Paths, Walks, Stairs and a Few Streets!
Jun
29
10:00 AM10:00

Paths, Walks, Stairs and a Few Streets!

  • 1301 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA, 94709 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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. 

View Event →
Evening Hike through Piedmont Parks and Stairs
Jul
11
6:30 PM18:30

Evening Hike through Piedmont Parks and Stairs

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. 

View Event →
North Berkeley Different
Jul
13
10:00 AM10:00

North Berkeley Different

  • Berkeley Public Library North Branch (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

 

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.


View Event →
Stairs and Art in Berkeley Hills
Jul
27
9:00 AM09:00

Stairs and Art in Berkeley Hills

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.

View Event →
North Berkeley Rock Parks
Jul
30
10:00 AM10:00

North Berkeley Rock Parks

  • 41 Somerset Place Berkeley, CA, 94707 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →

Upper Rockridge Walk
Jun
21
10:00 AM10:00

Upper Rockridge Walk

  • 611 Keith Avenue Oakland, CA, 94618 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
All-the-Parks-in-Berkeley: Sunset Stroll
Jun
20
6:00 PM18:00

All-the-Parks-in-Berkeley: Sunset Stroll

  • 160 University Avenue Berkeley, CA, 94710 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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. 

View Event →
Tank House Tour of S Berkeley and Rockridge
Jun
14
10:00 AM10:00

Tank House Tour of S Berkeley and Rockridge

  • 1601 Fairview Street Berkeley, CA, 94703 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
Sunset Hike to the Oakland Rose Garden
Jun
13
5:30 PM17:30

Sunset Hike to the Oakland Rose Garden

  • 598 Mandana Boulevard Oakland, CA, 94610 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
El Cerrito Hidden Paths and Parks
May
10
10:00 AM10:00

El Cerrito Hidden Paths and Parks

  • Central Ave and Ohlone Greenway United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
Sunset Hike to the Berkeley Rose Garden
May
9
5:30 PM17:30

Sunset Hike to the Berkeley Rose Garden

  • Solano and Alameda Berkeley, CA, 94707 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
Many Paths, Walks, Stairs, and Steps
Apr
19
10:00 AM10:00

Many Paths, Walks, Stairs, and Steps

  • 1301 Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, CA, 94709 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.  

View Event →
The All-the-Parks-in-Berkeley Series Returns!
Apr
12
10:00 AM10:00

The All-the-Parks-in-Berkeley Series Returns!

  • 3039 Halcyon Court Berkeley, CA, 94705 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
Claremont/Uplands Sunset Hike
Apr
11
5:30 PM17:30

Claremont/Uplands Sunset Hike

  • 2936 Garber Street Berkeley, CA, 94705 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
N Berkeley Rock Parks
Apr
6
10:00 AM10:00

N Berkeley Rock Parks

  • 41 Somerset Place Berkeley, CA, 94707 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
Upper Shattuck/Marin Circle Walk
Mar
29
10:00 AM10:00

Upper Shattuck/Marin Circle Walk

  • Shattuck Avenue and Eunice Street Berkeley, CA United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
North Berkeley Sunset Hike
Mar
28
5:30 PM17:30

North Berkeley Sunset Hike

  • Solano Ave and The Alameda Berkeley, CA, 94707 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
N Berkeley Loop: 40 Paths in 10 Miles
Mar
22
9:00 AM09:00

N Berkeley Loop: 40 Paths in 10 Miles

  • Shattuck Ave and Berryman Berkeley, CA United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →
I-Spy-A-Bear Bingo Walk
Mar
16
10:00 AM10:00

I-Spy-A-Bear Bingo Walk

  • Sproul Hall Berkeley, CA, 94720 United States (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

View Event →