Review is for their large campsite at Bort Meadows. A parent in my oldest kids class reserved a huge campsite for families in the class and I'm so glad we participated. The larger site holds up to 75 vehicles and 300 people max and because only around 50 people signed up we had so much open space to ourselves. They have one water spigot, 4 non-flushing toilets, charcoal grills, tables, and 2 fire pits so for such a large campsite it's bare bones and minimal. The grass is well maintained and there was a nice small hill and plenty of open room for kids to play in at our site. The big note if you get this spot is there is a gate blocking the entrance to the lower parking lot. They give you the combination to one of the locks but there are three combination locks attached to the gate. You can still slide the gate open with them not opened as long as you have the combination to the one lock. It was perfect cooking together potluck style and all the different games and camping toys the different families brought. It's windy in this area and perfect for kites. At night it does get cold and I would position your tent in the best way where it's convenient to get to the bathroom in the dark. read more

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This is a review for the family campground. We had reserved camp sites 51, 52, 59, and 60 for 7 families, with a couple sites having two families/two tents per site. The camp sites we reserved were a bit of a tight squeeze for two 6-10 person tents, mostly because of lack of flat terrain at the sites. The actual sites themselves have a fair amount of space, it's just that the space can be hilly/uneven, have sawed off tree stumps in the middle of clear spots, or be right underneath the branches of eucalyptus trees (notorious for being easier to topple/fall in windy and rainy conditions. The last you want is to have branches or the tree itself toppling onto your tent. Other than the less than ideal spaces, we did have a good time camping here. The facilities were very clean, and not needing quarters for the hot showers was a fantastic bonus. There were plenty of places for the kids to run around, and the views of Lake Chabot were breathtaking. Thankfully while we were there we didn't have any issues with noisy/disrespectful campers. Overall this is a great family camp ground that's easily accesible in the Bay Area, just be aware of some of the space limitations and plan accordingly. read more

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What a difference 20 years can make! The fishing boats now have lithium batteries and a sweet, strong Minn Kota trolling motor! Military and seniors get 50, FIFTY percent off, M-F! Took my son out to look for and find Largemouth Bass, and we did! Sure you could fish for trout. Nah. The on site staff is always friendly. The park is clean and is popular. Great place for any sort of gathering. You can reserve spots for larger group. Those boats? I'll be back. It's tricky when you don't have a depth finder but dad kinda knows the species well enough. We got two. One nice, one little. Worth every penny for the boat because we weren't catching those bass without it! read more

Anthony Chabot Regional Park - Yeah baby! Spinnerbait fi$h! - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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It's nice. I like taking a walk here. There is some activities to do too. Nice place, would recommend

We really enjoyed our stay there. Beautiful scenery and the wild life was fun to watch. We lucked out and got a great site right on the end that looked out over a small canyon. No neighbors. We'll be back for sure! read more

I came for hiking only. I was quite impressed. Hiking trails are very well marked. Although mostly under tree cover, the scenery is beautiful. A long hike through this park will take you across some paved roads and through some camping areas. For hiking there are plenty of public bathrooms and they're all clean. How did people follow hiking trails before GPS tracking? If you want to follow a precise combination of trails, you'll definitely need GPS tracking. But the trail is outstanding overall. My only complaint, and I guess it really isn't a complaint, regards the number of high-speed downhill bicycles I encountered. Fortunately I am a hearing person, and I could react before the bicycle arrived. But if someone were hard of hearing or deaf or if they were wearing earbuds with loud music they would definitely be at risk of a bike collision. Read up on the geology of this area before the hike and you will enjoy it even more. My favorite geologic fact on this hike relates to the Oakland formation. I'll let you read up on the Oakland formation yourself, but one of the interesting facts relates to the fragmented cobbles within the formation. These cobbles were allegedly fragmented by earthquake activity that sent shock waves through them when they were at depth. The parking lot for the trailhead is shared with a golfing club. It seems pretty safe. You will find clean public bathrooms all along the route. The route will take you across several paved roads and through a picnic area or two. read more

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Extensive set of recreational areas with different trailheads/staging areas. We visited Bort Meadow on this trip. Did the loop trail for about 2.5 miles with outer (leashed) dog. We want to return later this month when wildflowers should be out. read more

