secluded when compared to its' counterpart. And during these strange times of COVID, this is what people are longing for day in and day out. It's also what I'd like to call an "explorer" park. The rolling hills will have you wanting to keep going and going until you reach an end. But you may not reach an end in only one day's hike. It'll leave you so curious. Well, at least that's what it did to me. Did a short loop hike from Rifle Road to Leonard's Way and then to the Mezue Trail after I got off work one evening. Felt like I had barely scratched the surface, but this little hike gave me so much life. From the road, it doesn't look like there's anything down there. And then once you make it down the hill and you come from beneath the shaded path, it's like BOOM! Trails! There's a main dirt road trail (Rifle Road) where you can veer off and connect to tons of other trails. I ended up hiking up Leonard's Way which is a steep little jaunt to the top of the hill. It'll definitely have you huffing and puffing a bit, but once you get to the top, you'll be rewarded with the most stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge and beyond. I ended up passing by a few cows too. They're friendly as long as you don't mess with them. This part of the part is pretty much all the way exposed. If you're coming during tbt warmer months, sunscreen and water is definitely a must. But it's so worth it for the amazing views. As I was coming down the Mezue trail to finish out the loop, it felt like I was chasing the Bridge. I loved that even though this hike was exposed, i could still feel the cool breeze on my way back down. Wildcat Canyon also connects to Tilden Park and visa versa. If you're feeling really bold, try traversing both parks in one day. This was a nice change of scenery from my typical Redwood/Beach/Waterfall hikes. Plus, I damn near had the place all to myself. If you want seclusion and rolling hills that seem to be endless, give Wildcat Canyon a try. It's sure to impress. read more
One of the amazing places in the East Bay regional Park District. Absolutely beautiful hike. Take the circle hike, go counter-clockwise, and do not be discouraged by the lack of scenery for a about the first couple miles. The last few miles of the hike are pretty darn awesome. I am not, but if you are a mountain biker, this is some prime mountain biking territory. Hills and slopes like you will not believe. don't bring the street bike, because you won't make it. Everyone I saw with a street bike was walking their bike. Heels are way too steep. read more
Pupper approved! It's a great park for hiking with bay views, even when the hills are dry this time of year. Plenty of parking, even on the weekend. No cost to enter the park either. The loop I like doing is about 2.1 miles and is just a wide circle to one of the main hill bluffs with a bench overlooking the bay. Plenty of moderate uphill climbs to get your heart pumping and check the cardio box. We wanted to tire out an energetic doggo, which half worked lol. If you're hiking with dogs, please be aware that there are a lot of burs on the trail so check your dog's paws during and after the hike. We had to pick out a few, so maybe consider those rocking those trail boots on your dog or just stay on very established main trails to be safe. There are also cattle grazing in certain areas of the park, but as long as your dog is on the leash and well behaved, the cows could care less about your presence. Not a bad way to get a little exercise and fresh air! read more
1 year ago
Interesting hike ending at the remains of the Grande Vista Sanitarium, founded by Dr. Hendrik Belgum in the early 1900's to treat patients with mental disorders. The remains include fruit trees, palm trees, and the foundation "to insure our guests an abundance of fresh, wholesome, nourishing food, so essential to the restoration of health," per the hospital's brochure. The panoramic view of the Bay Area along the hill includes the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and the Bay Bridge... with cows scattered along the road. The whole loop along the perimeter is considered as "moderate" level per East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD), which started out as flat along the Wildcat Creek Trail, then the fun begins among the fields of cows when I turned to the Mezue Trail as I hike up and down the hills. Lastly, I took the San Pablo Trail and ended the loop with the Belgum Trail where a mental hospital used to be. The trail described took about 3 hours because I stopped frequently to stare at cows and looked at the panoramic view of the Bay Area - especially towards San Francisco read more
4 years ago
A very nice park, very clean with nice flushing toilets. Lots of smaller sub parks inside the big park that you can rent for parties or special events. There's lots of privacy and you can play music and is a very nice environment. My union had a party here and it was a very nice private area. Highly recommended for picnics, parties and hiking. read more
