Berkeley and Oakland Hills

In the ridge-top parks that form a green belt from San Pablo to Castro Valley, you will find open spaces that cater to a greater population density. While they can sometimes be crowded, these parks--tucked into canyons and hidden valleys--can often feel way more remote from the urban centers below than they really are. There are a lot of great activities for the littlest hikers in some of these parks: farms, zoos, pools, playgrounds, picnic areas, and trains.

Parks to Visit:

• Briones Reservoir (info & info)
• Claremont Canyon Preserve (link)
• EBMUD (info & info)
• Hillside Natural Area (link)
• Leona Canyon (link)
• San Pablo Reservoir (info)
• Siesta Valley (link)
• Temescal (link)
• UC Botanical Gardens (link)
• Wildcat Canyon (link)

Parks Visited (click on photos):

• Anthony Chabot
• Cull Canyon
• Don Castro
• Five Canyons
• Huckleberry Botanic Preserve
• Joaquin Miller Park
• Kennedy Grove
• Lafayette Reservoir
• Lake Chabot
• Lawrence Hall of Science
• Oakland Zoo
• Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
  
• Roberts Regional Park
  
• Sibley Volcanic Regional Park
• Tilden Park & Nature Area

Anthony Chabot

Cull Canyon

Don Castro

Five Canyons

Huckleberry Botanic Preserve

Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland

Kennedy Grove

Lafayette Reservoir

Lake Chabot Regional Park

Lawrence Hall of Science

Oakland Zoo

Reinhardt Redwood

Roberts Regional Park

Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve

Tilden Preserve and Nature Area