I went camping here with friends and we reserved a site for 1 night ($33). The site could have up to 8 occupants but we had 5. We had so much fun that we've already planning our next trip back! It's amazing that places like this exist so close to the city. We rented all of our gear from Sports Basement (stove, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, chairs) and shared tents that people owned. Amenities: - Parking: It was a bit of a walk from our cars to the campsite but I brought a collapsible folding wagon so we didn't have to take too many trips back and forth from our car. - Hammocks: I brought a hammock and was easily able to find some eucalyptus trees to hang it from. - Vault: The campsite included a vault that we used to store food. - Picnic Tables: There was a picnic table at our site. - Firewood: You can buy a bundle of firewood for $10 onsite. - Bathrooms: The bathrooms were surprisingly clean and included toilet paper and soap. There were also showers but I didn't use them since we only stayed one night. - Trash Cans: There were some trash cans right by our campsite. - Hiking: Anthony Chabot lake is beautiful and there are some nice hikes! read more

Anthony Chabot Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Camping is one of the few ways families have been keeping their balance during the pandemic, thanks to regional parks like Chabot. Once you invest in the right equipment (tents, chairs, sleeping bags and mats, stove, lamp, coffee pot, etc.) you can enjoy an inexpensive and fun outdoor experience with family and friends. We went camping with close family last weekend - my planner extraordinaire better half had snagged a camping site a month before, seconds after the East Bay Regional Parks Department reservation site opened up for booking. Our site was high up on a ridge, tucked away against eucalyptus trees. It was a bit cozy, but we were able to fit our two "six-person" tents (each of which actually sleeps four). We unpacked, taking advantage of the long sturdy picnic table. The ladies were happy there were clean bathrooms nearby with running water, soap, TP and electricity. The sunset was glorious, and we settled into the evening - drinking beer and cider, toasting hot dogs and marshmallows on the fire, the kids singing, the adults chatting away. We played hearts and poker, told ghost stories late into the moonless night, and those of us less used to sleeping outdoors tried our best to get some shuteye. In the morning, we woke up to the loud barking of dogs. It was a cool morning, and the grass smelled fresh and dewy. We started making breakfast - fresh coffee, sizzling bacon and eggs on our tiny propane stove, pre-boiled eggs and potato chips for those who didn't have the patience to wait. Suddenly, we heard bleating! A huge flock of sheep was grazing its way through the dry grass behind our campsite! The kids were transfixed. What excitement! A couple of hours later, it was time to pack up and head home. We drove around, making note of the other sites, already planning our next camping adventure! read more

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Anthony Chabot Regional Park is a hidden gem of the Bay Area tucked away in East Bay. I had the pleasure of camping there for the first time last week and I enjoyed every moment of it. First off, the views are stunning as we are engulfed in eucalyptus trees. My favorite time of the day is sunset where the pink skies peep through the slender branches. The campsite was spacious and can fit 8 people easily. I liked how there is ample space between other campers as some sites are closed off due to Covid restrictions. My friends and I played card games, sat around the campfire and told stories, cooked delicious meals, and went hiking. I enjoyed every moment of it! A perk about the campsite is that they have clean bathrooms and free hot running water for showers. No need to save up your quarters. read more

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Campground review. RV/trailer camping available in sites 1-9 and 11-12. * full hookups (!) * Huck's trail is shortest trail from campground to the lake. 0.58 miles down a gravel path, steep but not dangerous just a little tiring for kids on way back up. lake views are beautiful * long spaces (stayed in #02), picnic table and steel circle firepit to rear. plenty of open space * very quiet at night, except the occasional soft rumble from planes taking off from oakland airport * tall birch trees provide great shade * verizon signal spotty, 1-2 bar at campsite, 3 bars at kiosk read more

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Huge variety of trails for hikers of every ability. I have hiked numerous times in this park, and I think I've covered just about every trail. No matter what your ability, this park has a trail just right for you. The trails are generally pretty well marked, but some of the trail posts could use a little help. On many of the trails, there is no water or outhouses, so keep that in mind. Don't forget the wonderful trail maps that East Bay Parks provides free of charge. This is truly an outstanding service. I generally start from one of the entrances on Redwood Road. Did you know that the WPA actually built out this road in the late 1930s? If you look carefully you might be able to find one of their markers. As with most wilderness parks, be careful about ticks and snakes. Another good park, another good adventure. read more