A fun and view filled hike along the San Pablo ridge. All trails gas it down as hard, but for a moderate to experienced hiker it was more middle of the road difficulty, definitely recommend counter clockwise except in the heat of the day. The middle part of the hike is in full sun, given some of the steep slopes I would definitely recommend either way to make it a morning hike, unless the fog is in or winter time. Lots of cattle, wild flowers and butterflies. Amazing views of the bay, delta, surrounding hills and mountains, and the city are to be had throughout. It is a 7 + mile hike, so be prepared with lots of water and snacks. Lots of parking, but come early, cause it fills up fast by mid-day. Definitely worth the hike and a repeat return. read more
2 years ago
VERY IMPORTANT REVIEW!!!!! Read for Safety before going! alright first off i wanna say it is a beautiful area although i did not get to enjoy the main trail let me get into why.... You must look out for a woman with brown/dark hair and lightish complexion with two either mini poodles or doodles (their fur color is like a redish golden retriever) why i'm saying to look out is because she told us she lived in the neighborhood and she was out on her daily walk! So here's the story i took my dog there this saturday (yesterday) and it was barely into the hike we ran into a woman with two off leash dogs (this hiking trail says dogs have to be leashed) so okay see them i purposely went back a little on the trail to off trail piece to give my dog and her and her dogs space she said nothing to her dogs at all and lets one of them run up to my dog where as they only have a foot of space at most between them so i creat some distance. as she's jsut watching that whole thing not saying anything to the dog or us i simply just say "can you get ur dog" nothing rude and she immediately said why my dogs not bothering you and then basically me and my mom were saying like uh ur dog just went up to our dog bla bla and then this lady say "oh well maybe we'll just go this way" as in the way we're walking like trying to be some smart ass like she can just do whatever she wants and try to harass us and then it become an altercation because that's threatening my family and my dog which is not cool at all and then we basically were saying you don't wanna try us woman and then we continue on because forget that woman and only a couple minutes later.... she's behind us on the trail purposely followed us and had the dog that ran up to us on a lead okay what ab the other one? she then said look my dog on a leash so you guys can calm down and then bla bla she says she doesn't need to leash the other n then the other one RUNSSSSS at us and my mom lightly kicked the dog away as i picked up my dog immediately. then she says she wasn't following us after she clearly said she would and then did and then first thing she said seeing us again was something obviously meant for us so yeah we didn't get to go to the top of the hill and go to where the cows were because of that lady trying to go that way and it was simply not safe for us with her there. so yeah wish we got to enjoy the actual hike of the place but it is what it is an please be careful everyone! read more
6 years ago
This is my new favorite hiking spot in the East Bay. My go-to hike is a 3 hour, 7 mile loop called "San Pablo Ridge Trail." My friend introduced me to this hike but he found it on the All Trails app. Download it for free and look up: San Pablo Ridge Trail. If you follow the directions on the app the first half is really spectacular with rolling green hills that give your glutes and legs a great workout. You feel like you're in Ireland, not that I've ever been, but I imagine it would look like this. Beautiful views anywhere you look. On a clear day you get a gorgeous look of the Golden Gate and San Francisco, not to mention all of Richmond laid out in front of you in grid form. COYOTE WARNING: Lots of coyote sightings!!! If you have little dogs, don't risk it. Leash up your fur babies the entire time. I have now seen coyotes in every section of this trail. My babies are all toy breed, ~10lbs, strong athletic little girls but they would be no match to a coyote especially because I often see them in pairs, or even packs of 3. The last time I was there I saw a coyote pack cut across the trail 15 feet in front me. One of them had a limp rabbit in its mouth. My babies were off leash and I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes. Thankfully some other hikers helped me round up my dog children but I learned my lesson. Never again. read more
