Developers of this hilly neighborhood built convenient paths so new residents could walk to and from shops, schools, and public transportation. Until 1958, the E train, the northeastern-most line of the old Key System, terminated just steps from the entrance to the Claremont Hotel; in fact, the train was originally supposed to end in the hotel’s lobby.

Path wandering above the landmark Claremont Hotel is an aerobic challenge with rich rewards: panoramic views, notable architecture, and yard-art eye candy.

Our new board member Janet Byron has a master’s degree in journalism from UC Berkeley and years of experience as a reporter, writer, and editor. Could she have better qualifications to become the new editor of our monthly e-newsletter? 

Long-time Berkeley resident Gary Forbes brings decades of retail and management experience to our board and will helpful with marketing our map and other merchandise. In fact, he often is a walking advertisement for us, sporting his BPWA shirt and cap. 

On the south slope of Claremont Canyon above the Claremont Hotel, lies one of the best-kept secrets in the Berkeley-Oakland Hills: Garber Park. This 13-acre City of Oakland wildland park has significant stands of big leaf maple, California buckeyes, regenerating coast live oak, and the typical understory found in woodland forests. Harwood Creek meanders through it in winter and spring.

A lifelong hiker, runner, and lover of paths and trails, Sharon Taylor has a hard time being idle. Our new board member has walked every path in Berkeley in one day — a 33.4-mile route! — and has completed all 38 walks in the guidebook Secret Stairs of the East Bay.

Caroline Swinehart moved to Berkeley in 2016, straight from graduate school at Notre Dame. She now is a senior designer at Opticos Design, an urban design and architecture firm in Berkeley that specializes in creating sustainable, walkable communities.

It may be a bad pun, but it’s no exaggeration to say that Mary Lynch has long been a linchpin of Berkeley Path Wanders. Since 2002, she’s contributed her ideas, talents, and sweat equity to help us to preserve, maintain and expand Berkeley’s path system.

After nearly forty years as a Cal Trans engineer, Bob Gomez knew how to make it easier for people to get from one place to another, but he had never built a path.

We are pleased to announce the opening of our handrail corridor: abouta mile of nearly continuous paths, between Euclid Avenue and Grizzly Peak Boulevard, all with handrails. 

Our Great Path Survey was an overwhelming success thanks to the 75 volunteers who took part and the incredible way BPWA Board Member Alina Constantinescu planned and orchestrated the July 22 event.

Our newest path will also have a new name. Completed this fall, Keeler Walk (#32 on our map) soon will be christened John Muir Path.  It is the 34th path that BPWA volunteers have built with wood timbers and connects Grizzly Peak Blvd. and Creston Rd., midway between the end of Euclid and Marin Aves.

When Alina Constantinescu joined BPWA’s board last January, it was quickly apparent that she would be president one day. What we couldn’t predict, however, was how soon that would happen. 

“To the harried urban resident, the pathways offer leafy garden corridors of quiet, removed from the world of noise beyond … day after day, as informal extensions of Berkeley’s parks, the pathways give us more ways to enjoy nature.”  Paul Grunland

Paul Grunland, a founding board member of Berkeley Path Wanderers Association, noted local historian, and dedicated community volunteer, died February 2. He was 93. 

Our newest path will also have a new name. Completed this fall, Keeler Walk (#32 on our map) soon will be christened John Muir Path.  It is the 34th path that BPWA volunteers have built with wood timbers and connects Grizzly Peak Blvd. and Creston Rd., midway between the end of Euclid and Marin Aves.

Stepping  across the seasonal creek on Lower Covert Path just got a bit easier.

In October 2017, a small group of Path Wanderers volunteers met to install a wooden bridge across the creek gulch just above Keith Avenue.  Like most local creek crossings, it’s not flowing water that gets in the way; it’s the deep channel needed to accommodate peak flow that challenges walkers.

When Francesca Verdier clicked volunteer on our website a year ago, it was a lucky day for Berkeley’s walkers. She brought to BPWA her passion for building trails and six years of varied experience volunteering on weekends in parks all over Northern California.