Swim Lagoon at Cull Canyon Regional Park

This park has a lot in common with one of its neighboring parks, Don Castro. Both of these Castro Valley parks are primarily focused on the swim lagoon at the center. Indeed, Don Castro's lagoon was modeled on the one at Cull Canyon, which came first. Here is the blurb about it on the park's website see here and here):

The lagoon won the 1966 Governor's Design Award for Exceptional Distinction for Recreational Development in the category of landscape. When the swim area was constructed, a secondary dam was built to provide an inner swimming area complete with a sandy beach. Never previously tried, this innovation made the swim area water level independent of the reservoir's, unaffected by summer draw-downs... It is ideal for families with small children, who will enjoy splashing in the shallows and playing on the white, sandy beach. 

To see more photos of the park, and to read more about our little adventure, click "read more."

Detail of EBRPD map

One thing to note is that swimming is only allowed at this park when lifeguards are on duty, and they do not go on duty until 11:00 am at any of the EBRPD parks. I did not realize that, and I arrived at 10:30. before we could even enter the pool. Lesson learned! Because we were there so early on a Thursday this wasn't a problem for us, but it is worth noting that the EBRPD pools have a capacity policy: "Once the swim facility capacity is reached, there will be no new entries allowed for the remainder of the day (or at the discretion of the Park Supervisor), for the safety of the public. Please take this into consideration when planning your visit."

The complex was starting to get pretty full by the time we left for my daughter's nap, so I imagine that you have to be quite punctual on a weekend to go to this facility.

Because I had her on my own, I brought her wagon with me so that I could carry her, our swim suits/gear, and a picnic. I am glad that I did, because there was a short walk to get from the parking lot to the swim lagoon. Luckily it was totally handicap/stroller/wagon accessible!

Although we did not hike today, there is a trail associated with this park that might be of interest for a more serious hiker. The map above is a detail of the swim area, but on the official website for the park, you can see a fuller map that shows how the Chabot-to-Garin Bay Area Ridge Trail bisects the length of the undeveloped part of the park. I would definitely be interested in checking out this part of the park when I can go for a solitary hike once again! I bet that there is hardly anyone in that part of the park.