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We come here one or two times every year, it's a very nice place especially so close to everything. You're in the trees and wilderness and there are wildlife and great smelling air yet you're only 20 minutes from Oakland. We have a particular spot that is a little out of the way that we love. The problem here is that the staff does nothing about the people who do not follow the rules. We were just here again - there was a large group of people (at site 51 and 52 right across the bathroom) who were partying well past 2am. They did not play loud music at night but they were screaming and laughing and being super loud well into the early morning. I got up at 2am to pee and walked by them and was amazed at how inconsiderate these people were. I saw the sheriff drive by their camp at 10:30 and he did nothing. I can't imagine how tough it must have been to be one of the other campers near these idiots. I mentioned this the next day the guy in the kiosk and he himself couldn't care less. He said to just call the sheriff. And let's be clear about this group - they had a 24 hour fire going - I was wondering how much wood they had bought because wood is expensive and it turns out they were just getting wood out of the tree area, which of course, is against the rules yet again, no one cares. You could see them breaking up the branches they foraged from the woods constantly. If you were a sheriff and drove by and actually looked at them, you could see the stack of branches they had next to their fire. But no one does anything about rules here. When they finally left, they did not put out their fire. Again, no one cares. It's just hard to believe. They have a no "water balloons" rule but there were people with water balloons in a couple places. And just to be clear, these people in sites 51 and 52 kept peeing on the seats in the bathroom. I swear the three days we were there, there wasn't a single time I didn't have to clean off the seat and flush the toilet after these people - until they left and miraculously no more pee on the seats and unflushed toilets. I see this and wonder what their bathrooms are like at home. But this is the problem with campsites like this and Del Valle. Great places that are wrecked by selfish losers who only care about themselves and do not follow the rules. The other thing is there are a thousand kids at this place and noise really carries. So you get the little girls who start screaming from 7am until 10pm. Constantly. The kids would bike to our campsite and play literally right in front of us, despite the fact there were numerous empty sites all over they could have went to. No parenting of any kind. And I get kids are playing but there are a thousand open spaces to play at. So if you like constant screaming kids, this is the place. Then the last night we were there, there was some noise coming out of the distant forest that sounded like an amplified "squeaking door." Started at 10pm and was still going the next morning when we finally left. I think it was some sort of machinery but my wife thinks it was someone who was literally playing a loop of a squeaking door really loud to be a jerk (I don't know). Again, I mentioned this to the guy in the kiosk and he kind of laughed but didn't care at all. Chabot is a wonderful campground, we do love it. But man, you get so many jerks here and the thousand screaming kids, makes it hard to come back. Would love just one weekend with people who follow the rules. Would be wonderful. We literally stopped going to Del Valle because of the jerks that are free to do as they please and it's starting to get this way here which is very sad. read more

Stayed at the Two Rocks group camp site the other week for a few days. It's right next to a trail but still quite enough for our group. The camp site didn't have to much grass, mainly dirt. When the wind blew it got dusty fast. There's no showers at the group site. The only pub shower is at the family camp site area. There's much more people there. At Two Rock there are no flushing toilets. There are 2 restroom close by. The rest rooms are not powered so you'll need to bring a flashlight with you if it's dark outside. There is plenty of parking, but the road is rutted out. A car can still drive there but they have to go slow. Note there is one water outlet there and it's has very low pressure. Overall, it's an okay group camp site. read more

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Solid campground that is $20/night + $2 for bringing your furry, four-legged best friend. They had campsites that look like they had a better view of the lake, but those were actually closed off for the moment. Perhaps it will be back open when it's nicer weather. Great location though, not too far from civilization in Castro Valley. Plenty of trees in the woods to set up your hammock & clean bathrooms + showers & even a dishwashing station. Neighboring people sure were friendly, though the raccoons that came scavenging at night were a little too friendly! Make sure you dispose of trash in the restrooms before sleeping or you will find some company in the middle of the night. All in all, a fun getaway that had a picnic bench & table for all we can eat hot pot & cookies by the campfire. read more

Anthony Chabot Regional Park - Loungin - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I really enjoyed camping here, especially as a last minute trip close to home. The campsite and the bathrooms were very clean, and since we went in the winter we didn't have many neighbors. I'd definitely come here again when we want an easy camping trip! read more

Anthony Chabot Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

First time camping here. It was convenient that the campground was still local and less than an hour drive. The campground was spacious and clean. In order to hike or get to the lake, you would have to leave the campsite and drive to the designated area. However, it was a good experience and nice to get away for the weekend. The campground was also dog friendly. read more

