Tilden Regional Park has miles of great hiking trails and several attractions, such as Lake Anza, the botanical garden, and Little Farm (demo for families). Plus, it is transit accessible.
If you are looking for a few hours alone or just beginning to explore hiking in the Bay Area, this hike is for you! Go here after work or on weekends—it is conveniently located a few minutes outside of Berkeley. At the top, you will find great vista points with views of San Pablo valley and the San Francisco Bay.
Quick Notes
Distance: 4.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 213 feet
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Loop
How to Get There
Take AC Transit Line 65 to Grizzly Peak Boulevard and Shasta Road. Follow Shasta Road to the entrance on Golf Course Drive.
To drive, go north from Oxford Street in downtown Berkeley to Marin Ave. Turn left on Sunset Lane, then follow it as it curves. Turn left again onto Park Hills Road. Park at Lake Anza.
The Hike
Begin at Grizzly Peak Blvd and Golf Course Drive. Then, take the Selby Trail to Lake Anza.
Cross the small footbridge to the north of Lake Anza (by the parking lot). Across the creek, turn left onto the Wildcat Gorge trail. The waterfall is running again—which is good, since it was dry all through the drought.
Take either fork. If you go left, Wildcat Gorge Trail takes you to moss-covered coast redwoods growing along the creek. Then follow Meadows Canyon Trail up the hill for expansive views of the San Francisco Bay.
A Great Carbon Sink and Ancient Fern
Lake Anza was covered in the Azolla fern all through 2022. But it no longer is—the winter rains in 2023 washed it out, restoring it to healthy levels.
Azolla is considered a great carbon sink, as it may have caused the last ice age.
When you get to the top of the hill, take Meadows Canyon trail to Inspiration Point a tenth of a mile away. Here you will find picnic tables. And a great view of the San Pablo Reservoir and Contra Costa valley!
Complete the loop by following the Curran Trail down the hill. Congratulations! You have walked at least four miles today.
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