Inspiration Point is part of the Tilden Regional Park but is like a little park all on its own. A small parking lot, with additional parking available along the road (convenient since the lot seems to fill up quickly). Access to the Nimitz Way Trail from the parking lot, a nice option for hiking. Picnic tables under the shade of trees. A restroom. Lots of vegetation all around. And of course, scenic views overlooking the trees, hills, and lakes in the distance. Spotty wifi/internet connection is also worth noting. Nothing too exciting here, but it was clean and simple with lots of little things to appreciate. If you have time, I recommend checking out the Regional Parks Botanic Garden as well, which is just a few minutes drive from here. read more

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Great spot to walk with wonderful views and hiking trails for those inclined. The weather in the area is perfect as the temps stay relatively pleasant. read more

So, was Inspiration Point inspirational?? No doubt that if you lose yourself in all that Berkeley scenery, you could find your inspiration here!! So inspiration? Maybe. But if you want get get your walk on, or get your steps in, or your bike or run on, there are plenty of trails for that. I came on a Saturday afternoon and the parking lot was full, so I parked on the side of the street, still relatively close. Inspiration Point is also where the Nimitz Trail begins, which was a really nice walk on that sunny Saturday. The Nimitz was paved, but there are plenty of dirt trails that veer off from the main trail, if your feeling adventurous. So come here and enjoy the views of the Berkeley Hills or the reservoir, it's all good here!! read more

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90% paved, but it does have gorgeous views! The trail is paved in the first 90% making it an easy walk, there are many openings looking out over the trees and waters. The last 10% to the top is unpaved and has more elevation like a hike would. There is a eucalyptus forest towards the end of the hike which was so relaxing to walk through and it's my favorite part of the hike. The views from the top are very pretty, although very far removed. You would have to zoom in to see both the golden gate and bay bridges. I prefer hikes that are more submersed in nature. This hike would make a nice easy place to take family or bike through. read more

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Gorgeous awesome lookout point. Definitely a perfect place to catch the sunset! You can just pull up in your car, no walking needed. Super peaceful. I had service. read more

The pictures are cap!! It's a nice trail! Lots of greenery!! Love the trees!! Certain areas dogs are not allowed!! Not many places to throw dog poop away!! Cows and cow poop along the way. Peaceful and quiet!! Loved it!! read more

Again, my review are for parents who are considering hiking this with young kids and a stroller. My wife and I took our three and one year old on this hike. We took our average joe City Go double stroller. We can't afford those high end luxury strollers nor can we afford a stroller for hikes and a stroller for other things. I'm fact, this was an excellent hand me down from the sister in law! Great paved hike! Lots of good hills so be prepared to put some work in with the strollers. The three year old hiked for a good portion but eventually tapped out and fell asleep. The one year old just sat and ate. Not much shade so bring your sun hats and sun screen. We really enjoyed it and will add this to our regular rotation. read more

Inspiration Point - Start point. - Parks Near Me

Beautiful location to hike and enjoy the great outdoors! We brought my nephew in his stroller on this pretty flat hiking trail. The parking lot is tiny so expect to wait a bit to get a legitimate spot here. Once here there are a few trails to choose from and they are nice and accessible to dogs, humans, and baby humans. There are many lookout points along the main trail here and it's a very rewarding hike without too much strain. The one downside of this being a dog-friendly trail that is also paved is that there was a lot of dog droppings all over the path. This is less the fault of the dogs than their owners, but nonetheless gross. When we were about to leave, someone in the car smelled something foul so we checked the stroller, only to find that of course someone had accidentally rolled over some dog droppings with the stroller and it was now stuck in the wheel. Yuck! Note to dog-owners, please be responsible and clean up after your pet! If you didn't bring a bag with you make sure your pet doesn't accidentally go in the middle of the paved path! Be responsible!! read more