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It was nice to get back out to nature and get a hike in during these C19 times. Three of us in our walking group decided to do a hike in Anthony Chabot Regional Park, which is one of the many parks within the East Bay Regional Park District. This Park was opened in 1952 and encompasses 3,304 acres allowing for camping, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, picnicking and it even has a golf course. We parked at the Bort Meadow Staging Area, which has spaces for 20 cars. Signs were posted at the trailhead about C-19 social distancing requirements and safety tips for the Park. Our hike took us on Grass Valley, Goldenrod, Brandon Trails and the Jackson Grade. Our five mile hike was mixture of sunny wide open trails, shady wooded trails and a relative steep grade and descent at Jackson. With our trail map in hand, which were available at the trailhead, we were able to navigate the trails easily as the trails were well marked with trail posts. The only restrooms and water fountains we encountered were at the Bort Meadow Group Camp, but they were closed/not operational. So take that as a FYI. We were only on some of the trails in the Park and it was a nice hike. We will be back to hike the other trails. read more

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My review is during COVID - our Trip was the first week of November 2020. I didn't have high expectations with everything in the county and state shut down for COVID, so perhaps it would be different in the "regular world". There are only like 12 RV sites and they block off every other one for capacity. The sites are already big and we loved the space to ourselves. The reason I can't give 5 stars is because the garbage cans right next to our site were knocked over from past guests, overflowing and the raccoons got to them. There was garbage all over our site I picked up with plastic gloves and put into the cans. It was pretty gross, like camping at a dump. The previous campers had filled recycle bins with beer cans and pizza boxes, so they didn't follow rules and not totally the campgrounds neglect. However we shouldn't have had to deal with this debris for half of our visit. The raccoons scared my kids in the tent outside as they were only a few feet from the ruckus and couldn't sleep at night. So we all only got one out of two nights sleep. Late the next day we saw garbage trucks come around and take care of the mess. That out of the way, everything else was 5 stars. The check in kiosk was awesome and so friendly. We had to walk up and ask a few questions regarding internet as well and nothing but positive vibes and warmth. We definitely felt welcome. It was November and not nice enough for a swim so I can't comment on lack of opportunity to head to the lake. What I will say was there were beautiful views and if you choose the tent camp you will have the most epic views right over the lake. We took a few photos on our bike rides. My boys are older (age 11) so they can ride gears up and down hills and it was a great time for them. Younger kids would end up walking their bikes up some of these hills and there is traffic on the paved roads. However, again it's COVID and pretty quiet. The trails were great. We ran across a few other hikers and mountain bikers. My boys were looking for mountain lions and snakes but we didn't encounter any. We did have our doggie with us on the trail. They are allowed on leash. Off leash is not allowed due to the wildlife. Leashes are also required in the campground which is great for us. We have a loving dog that will cuddle and love you to death until another dog runs towards him. He's a rescue pup and has severe anxiety around other dogs running loose. This was a welcome change from our local parks that don't enforce the rule. All other campers and those on trails had their pups leashed and it made for a fantastic few days for all of us, furry friends included! It's very dark at night camping so bring light. There were also no campfires allowed due to fire hazard but we had electrical and always have our own backup for s'mores. It was such a welcome get away with my boys and our Nana. We will be returning soon winter or summer time, COVID or not! Booking and selecting a site online was an easy process. I did call to confirm we could have a tent on an RV site as well and got a human right away. She was friendly and informative and gave a good vibe before we even made the reservation. Price was definitely right and not far from home, but far enough to feel we were "away". read more

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In April, my S/O, dog, and I stayed two nights at the campgrounds, and had a very nice time. I booked site #20 almost 2 months prior, but there was plenty of availability when I was booking. To find the campground using Google Maps or whatever map app, route yourself to Marciel Staging Area, and drive a few miles to the check-in area. Site #20 is a walk-in, tent only site that is one of the more secluded spots. It has a lake view and is right next to a walking trail which leads straight down to the lake. We had a 6-person mansion (tent) which fit fine in the space. There was also a fire ring/grill and a picnic table. We liked that we had some space away from other people, but it was also a little bit of a walk to the bathrooms/showers and the parking area. It was maybe a quarter mile (or less) from the bathrooms and car which we didn't mind too much. When I was doing my research, it seemed like a lot of people did not appreciate the walk, especially carrying all the camp gear, but my SO and I weren't too bothered by it. Honestly, #20 was one of the best sites if you're looking for something a little more secluded. We also liked #13 & #14 BUT only if there is just one group in either one of those sites. if there are groups in both 13 AND 14, it would be a tight space. Those two sites overlook a grove of eucalyptus which was particularly beautiful. We really enjoyed being surrounded by the beautiful eucalyptus trees and the sounds of the bugs and birds throughout the day. It was so refreshing to be in nature. There were plenty of trails and places to explore here. It was a very dog-friendly park as well. As far as I know, there weren't restrictions on where you can/cannot take your pup. I would recommend having a footprint for your tent if you don't already have one because the ground was a little wet, and if you forget anything, there are stores 20 minutes into town from the campgrounds. Also if you are bringing a dog with you, make sure to check them well for ticks when you get home! Our girl loved camping.... and the ticks really loved her as well. Bathrooms were clean and had toilet paper. Showers were free and worked fine. $10 for a bundle of firewood. $2 per dog per night fee. read more