If you're looking to remake "Dances With Wolves", this is probably a good place to shoot it since the park is mostly grassland with clumps of trees and random herds of cattle. Sure, they're not buffalo, and you'll have to hire the Native Americans and pay them scale, and oh yeah, you'll need to block out the East Bay 'burbs in the background. Otherwise, it's ideal with 25 miles of trails that range from easy (like the parking lot...yes, that counts) to are-you-effing-kidding-me? (like that nearly vertical uphill slope at the beginning of the San Pablo Ridge Trail). You can probably tell I'm not that hardcore a hiker. If Uber had a rickshaw service, I would have considered it at certain elevation points. But yes, I scaled those hills for the panoramic views that show Angel Island and Mt. Tam in the distance (photo: http://bit.ly/2wGwWnB). The trails themselves are full of rocks and gravel, but they're wide enough to accommodate mountain bikers, dog walkers, and hikers alike. I found the biggest challenge was avoiding the numerous cowpies, but the cows appeared non-negotiable on their location (photo: http://bit.ly/2MIhfXM). It's pretty easy to get to as it's right off the McBryde Avenue exit on 80. The parking lot is spacious at the Alvarado staging area, though I find it interesting how many people just hang out in their cars and trucks here. I'd probably join them, but I have to hold auditions for Stands With a Fist and the rest of the tribe. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here are the places around the Bay Area where I have trod: bit.ly/2OsCCsK read more
I've been living in this area for 31 years and it's only been in the last couple of years that I found out about hiking at Wildcat. I never knew I could ride up to the end of McBryde and enjoy a beautiful hiking spot like this. We always went to Temelpais and Muir. There's some spots that we hiked after 3 hours that almost made me feel like I was in Scotland. It's nice to see foxes, coyotes and cows. I love coming up here for a picnic and exercising with friends and family. read more
This park is one of the hidden gems in the East Bay. Even on the busiest of days, I have found that the parking is ample. In fact, I don't believe I've ever actually waited for a space. Most of the time, the parking lot is only about 50% full. In the center of this park, is a large open area where cows roam. They are wonderfully docile, and spend all their time drinking water and eating the grass. Their main purpose is actually to eat the grass, which reduces the fire danger the summer. At various places throughout the park you'll find large metal gates. It's important to close these gates because the cows will get out if there left open. I recommend heading into the park and at every turn simply taking the path that goes to the higher altitude. Once you get to the top laydown blanket and enjoy the amazing 270° views of the bay area. On a clear day and see well past the Golden gate. On our last visit, I could've sworn we could see the Farallon Islands which are about 13 miles offshore. There have been security issues in the parking lot with regards to car break-ins. It is highly recommended that you do not leave anything valuable in your car. In fact I would leave anything visible through the windows. read more
Mid-January: No resolutions made thus none broken. The night before though, I'd been with a friend who'd lost 25 pounds. Her big reveal was that she'd paid for a weight loss service which features appetite suppressants at odds with any claims of heart health. "Any worries?" I asked to which she replied "hey, I've lost 25 pounds". The next day, I rose off my couch and went for a 10+ mile hike. The pounds might not shed off but neither will my heart valves be compromised from dubious peddlers of weight loss services. This is all my way of saying "go take a hike". Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is one of the East Bay's largest parks and I found it to be just wonderful: Free parking (though possibly inadequate; it appears you can also park on surrounding streets), dogs permitted on most trails, and mile upon mile of interesting trails. An observation I've made about East Bay hikes versus those in Marin is most are what I call "meandering". I generally find myself opening cattle gates and hiking on pasture land filled with cows. Wildcat Canyon is no exception to the rule however, here one can actually put together hikes that also feature elevation gain and get the blood pumping. The route I took went from the Wildcat Creek Trail (flat and easy) to the Havey Canyon Trail (muddy, with elevation gain), to Nimitz Way, the San Pablo Ridge Trail, then down to where I started via the Belgum Trail. Best to print off a copy of the trail map here and head on over: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/wildcat. Between the challenge of the hills, the cows so close I could practically pet them, and the two hunting coyotes spotted on a hillside opposite the path I was on I rank Wildcat Canyon high amongst my favorite East Bay parks. Regardless of resolutions, get off your couch and go. read more
6 years ago
This park has so many trails, the view is gorgeous with open skies and rolling hills. Be sure to bring a beanie or something for your ears when hiking in the evening as it tends to get quite windy and chilly. Wear layers as many of the trails are hilly and there isn't much protection from the sun or wind. We saw tons of cows and even a coyote. The trail seems to be used by bikers, runners, and hikers alike. Trails are wide but some people were not wearing masks. read more