Inspiration Point - Parks Near Me

I was afraid of not getting a parking spot, so I got here before 7. Not to worry, there's still plenty of space is available. But later in the morning, the spaces fill up quickly. The main trail is called the Nimitz Trail, named after a famous Navy Admiral. There are quite a few places to stop and gaze towards the San Pablo Reservoir. The views are indeed incredible. Today, there were a ton of bikers, bikers, strollers, and even a championship college Runner. The runner passed me on my bike! Along the Nimitz Trail, there are several interesting features. There are several Tree groves, sponsored by community organizations. For example the Rotary Club sponsors a peace Grove. They have plaques dedicated to famous peacemakers of years gone by. There are several restrooms at the start of the trial. read more

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Views. Views. Views. Amazing views. Inspiration Point is a popular hike in the Berkeley Hills. There are few slopes, and most of it is paved, so its quite easy as far as hikes go. In fact, I'd describe it more of a "walk" than a "hike". The parking lot fills up on the weekends or holidays, but there is nearby street parking. If you do park on the street, make sure you park in a spot along the road that is not between the "No Parking" signs. The East Bay Park Police patrol the parking lot. Berkeley PD in theory patrols the roads. So its Berkeley PD that would give you a ticket out on the street. DO NOT LEAVE ANY VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR. Notice all the broken glass on the ground. There are many car breakins in this area. I assume the thieves wait until you are out on your hike, then break in to your car. The hike itself is scenic, and along the way there are many small dirt paths that take you up or down the nearby slopes. The air temp up here is about 5 degrees cooler than the flat lands of Berkeley. This is due to the onshore winds that blanket the top of the hill you are walking along. Bring a windbreaker! read more

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I would be lying if I said I get inspiration at Inspiration Point, and hell, I've been coming here for years. In fact, I'm not sure if I would know inspiration if it hit me on my tuchus. What I really get are FitBit steps as I have been rather intent to get to my daily goal of 10,000 steps, and walking the well-traveled Nimitz Way was a convenient way to do it. Note I stated 'walk' as the first four miles are fully paved, and while there is sometimes a rolling elevation to the path, it never surpasses a three percent grade. In other words, it didn't feel like you're one of the Von Trapps desperately scaling the Alps to escape the Nazis. It felt more like you're a member of Wilson Phillips in the "Hold On" video where they don't really move off those rocks. Formerly an access road to a missile base (a challenging point of fact if you're a typical Berkeley pacifist), it just wasn't that challenging to cover unless you have time constraints. Pick up the pace if you want your heart to pump harder. Besides, there are benches along the way to take in panoramic views of the bay toward the west and San Pablo Reservoir to the east. I didn't realize until recently that the trail connects with the San Pablo Ridge Trail in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. That would be an ambitious trek. Could you drive me back to my car? The parking lot handles the weekday visitor volume just fine, but forget about it on weekends and presume you'll be parking precariously on the edge of Wildcat Canyon Road. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here are the places around the Bay Area where I have trodded: http://bit.ly/2OsCCsK read more

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Need a little inspiration? Well, Tilden Park's Inspiration Point is sure to help you with that! Just one glance at those beautiful Berkeley views is enough to make you fall completely in love! Inspiration Point is located in the parking lot next to the Tilden Regional Park entrance off of Wildcat Canyon Road. I usually park here when I hike Tilden Park. The main walking trail known as the "Nimitz trail" begins here. The actual viewpoint is gorgeous! On a clear day, you can see the beautiful rolling hills of Berkeley and beyond. It's a great place to chill out and enjoy the surrounding views of Berkeley. It's also a wonderful spot to catch a sunset or a sunrise. Because this park is heavily trafficked, the parking lot tends to get filled up rather quickly. It is always a good practice to arrive as early as possible, especially on the weekends when it tends to be the busiest. There are spots where you can park on the side of the road if the lot does get filled up. The Inspiration Point lookout has a small bench where you can sit and enjoy the views, and there are also restrooms available at the beginning of the trail. It's a wonderful place to sulk in the peaceful views of the rolling Berkeley Hills! read more