This is my go-to park for off-leashing hiking with my dog. I love this park because the scenery is beautiful and varied, you can see forest and meadows; the trails are easy and flat, yet they're long enough to walk for a couple of hours; parking is easy; the trails are not congested; and most importantly, the peninsula is severely lacking in off-leash dog hikes, so we drive 40 minutes each way to hike here. My BIG complaint is that the trails are full of horse shit due to the irresponsible riders. Big piles of horse shit just littered throughout the trails, every few feet. No one bothers to cleans them up and they're all smack in the middle of the road. These irresponsible and inconsiderate horse riders really ruin the trails for everyone. Dog owners need to pick up dog shit, so I don't know why horse riders don't need to clean up after themselves. The horses either need to wear bags like they do in NYC, or the horse riders better carry a shovel and bag, get off their high horse, and scoop up their waste every time the horse goes. Either that, or the equestrian center better hire janitorial services for the park. read more

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I freaking love this campground! It's so easy to book and we're always able to find a spot, can't believe we're camping in Bay Area. read more

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Having come to this campground a long time. We came here last week. OMG bugs are horrible there. We can't stay outside even near the fire pit. Many campsites are slopes and rocky. I think that what we pay for $35 per night . Besides that, toilet is ok and the area around is clean and safe. But I think I won't come back. read more

Awesome campsite so close to the city. It a huge eucalyptus grove forest surrounding beautiful Lake Chabot. The campground sits on a ridge high above the lake so if you want to hike on over, keep in mind its about 400' down....and then up again. No elevators. Lots and lots of hiking trails. Perfect for Mt. or gravel biking too. The bike loop around the lake is about 12 miles with 1700' of climbing. The camp sites are large and shady. Plenty of RV hook ups available (water, electric, sewage) plus lots of tent sites too. Bathrooms are clean but sparse. The one in the RV area does not have showers. Good cell coverage. Our verizon had 3 bars. No wifi. Rangers were very friendly and got us situated. They lock the gates at night (not sure what time) but you can drive out anytime. Now that we found it, will surely be back. read more

This place is amazing for being in Oakland and only a 35 minute drive from Richmond. In LA we have nothing like this so close to civilization. With that in mind, there were some highs and lows about the trip. We booked a hike-in, "tent only" site. I could not find any information online at all about the distance from the parking lot to the site. We were in site #20, which was the furthest from the parking lot and somewhat the most secluded spot that had a lake view. It was right at the end of the area for hike-ins but still off of a busy trail to the lake. The distance from the car to the site was about .3 miles, not bad but annoying to haul your stuff up an incline packing up. I thought the hike in would give us more privacy, but the spots are really close together in both the drive up and hike in sites. This wasn't a big deal on Thursday night, we had no one else in the hike in grove with us and it was awesome. But Friday night families moved in and it was really noisy being so close together. It was windy (def being stakes and a real hammer for the hard soil) and the spots had little shade or trees to disconnect you from your neighbors. Bathrooms were really clean and a decent walk from the farthest site. We saw multiple deer families really close to our site. We had no critters or raccoons and left our cooler outside with no problems. Yellowjackets were a bit annoying but they have traps everywhere. You can definitely still hear some city noise but I didn't hear the gun range that other yelpers mentioned. Rangers drive around a lot but never bothered us. Still a cool weekend getaway, my girlfriend drove back to Cal one morning for a midterm and the drive took 30 minutes. It's definitely not big basin but worth it for a short local trip read more

Anthony Chabot Regional Park - Map of hike in area (13-21) - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