4 years ago
Great park if you like exploring a working cattle ranch and a creek and forest full of critters from coyotes to owls crossing your path or the smells of native herbs. read more
7 years ago
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is the undeveloped version of Tilden Regional Park. The two are neighbors, and you can walk from one to the other and not know that you've changed parks. The difference is that there are no "attractions" in Wildcat. Just trails. But my, what big trails you have! Some are fire roads, and some fire roads are paved in preparation for residential development that never came. Some are single-path. Some are shaded, some are not. Some are flat, most are steep. A few go by the land that once housed the old sanatarium, look for the palm trees. Nimitz Way ends here, having passed by two (unmarked) missile stations. Wildcat is good for two big things: views and exercise. The canyon trail can also give your dogs exercise too, off-leash. On top of the ridge, and on the way up, you can see the north East Bay and San Pablo Reservoir. On a clear day, you can see both Mt. Tam and Mt. Diablo, and I wouldn't be surprised if you can also see Mt. St. Helena. Meanwhile, you can either stroll do a power walk, or use the natural Stairmaster.. Easy access from I-80, and a good-sized parking lot. A good local's place to burn off calories on a Saturday afternoon. read more
19 years ago
Another great East Bay Regional Park. Beautiful views of the ENTIRE bay (okay, well from Oakland to Martinez at least) and the ocean. Seriously, it's good. The Wildcat Canyon trail is shaded with lots of trees, including some huge Eucalyptuses. Head up the hills for the views and it's dry and grassy. Parts of Nimitz trail are paved, but most of it is a wide dirt trail. Dogs are allowed (I brought mine!) off leash if under control, but watch out for cow piles and barbed wire (thus only 4 stars instead of 5). I ended up having her on her leash about 25% of the time because I didn't want her to be chasing a bird or something and run into the barbed wire. This is not a very busy park, which is super nice. I went on a Sat afternoon and only encountered 4 other people (3 with dogs), and 4 bikers. Nice park and beautiful view. :) read more
I've been meaning to come to Wildcat Canyon Regional Park for quiiiite awhile. It's a hike -- I like hiking! -- and....it's dog-friendly! That is very rare in these parts. When I finally made it, I came with friends - no pooch - and am glad it turned out that way. It's an incredible hike with lovely views, but it's very steep...over, and over, and over again. While my dog is an energizer bunny, I think this would have been too much even for him. It was boiling hot and sunny the day we went, and there's no shade, so be ready for that. The views were super cool. You go from seeing cows in the valley to Oakland and San Francisco from the peaks. We also came after it had rained a lot, so the whole park was super lush. We'll be back! read more
8 years ago
This hike has certainly become one of my dogs and my favorite in the area. We have only been hitting this hike up for a year but it always keeps us coming. Not only is this hike off leash, but it's has a nice combination of steel concrete hills and then flattens out. I don't recall the trails name, but it's all the way straight from the parking lot hill, it's about 4.5miles out and back to the little bridge on the right and the creek. Watch out for cows on the left side of the trail. I leash up my dogs right before then because they think they are supposed to heard them. Haha. -Ample free parking with newly renovated bathrooms. -no poop bags available so bring your own. -ticks in bushes so make sure you and your pups are protected. read more
9 years ago
Not sure why it says closed on yelp, it is very much open. We hiked May 7th, 2017. We did the full 9 mile loop starting at Alvarado Park - Wildcat Creek Trail - Belgum Trail - San Pablo Ridge Trail (including Green Ridge Trail) - Nimitz Way - Conlon - Wildcat Creek Trail and finished at Alvarado. This hike was pretty straightforward in terms of turns and such and medium difficult I would say, not too tough. We walked back to the bus stop at McBride & San Pablo Ave which took us to the BART stop. I liked that the bus went right at the BART station so no further walking from there. That was nice, especially on the way back :) What I liked about this park (at least the trail loop we did) is that it had opened fields. Very different landscape comparing it with Tilden or Redwood in Oakland where it's mainly filled with trees providing lots of shade. You definitely need to bring water and hats and sunscreen while on Wildcat Regional due to the open landscape and sun hitting you directly. It was lovely to see cattle around, made me miss the feeling of being in the village :). Not too many people around which was nice at times but enough not to feel completely alone. Didn't see too many beautiful flowers compared with other hikes but lots of hills and beautiful views of Richmond city, San Pablo Reservoir and of course the majestic views at inspiration point. We saw lots of hikers of all ages including children and infants and lots of dogs :) Well kept and clean throughout pretty much. read more
