Think of this hike as one long UP and one long DOWN! This moderate hike takes us via many stairs, walkways, and paths up to Grizzly Peak Blvd. Then, we go even a little higher before our descent. On a clear day, we will see some nice views of San Francisco. Bring extra layers, hiking poles, and water.
Leader: Alina Constantinescu
Start/ end location: Exedra Plaza, 972 Magnolia Ave, Piedmont, CA 94611. Google map link
Accessibility: Many stairs and some uneven trails. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome.
Description: For this month's installment of the sunset Friday hikes, we are headed into Piedmont. We'll check out Piedmont Park and Dracena Park and walk by redwoods, creeks, and mansions with magnificent gardens and views. The Piedmont hills and staircases are steep and challenging, but we'll take breaks as needed to enjoy the views and the conversations. Join us!
The route is about 4 miles, 700 feet elevation gain, with staircases and steep sidewalks. Bring water and a snack if you'd like. We'll return at the starting point right about sunset time.
Distance: 1.6 miles, 100 ft. elevation gain, 2 hrs.
Leader: Rodney Paul
Starting Location: Berkeley Public Library North Branch (1170 The Alameda, Berkeley)
Walk Description:
For most Americans, the term "suburbia" conjures single-family homes and uniform architecture in areas that are solely residential and reliant on car transportation. With its array of land uses and architectural styles, North Berkeley defies this stereotype. On this tour, we'll visit its Tudor Revival public library, homes of different styles, a small but vibrant business district and even a small agricultural site. We'll discuss the magnificent Queen Anne period hotel gracing the area in the late 19th Century and the foibles of the stage actor who had it built. North Berkeley’s differences are the qualities that make it great.
Signup: Due to the small size of several parks, we are limiting the group to 25 people and are asking you to register for the walk:
RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/north-berkeley-different-tickets-1442682043829?aff=oddtdtcreator
Note: the tour finishes 0.5 miles from the start. It's an easy walk back to the library, and the AC Transit 12 bus also goes there.
Leaders: Roopa and Rachel
Start/end: Live Oak Park at the corner of Berryman and Shattuck
We will start at 9am at Live Oak Park at the corner of Berryman and Shattuck and proceed to the Rose Garden and from there walk towards Grisly Peak. Along the way we will experience great views of the Bay as well as see a mural and some pottery. The walk is 4.5 miles and will be two and a half to three hours, elevation is approximately 900 feet.
Accessibility: Stairways on this route are not wheelchair accessible. No dogs are allowed on this walk.
Leader: Rodney Paul
Distance: 2 miles at a moderate pace
Elevation gain: 300 ft.
Accessibility: Children and dogs are allowed on the walk but it may not be ideally suited for them. The terrain includes some dirt paths that may be difficult for people using mobility devices. Moderate fitness necessary for an uphill segment through John Hinkel Park.
Signup: Due to the small size of several parks, we are limiting the group to 25 people and are asking you to register for the walk: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/north-berkeley-different-tickets-1442682043829?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Millions of years before its first human inhabitants arrived, North Berkeley was strewn with fascinating rock formations. Today, the area includes a set of lovely parks where these remnants of its geologic past can be seen. We'll talk about the Native American presence in the area and how the rocks were used by these first inhabitants. We'll also discuss the creation of the parks and their role when the first housing developments were created. In addition to Hinkel Park, we'll visit Mortar Rock, Indian Rock, Contra Costa Rock and finish at The Great Stoneface Park, a 10 to 15 min. walk from our start point. Note that the Solano Ave. business district is a 10-min. walk from the end of the tour and a good option for lunch.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available.
To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
This area was largely developed in the early 20th century and features a variety of Craftsman homes and the College Avenue commercial district. Up the hill, we’ll see some large homes from before and after the disastrous 1991 fire, as well as views and some interesting public stairways. All the paths are paved but there are some steep sections.
Celebrate the summer solstice with a golden-hour walk through one of Berkeley’s most scenic areas! On the longest day of the year, we’ll enjoy bay breezes, sailboats in the marina, and panoramic views of the Golden Gate and San Francisco skyline—ending with a sunset over the water. Bring layers and your camera, as there should be beauty in every direction.