For being just a short hop from Castro Valley this park offers some really decent camping without having to go very far. The family campsites are situated amongst a large grove of eucalyptus trees. It's really peaceful here we came mid week and were one of only a few people staying here which was really nice. Great nearby hiking and fishing. It looked as almost all the fire rings were newly replaced and all the campsites were very clean and well kept up. The park ranger, Lin, was super helpful and accommodating when I wanted to make a change to my reservation and extend it for an extra night, and move from a walk-in site to a regular family campsite. He found us a great spot and was extremely kind and helpful. This is a great peaceful getaway that is close by and I will definitely be back. read more

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I love camping here. It's not too far and puts you out of the city and the business of the East Bay in minutes. The campground is well-kept and the staff are friendly. Lots of literature at the kiosk to learn and get involved with the land. read more

This is our home away from home... We love taking our RV to ACRP once a month. We never had any issues. The hook up spaces are so nice and clean, quiet and surrounded by beautiful trees. Staff is always friendly when you see them and sites are always kept up. We love hearing the Owls at night and seeing turkeys in the morning. We live in Hayward and it's very close to us. Bummer that Redwood road is temporary closed, but the freeway drive isn't that bad. Happy to see crews working on the situation, and hopefully it opens soon. Our fur-babies travel with us also and they give it 4 paws up!! :) Other place we usually go to have NO cell phone coverage, but this location does and we get basic cable as well. Highly recommended!! read more

Beautiful campgrounds! If you're a bay area local, it's a great nearby get-away! Tall eucalyptus grove provides lovely shade. Even on a hot (100F) weekend, bugs (flies) were at a minimum. Camp rangers were warm & friendly. Campgrounds are very well-kept. Other bonuses... nearby spigots for rinsing, nearby restrooms with warm showers, nearby garbage & recycle bins for added convenience, huge grassy area perfect for fisby or ball tossing, and gorgeous bird's-eye views of the San Leandro Reservoir. BE PREPARED with a set of wheels, especially if you have lots to load in/out. Tent campsites are walk-in only. read more

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This park has a nice camp ground. We just stayed for a few nights. Unlike the ones in Yosemite, this place offers hot shower and clean flushable toilet. We camped where you can look down to the lake. Very nice view! There are lots of tall trees, so it gets plenty shade. The lake marina is about 30-40 min drive which is very inconvenient. I guess you could hike down, but it is about 2-3 mile hike down from the camp site. The lake was huge and the boat rental was inexpensive. They had a half price when we went there! I read about the noise from the shooting range, but it has been closed a few years ago. There is no loud shooting sound any more. It was pretty quiet considering the location near big cities. You would hear the jet flying sometimes because of the nearby airport. Most of the people camping were legit family campers. Many people with kids. One thing bothered me was that there were some homeless campers. In fact, we had not so good luck with the location. The space right next to us was obviously homeless people camping. They were not horribly bad, but unsettling to know that we were right next to them when we had 3 small kids with us. We were also afraid of our items being stolen. Nothing happened, luckily. Somehow, they went through the loophole of the reservation system, reserved with a few days at a time under different names, 4-5 people were sleeping every night. No cars, they mysteriously appeared with backpacks. Every night, more people showed up, did some drugs, got high and started playing music. Again, not too bad as they stopped right when everyone started to go to bed. They were not littering or peeing. I wish we didn't experience that, but after all, it's very close to Oakland. Having water, hot shower, clean toilets and a quiet place to sleep for $25 a space diving into 4-5 people is better than being in the middle of the dirty and crowded city. We as a tax payer, have a right to feel safe camping out with kids. If you have kids, I suggest to stay away from these lake view lots where it's a homeless hangout. Over all, I recommend this place. read more

Anthony Chabot Regional Park - Lake view - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Conveniently close place in the bay area for a camping trip. Some of the drawbacks of being so close is that you can still hear things like BART and still have the suburban lights keeping you from seeing the stars. First morning there I kept hearing these funny sounds and wondered what they could be.....wild turkeys! The Saturday night summer campfire program that was led by park naturalists was excellent. Kids could roast marshmallows and we all learned a lot about the topic that night! The Saturday night we were there, unfortunately there was one obnoxious party camp site where one of the drunks decided to start howling intermittently from around 2:00 am on. The park rangers were out there to talk to that campsite around 5:00 am, but didn't kick them out at the time. It was warranted since they kept up a whole campground. They should've kicked out the howler and all his friends at that time, since none of them stopped him. Dude finally was quiet and started up again when quiet hours were over. But they must've been told to pack up first thing after quiet hours were over, because that's when they left. Park rangers have a tough job, dealing with all kinds of people, and I appreciate them. As for the howling dude, he at some point will for sure make more bad decisions, and he'll have to deal with the consequences. Anyway, familiarize yourself with maps and directions before you get there. As you get closer, cell service is nonexistent, and you'll want to make sure you're going to the right part of the lake to get to the camping area. read more