When I was a student at UC Berkeley, I heard a lot of cool things about Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. It was apparently such a great hiking place that some of my friends would go there at least once a week. But like with a lot of the items that have been on my Bay Area list, I didn't get a chance to experience Wildcat Canyon for myself until recently this past weekend. To give you a sense of how it all went down, I need to start from the beginning (*puts on storytelling glasses*). You see, my girlfriend really loves cows; like me, we both find them cute. Thus whenever there's an opportunity to spot them along a hike, I have to take it. Unfortunately though, the last few times we had tried to hunt for moo moos were unsuccessful. So when I kept hyping up the fact that Wildcat Canyon was a guaranteed spot for cattle grazing, I put all the pressure on myself to make this dream a reality. When we arrived at Wildcat Canyon, I stupidly decided to park at the end of Park Avenue where Belgium Trail began. I only did this because I had a hunch that there would be cows along this route since the trail was marked with gates on the map (http://www.ebparks.org/Assets/files/parks/wildcat/Wildcat_2250w_32c.gif?). But as a pro tip, DO NOT DO THIS. Even though there are several spots here, I implore y'all to just park at the designated lot; it was extremely dangerous trying to park in this area. For instance, I almost rear ended a guy and nearly killed us both while trying to parallel park on a slope. With parking out of the way, it was just me, my girlfriend, and the cattle. Only, it was way too foggy to see anything! Plus, I wasn't sure if it was just the time change or the fog, but there were no cows (major sad face!) anywhere. Essentially, we began walking uphill on Belgium Trail with no sense of what was ahead. I guess, it seemed like we came at the most inopportune time possible. Now if this sounded like the worst date ever, I can't argue with that. During the first 20 or so minutes of this "hike," I could tell my girlfriend was getting stressed - from both the parking fiasco and the fact that there were no cows. My heart started to ache, as I knew I let my girl down. But right when it seemed like all hope was lost, we spotted one. Finally, a cow! It wasn't just a single one though; we saw a family of them rolling in the grass. The sinking feeling in my heart soon subsided, and poetically, the sun decided to show itself. From there it only got better, and my girlfriend and I enjoyed the rest of our time at Wildcat Canyon. With clear blue skies ahead of now us, we traversed over lush green hills and encountered scenic views that looked like they were straight out of a storybook. And besides the moo moos, we also saw horsies, dogs, and even a coyote! I just loved how free all the animals were here, and each one seemed so friendly to humans. Like not gonna lie, I actually saw people petting some horses. And, a little puppy even survived after charging at a cow! Bringing it back to this review (*takes glasses off*), I have to say that Wildcat Canyon Regional Park was definitely one hell of an adventure for my girlfriend and me. Even though we were only there for a few hours, the experience was breathtaking. The trails here were diverse and challenging (there are 9+ miles to explore!), the views of the East Bay were unprecedented, and the number of animals here was astonishing. And best of all, the park was so accessible (pretty much right off the I-80 freeway)! I couldn't believe that it took so long for me to check this place out, even though it was literally in my backyard while I was in college. All in all, I give Wildcat Canyon Regional Park a "Nice-su, I'd travel 2 hours for this" rating. Especially if you love seeing wildlife in their native habitats, you'll appreciate this place like I do. Have fun and prosper, read more
5 years ago
6 years ago
6 years ago
I love this part. Is down the street from my house and is literally always available for a Natura breather and the kids to play. Always clean, always city of Oakland workers working in and bring any questions needed. Great great hiking trail. I even heard there was one that goes from San Pablo all the way to Berkeley I want to check that one out in the near future. Tucked away up from mcbryde Avenue and Yuba Avenue. The perfect little secret Hideaway. Especially the brain kids. Plenty of benches and tables for parties are get-togethers. And plenty of hidden parks read more
7 years ago
5 years ago
Beautiful and beginner friendly hiking trails! There is a lot of parking available and lots of different trails depending on what you want to do (biking, hiking, riding horses). Lots of friendly cattle and my dog was allowed off leash for most of the hike. Well maintained trails and beautiful views of the bay. Definitely recommend! read more