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My active friends and I love this hiking spot! The main trail is called Nimitz Trail and there are many other trails that you can take off of this main trail. This is a super family and dog friendly hike. We passed by many adorable dogs and lots of nice people with greetings like good morning and hello along the way. There are quite a few bikers too, so you have to be careful to let them pass by smoothly. There's a sign at the beginning of the hike telling you to please wear your mask when you are within 6 feet from other people. This hike is very much doable for all ages. I would definitely recommend this hike! read more

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MOTHERS DAY HIKE: with my babies this is our annual Mothers Day Hike and today we enjoyed ourselves and did a 2 mile hike on a sunny afternoon. Road is paved and there are lots of families walking and biking and on scooters too. We took it easy and enjoyed the fabulous views. It was very sunny but there were some areas that were also shaded along the way. We had a view as far as SF but it was cloudier there so you couldn't quite see so far. As it's COVID19 everyone had to social distance and wear masks if they were less than 6 meters away. Also all dogs had to be on leashes Stunning views of San Pablo Dam Reservoir and of the Berkeley Hills . So glad you live in the Bay Area we are totally spoilt read more

Just to clarify-Inspiration Point is the parking area and scenic look-out that marks an entrance to the paved Nimitz Trail. Because I usually start some Tilden Area hikes from this lot but haven't written any Tilden reviews, yet, I figured I'd start here. Inspiration Point itself is pretty easy to get to if you're coming from east of the Caldecott. Simply take 24 East, exit at Orinda and bear right towards San Pablo Dam Rd. After about 2 miles if you make a right, you can head towards one of the Briones staging areas and then if you turn left on to Wildcat Canyon Road, you'll head towards Inspiration Point. The parking area tends to fill up quickly but on a Saturday late afternoon, around 4, there were plentiful spots. Once on the paved Nimitz trail glorious views abound of the San Pablo area resevoir, Mt. Diablo and then the bay itself, all the way to the Golden Gate and Marin, weather pending. I've done this walk many times, sometimes veering off down to the left in to the Tilden Nature Area, but being I was solo and it was later in the day, my most recent walk kept me on the paved path. There are regular mile markers, every 1/4 of a mile, for those of you keeping track and the trail varies in sun and shade, so plan accordingly. There are stretches of wide open sunny spaces then you'll go around the bend and it will be shady and windy. Because I was flying solo on my most recent walk (notice I don't say "hike" ) I kept to the main path until around 1.75 miles and then turned left toward the Peace Grove and up on the short trail that takes you to Wildcat Peak. Once on the peak there are wonderful 360 degree views of the bay, Briones and Mt. Diablo. I even caught the bucolic site of cows off in the distance looking down towards the San Pablo Resevoir. I decided to go back the way I came and felt rather safe doing that walk alone, especially as it crept close to 6-6:30. If it were earlier in the day, or I had company, I might have continued on the Nimitz trail which eventually takes you to Wildcat Canyon through cattle gates. Another option is to actually hike down in to the Tilden Nature Area, link up to the Visitor's Center and then head back up. I've done both in the past and look forward to it again. All in all, 5 stars for nature, friendly folks on the trail and good opportunity for bird watching if that's your thing too! The Yelp 100 Challenge read more