Although I love to travel far off places and bunk down at Earthwatch research sites, it's been awhile since I have actually gone camping. And Gayle? Her joke is that her idea of roughing it is staying at the Best Western, when the Ritz Carlton is full. However, blood is thicker than water and when her daughter-in-law organized a family camping trip, she was all in. The East Bay Regional Park District has it's own Assessment District and I'm happy to contribute every year via my property taxes. It certainly is a better situation currently than State Parks funding. It's also reflected in the high quality recreational experience that is offered and the surprising variety of beautiful nature that is available. Overlooking Lake Chabot is the Chabot Family Campground, a year-round getaway only minutes from Oakland. The camp has 75 trailer, tent, or walk-in campsites, hot showers, Naturalist-led campfire programs, an amphitheater, and hiking/fishing access to Lake Chabot. We camped in Sites 44 and 45, which was in a relatively quiet and peaceful section of the Campground. We had marvelous Family time and even my nature-phobic son thoroughly enjoyed himself. We're already looking forward to trying it again, and maybe even buying a tent! However, there are limits. Gayle was not impressed with my suggestion that we go more rustic during our upcoming trip to Spain. I guess the walking and hosteling along the Camino de Santiago will have to wait. read more

Although I've hiked many a trail in the East Bay Regional Park District, 2016 is the first year I will be taking the Trails Challenge. By downloading the trails guide, I'm discovering all sorts of hiking suggestions and new parks I haven't yet explored. Anthony Chabot Park has a featured "moderate" hike in the official Challenge Guide (http://www.ebparks.org/Assets/Features/Trails+Challenge/Trails+Challenge+Guidebook+2016_Web.pdf) that I hiked today. There are several ways to reach the park, with an extensive network of trails. The shorter loop I took today was a great intro to the park for me and definitely piqued my interest in exploring more. I parked at the Big Tree/ Bort Meadow staging area, which is easy to reach via Redwood Road. It's about 5.5 miles on Redwood Road off highway 13 and not that much further than where I usually park for Redwood Regional Trails. There is a medium size gravel lot and at 9:30 on a Sunday morning, already half full. The trails challenge featured hike took me on McDonald Trail, then left to Bort Meadow. After a right on Grass Valley, follow the markers to Ranch Trail. There is a cattle gate but none were grazing today. There is a wide trail with an open meadow on one side and views of the higher up Skyline trail to the right. After a short while, I left the Ranch Trail and turned left on Golden Rod. This winds slowly upwards and pays off with panoramic views of the park towards the top. I enjoyed the varying terrain of trees, shrub, moss covered branches and wide open vistas. The trail was a bit muddy in spots but not unmanageable. The last leg of this short hike was a left on Buckeye Trail which takes you down along a creek (which after some rain, I was happy to see flowing a bit,) and over a few foot bridges. The fog was burning off and this wooded area was bright green and had a surprisingly magical feel to it. You will eventually be let out at the Bort Camp and meadow (bathrooms, picnic tables and water.) From there I picked up the Grass Valley trail back to the lot. I can't speak for all of Anthony Chabot park, but this short loop was very satisfying in terms of a variety of terrain, scenic views and beautiful meadows & canyon areas. Looking at the map, it appears you can make longer loops from the Golden Eye trail. That and the Buckeye were my favorites of this hike, so I will definitely be back to explore longer hikes. #1 of 2016 East Bay Regional Parks Trails Challenge Distance: 2 miles read more

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Beautiful park! A must stay if you are on the road and in the East bay area. Try to get a spot between sites #69 through #75, scenic view of the lake between the eucalyptus trees. Free showers, are you kidding me! read more