Today was too gorgeous to go to the gym, so I went hiking here instead. The main portion, Alvarado Park, is a fairly urban park with paved trails and reservable picnic areas, including one alongside the creek. There's only street parking, but it's fairly plentiful. About 1/4 mile down the road is the Wildcat Canyon Staging Area - a 15-car parking lot leading into the trail system. Porta-potties are available in both areas, though I did not see water spigots. Trails within Alvarado are nice, but it's a spiderweb, so don't expect to be able to use the map very effectively. Once you get away from the picnic areas, though, it opens up for decent hiking. Trails are well-groomed, roughly equal to a nice cobblestone street. Be aware that most of the trails are completely unshaded, so bring sun protection (long-sleeves, hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses) and plenty of water. The trail system links into those in Tilden Regional Park, so you can build a scenic 5-mile or more loop trek if you want. A nice way to spend a couple hours; I just wish my camera hadn't died halfway through. read more
11 years ago
This is a huge dog-friendly off-leash park, one of the largest in the East Bay, at 2,427 acres. It has abundant free parking and no entrance fee. It is larger than both Redwood Regional and Tilden Park. The park is beautiful and is currently green and lush, when most parks are dry and brown. There are a lot of changes in scenery and you'll pass by abundant fields of wildflowers, oak trees, maples, madrones and even palm trees (on Belgum Trail). Most of the trails are up on the ridge, with vast views of the bay, but the trails can get hot so I recommend going early. Cows roam free throughout a lot of the park, but during our visit they stayed at a distance and couldn't care less about us. We've had run-ins with threatening cows at other East Bay parks, but they weren't an issue here. You can also find some trails without cows, just avoid going towards the ridges where there are cattle gates. For our hike we parked as far down as we could (away from the picnic area at the entrance), because many of the trailheads start at the end of the pavement. We still had to walk up the street a ways to the entry gate because cars are not allowed to park at the top. We took Wildcat Creek Trail a ways up the paved trail, then took Belgum Trail on the left to the Ridge Trail (Mccosker Trail), and back to where we started. The trails are a little hard to follow after the Ridge Trail, because there are so many side trails on the hillside. Once you reach the cattle gate at Monte Cresta Ave, just head down and to your left to circle back. You'll go through a cattle gate and end at the first trailhead nearest to the entrance on the original paved trail. Porta potties are available at the entrance near the picnic area. read more
16 years ago
I just got back from a gorgeous day hike up in the Wildcat range (how funny, that's my HS mascot!). The day was sunny, there was a slight breeze blowing in from the Bay, and no one else around. S_ and I had a blast! Apparently, there are some who say that this trail is ridiculously hard. We didn't experience any difficulties at all, but maybe that's because we came in through the back door like true rogues. Plus, we didn't have to hike that far at all to gain the best view of the whole bay from where we were. The millions of cow paddies we sat amongst whilst we partook in our simple lunch was completely offset by our awesome view. Mount Tam and the foggy Frisco skyline made up our glorious scenery, along with some lazy ass cows and their babies. Not complaining in the least! So I get that this park is hardly ever tread upon as its popularity is virtually nil; heck, I didn't really know much about it before today. Mayhaps it's the name of the place and the possibility of wild kittens roaming the hillsides. We didn't encounter anything more threatening than some really huge ass horseflies. There were also a couple pigeons up where we were that were chillin' like villains. So my reco to you, should you be curious for a great hike, some killer views, and fresh air without jumping all the way to Yosemite, try coming out to your backyard some time and taking a turn or two. I'll meet ya there! read more
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More info about Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
5755 Mcbryde Ave
Richmond, CA 94808
Directions
(888) 327-2757
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http://www.ebparks.org/parks/wildcat
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Ask the Community - Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
Is it allowed to pass with off-road motorcycles or is it prohibited?
Not allowed.
How are the foxtails?
They are prevalent in the open "sunny" areas. I actually just went hiking here this past week and had one stuck in my sock when I got back to the car that was bugging me.
Review Highlights - Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
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