This walk traces the history of a largely forgotten piece of the circa-1900 East Bay urban landscape, the tank house. From the 1860s through the 1920s, windmill-topped water towers stood on nearly every city block. Only a handful remain of the hundreds of tank houses that once existed in Berkeley. We'll visit five surviving examples in South Berkeley and North Oakland.
This month's installment of the Friday sunset hikes takes us farther afield to Oakland and the beautiful Grand Lake and Lakeshore neighborhoods. Oakland has about 230 urban paths and staircases and this four-mile hike will cover 14 of them. We'll also visit the Morcom Rose Garden, a gem that rivals Berkeley's Rose Garden which we visited on last month's hike.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available. To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
This year’s long walk takes us to three lakes—Lake Merritt, Lake Temescal, and Lake Anza—via Oakland’s and Berkeley’s paths, trails, and parks. Grab your Clipper Card and join us for an East Bay fun day!
A fast-paced, strenuous walk from the Rose Garden up to Grizzly Peak Blvd and back.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available.
To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available. To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
A fast-paced, strenuous walk from the Rose Garden up to Grizzly Peak Blvd and back.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available.
To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available.
To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
On this walk, expect lots of uphill streets and stairs on this butt-kicker of a walk (then lots of downhill!). From the El Cerrito Plaza BART station, we’ll walk up to Arlington Park via as many hidden stairways as possible, then return via more paths and the PG&E property along Moeser Avenue.
For May’s installment of the Friday sunset hikes, we’ll explore the paths and streets south of the Marin Circle and then make our way uphill towards Berkeley’s marvelous Rose Garden. May is a wonderful time to experience this special place! The route is about 4 miles with 16 staircases and steep sidewalks.
A fast-paced, strenuous walk from the Rose Garden up to Grizzly Peak Blvd and back.
Think of this hike as one long UP and one long DOWN! This moderate hike takes us via many stairs, walkways, and paths up to Grizzly Peak Blvd. Then, we go even a little higher (!) before our descent. On a clear day, we will see some nice views of SF.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available.
To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
We start our walk at Live Oak Park. There are many paths, walks, stairs and steps nearby to discover. This loop is a moderate walk and has some steep segments. No dirt trails. Bring extra layers, hiking poles (if you use them) and water. Many of the stairways have railings. A backpack would be a good idea to stuff extra clothing.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available. To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
Can you believe there are over 50 parks in Berkeley? Back in 2015, we set out on a mission to visit every one, uncovering hidden green spaces, local gems, and beloved community hubs along the way. It took three years to complete, but it was well worth the time and steps! Now, a decade later, we're bringing back this popular series.
April's installment of the Friday sunset hikes takes us to the beautiful Claremont and Uplands neighborhood at Berkeley's border with Oakland. The route goes past stately mansions, creeks, fun yard art, and incredible views. We'll go at a moderate pace to enjoy the views and the conversations. We'll return at the starting point shortly after sunset.
North Berkeley is strewn with fascinating rock formations that are the site of a set of parks. Starting at Hinkel Park, we'll visit Mortar Rock, Indian Rock, Contra Costa Rock, and The Great Stoneface Park. We'll talk about the Native American presence in the area and how the rocks were used by these first inhabitants and about the creation of the parks.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available.
To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
This area was developed in the early 20th century, when there was a failed plan to relocate the state capitol here. It features fine historic homes, gardens, street trees, and several interesting paths. There is some uphill exercise but we’ll take a moderate pace and make a few stops. All paths are paved. Well behaved dogs on leash are allowed. Rain cancels.
Start your weekend off with a staircase sunset hike. Today's route packs 18 paths and 8 city parks in a 3.5-mile wandering loop through the North Berkeley hills. We'll go at a moderate pace to enjoy the views and the conversations. Bring water and a snack if you'd like. We'll return at the starting point shortly after sunset.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available.
To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
We will take various paths up to the ridge line then continue north, zigzagging to pick up more paths toward the Kensington border, then work our way back. I hope we can maintain a brisk pace and finish in four hours. There are restrooms at the community center at the start, and we will pass another public restroom about a mile into the walk.
Sharp-eyed kids between the ages of four and eight will search for bears—plus a few other critters—on this walk through the "wilds" of the UC campus. The route has frequent stops, including one for refreshments. An adult must accompany every young walker. Older kids can play a different version of the game, more like a scavenger hunt. Rain cancels.
The work is mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available.
To receive the location information, RSVP path.maintenance@berkeleypaths.org.