Anthony Chabot Regional Park - View from site #73 - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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I stayed here for two nights with four girls and four guys(myself included) all college freshmen from SF. We needed a getaway that wasn't too far away so we found this place. We didn't really know what to expect other than reading other reviews about tight security, and noise complaints about the BART and a nearby shooting range. When we got there, we were slightly underwhelmed with our given space (lot # 64) and often found ourselves wishing for one of the larger ones (#69 is ideal) but we still had plenty of room for a campfire and a 12-person tent. Positives: Beautiful location and great views from all around, we took a short hike down to the lake and had a picnic on the dock relaxing for a couple of hours. We never had any issues with security, which we found odd considering we were a large group of students. They patrolled once around 10pm each night and we never saw them again Bathrooms! We were a 2-minute walk from free hot showers and restrooms. Negatives: The firewood can be a bit pricey. You're not supposed to bring your own so they charge you $6 for one of their bundles. we lasted three days with 2 of their bundles Very close quarters with other campers. Most of the campsites that we saw were roughly 5-10 ft away from each other. If you look at the map beforehand, you can see where your site will be and how much space you will have. They differ, ours was very reasonable spacing. No body contact whatsoever allowed in the lake. Kind of a bummer, considering the campsite is surrounded by the lake. Overall, we had a great time enjoying each others company away from the city and made-do with any minor downsides. Really beautiful, maybe we'll return, maybe we wont. But it was a nice place nonetheless read more

Anthony Chabot Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Well, we've come here twice but drivers beware: if the southbound road for Redwood Road is closed/blocked- GOOGLE maps has no idea how to reroute. Apparently our friends got apple maps to help. This is a very clean campsite though I've never found the staff to be particularly friendly. Some of the sites are small and I don't find a ton of privacy but that's what you get with camping lol. There is a lake nearby and some good hikes! read more

I found a new love for Lake Chabot by discovering the upper trails. I once hiked the lake starting at the parking lot in Castro Valley, and I remember hating the traffic jam, paved trails, and tons of people. This time I started at the parking lot in Oakland (Skyline and Grass Valley), which had plenty of free parking in the morning (and even a couple spots when I returned at 2pm). I hiked the loop from Goldenrod to Bass Cove to West Shore to Indian Cove to Cameron to Columbine and back to Goldenrod. I started early and hiked Bass and West Shore first, so there was practically no one there. I think there's a gun club nearby so during the start of the hike I head them and also saw some golf carts from the course nearby. I saw some newts crossing the trail, so keep your eye out. Indian Cove takes you off the busy shore into the woods. There's a nice bridge and views of a marsh area as you loop around. It wasn't very busy at this time on the lower loop, and I liked that there were abundant restrooms and garbage cans. I encountered a couple aggressive dogs but at least they were on leash. Traffic really thins out after you cross the bridge and there was almost no one on the last 4 miles. I really enjoyed this last part of the hike along the Columbine trail. It snakes up through the hills, through eucalyptus trees and a forest of huge redwoods. There are great views of Lake Chabot from that trail. The end of the Columbine trail (where it connects back to Bass), has a decent sized creek running through it. I had to cross it several times to get back to Goldenrod, and it was deep in some areas. It hasn't rained in a while so I expect this area can get sketchy. I also found 3 ticks crawling on my dog in this area, so make sure to check your dog! This loop ended up being about 12 miles. I only remember 4 fairly steep hills, so overall the hike wasn't too challenging, just long. It had great scenery the entire way and was a great way to get a taste of Lake Chabot without all the chaos. read more

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In answer to Erin's question about the Police presence at this camp which was: Was this during a 3 day weekend? The answer is no. It was just a regular August weekend, which I guess means these Park Regional Police have nothing to do but try to intimidate campers. read more

I hadn't been here in a long time! Everything seems better when you were a kid ..... I like the fact that this is one of the closest camp grounds. It's just far enough away from the city to feel like you are away ... until you hear the gun range and the occasional BART train! The tracks are miles away, but the sound sure carries! We stayed in spot #9, 30A hookup with water. We didn't use the water hookup. This is the only spot near us that had the water spout pointing straight up! Not a problem if you use a hose! Campgrounds are clean as well as the bathrooms. The rangers need to relax a little! We have 2 little dogs which were on a leash, but the leash wasn't in our hands or tied off. I could understand if someone complained or if our dogs are huge ... jeez! I was concerned about raccoons, so I put everything away at night. I noticed the campers next to us didn't. I expected a raccoon buffet! The raccoons didn't show, maybe they didn't like the selection? I took my mountain bike, but didn't try any of the trails .... too much beer involved! I did see many mountain bikes. There's a Safeway about 15 minutes away if you forget anything. read more

It's a very large regional park in the East Bay and has quite a few long trails. I didn't go on all the trails or check out all the staging areas due to lack of time and not enough stamina to get through everything. But it was nice to drive around the area along Redwood Road and get to some points where you could see everything. There's also a shooting range, a golf course, and as mentioned, hiking trails to check out. read more