This book’s hikes extend as far north as Richmond, as far south as Fremont, as far east as Mount Diablo, and cover many places in between. Each route starts with the park or trail name, followed by a block of information detailing the following:
The short, sweet hike at Lake Temescal is a perfect weekend activity (Hike 18).
Distance. This is the length of the hike in miles. Unless otherwise noted, all distances listed are roundtrip. I used a GPS watch to measure all distances for these hikes.
Elevation Gain. Most routes include both ascents and descents, but this statistic gives you an overall picture of how much you’ll be climbing. I also used a GPS watch to measure the elevation gain for these hikes.
High Point. This is the highest elevation on a given hike.
Difficulty. Hikes in this book are rated easy, moderate, challenging, or very difficult. The ratings are based on trail surfaces and conditions, distance, and total elevation gain.
Fitness. Each description mentions whether walkers, hikers, or runners might like the route. I’ve based my rationale on the assumption that walkers would probably like all the shorter routes, plus some of the longer, easy-rated ones on well-maintained trails. I assumed runners wouldn’t like very steep trails and that hikers would like all of the trails!
Family-Friendly. Optional stops such as points of interest and scenic overlooks are noted along the way, and I suggest early turnaround points or alternate start or end points for families with small children. While I offer ideas and suggestions for some hikes, parents are the best judges of whether their child is capable of completing a given route.
Dog-Friendly. In general, the East Bay is a wonderful place to hike with dogs. Most East Bay Regional Park District parks allow dogs, and many allow them off leash. Even so, dogs must always remain on leash for the first and last 200 feet of a hike; owners who don’t comply may receive a ticket. The information you see listed with each hike is based on the regulations for each trail and natural area. If dogs are allowed, I have listed whether they need to be on leash. If an area allows dogs off leash, keep your dog under voice control, and no matter what, always clean up after your pup.
Amenities. These features include restrooms, benches, picnic areas, and playgrounds.
Contact. The organization (or organizations) that manages the land the trail passes through is listed here. See Appendix II for contact information.
GPS. GPS coordinates (in degrees, minutes, and seconds) are provided for each hike’s trailhead. The coordinates are based on WGS84 datum.
Map To. Since many people use a map app on their phone for driving directions, I list the address to enter in your preferred app to get there. I have verified that all of these addresses work for Google Maps; however, they may not work with all map apps. When in doubt, you can also try mapping to the nearest road intersection shown on the hike map.
The Berkeley Marina offers bay and San Francisco skyline views (Hike 10).
Maps. A detailed map is provided for each route, including the trailhead, points of interest, transit stops, viewpoints, select amenities, and more.
Getting There. Public transportation routes, when available, and parking options are provided here. A route summary is included to help you decide if the hike is right for you.
Get Moving. These turn-by-turn directions (along with the map) guide you along the trail, calling out every junction and the sites you will see on your route.
Go Farther. Look here to get information for extending your hike or about places you may want to visit after the hike.
If you can’t decide where to start, browse the at-a-glance chart in the front of the book and the appendix of trails by type in the back of the book. Those resources will help you evaluate hikes by such criteria as distance, elevation gain, and family-friendliness, as well as whether a given trail is near the bay or features views.
The Albany Bulb features quirky sculptures and art installations, many of which are made from recycled materials (Hike 1).
RICHMOND AND ALBANY
With more than one hundred thousand residents, Richmond is a significant population center for the East Bay. Much of the city sits between two highways: Interstates 80 and 580. West of the city is San Francisco Bay. Four of the five routes in this chapter take advantage of this scenic waterfront real estate.
This section starts out with a short and easy route not in nearby Albany. A former landfill, the Albany Bulb has been transformed into an outdoor art gallery with graffiti, sculptures, and installations of all types scattered throughout the park. You’ll also enjoy stunning panoramic views of San Francisco, the bay, the Bay Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Just north of here and back in Richmond is Point Isabel Regional Shoreline, which I like to describe as an extremely scenic dog park. This route is short and easy, and it offers stunning views similar to those found at the Albany Bulb.
Next up is Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, a short but hilly route that features expansive bay views from Oakland to the Bay Bridge to San Francisco to the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin and everywhere in between.
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline offers a flat 4.75-mile loop with views of the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays as well as peaceful paths through eucalyptus groves.
Lastly, there’s Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, the only inland route in this chapter. This hike features beautiful rolling hills and views of Mount Diablo, Mount Tamalpais, San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
| 1 | Albany Bulb |
| DISTANCE: | 1.8 miles |
| ELEVATION GAIN: | 70 feet |
| HIGH POINT: | 50 feet |
| DIFFICULTY: | Easy |
| FITNESS: | Walkers, hikers |
| FAMILY-FRIENDLY: | Yes, with supervision; as a former landfill, the park has occasional hazards, including pieces of metal protruding from the ground, areas with uneven footing, and broken glass |
| DOG-FRIENDLY: | Yes |
| AMENITIES: | Restrooms, benches along the trail |
| CONTACT: | City of Albany |
| GPS: | 37°53'21.5628"
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