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Inspiration Point is a lookout point at Tilden Regional Park that also has a parking lot and serves as a staging area for the park's most popular trail, Nimitz Way. The point is located on the eastern edge of the park, which is northeast of San Francisco and Oakland, in northeast Berkeley close to Orinda. This is a great place to stop and take in the beautiful, panoramic views of the rolling East Bay hills and Mount Diablo to the east. Entry to Tilden Regional Park is free and there is no cost to park at Inspiration Point. There are about 40 parking spaces available. Inspiration Point itself has a small lookout platform with informational placards and a few benches. It's nice -- ideal for pictures and for stopping to relax and enjoy the scenery. The parking lot surrounds a woodsy area with a handful of picnic tables. The access point for Nimitz Way also has a tiny picnic area as well as men's and women's restrooms. Nimitz Way is a wide, paved, four-mile-long walking/hiking trail that starts at Inspiration Point and goes north, along the ridge line, through Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, and ends at El Sobrante. The trail has excellent views of the Bay Area both east and west of the hills. Facing westward, you can see San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Nimitz Way is very easy to walk and is bicycle and stroller-friendly. It's excellent for beginners because the inclines are relatively shallow. Inspiration Point has access to another, more adventurous and less traveled trailed: Inspiration Trail. This trail is not paved. Only hikers and horses are allowed on this trail. Bikers are not allowed. This trail sort of parallels Nimitz Way for over a half-mile before meeting back up again with Nimitz Way. After that point, the two trails permanently diverge: Nimitz to the north and Inspiration to the east. Whether you're planning a multi-hour hike or a quick visit through, Inspiration Point is a terrific stop. read more

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Really disappointed.. only because directions to get to see the stunning view from Rotary Peace Grove was not provided. Assumption of taking the Nimitz trail highly recommended by everyone, you would run into it. Reading that the trail is 4.1 miles, assuming again it was a round about or 2 miles back and forth which was not the case! Try 8 plus mile with the turn around? And it was kinda boring!! Paved road leads to dead end of gravel and hills for days lol Since the rain is gone, and it's been hot lately - all you see are weeds and cows. Note: if you're interested in seeing the Rotary Peace Grove, it's about a mile out and a couple of feet towards your left. You will see a small sign, that can be easily missed. Hike towards up hill and you will find it. Sorry about the ranting, I wish I had brought water with me and I was dead tired lol That is all..I recommend which most people did, BRING YO BIKE!! read more

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Very nice place to take a walk with nice views into the valley below. It feels like worlds apart from the city and good way to recharge.

We rode our e-bikes from Albany to Inspiration Point (about 20 miles). I had never been to Inspiration Point before. There is a parking lot that fills quickly. Also, a bathroom, if you have to go. A great place to walk your dog or kids or ride your bike. Bring layers... You get to see some pretty amazing views for being so close to urban areas. There are cattle guards to cross over, and you might even get to see a cow. We slowed down to pass one that was close to the path. Another jewel in the bay area parks. Go early and avoid the crowds. read more

Directions to Rotary Peace Grove Lookout: 1) From Inspiration Point, take Nimitz Trail. 2) Look for second fork in the road, it should be the Wildcat Peak Trail on you left (first firm was Laurel Canyon). Pay attention for the second fork because we somehow missed it. If you pass the Wildcat Canyon sign (in your right), then you've gone past the Wildcat Peak Trail. 3) You will pass by Rotary Peace Grove which is a shady area. 4) Stay on the trail going uphill, it'll take you directly to the Lookout. FYI: Lots of flies around here! Loved the hike! Wasn't too long, probably about 2-3 hours. We went to the Lookout & went back to Inspiration Point. read more

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What a privilege to have this on our doorstep. Trails to please every type and level of hikers, dog lovers, horse riders, MB riders with dedicated trails and specific rules for all. Courtesy is a valued skills on trails , find yourself and go discover the beauty of our local regional park. read more

Beautiful hike located above Berkeley. Good stroll area and not too difficult - good to go with kids and family. The trees sometimes provide good shade. The view of the Bay is the the best I've seen... read more

I really enjoy Inspiration Point. It's a fantastic place to run or hike. It has great scenic views throughout and if you are sucker enough to make it to the concrete platforms there are numerous panoramic views of the bay along with some weird stone animals someone left there. If you are a long distance runner, as I am, the 9-10 miles or so round trip is long enough to break a good sweat. I normally go in the morning when parking is plentiful. However, if you arrive after 10 on a weekend or holiday parking is tight in the parking lot but there is street parking. The first few miles of the trail can get crowded with large walking groups/families, strollers and children on bikes (this is great to me). The later portions are much more sparsely populated as you begin to take in views of the 'bays' and rolling hills running to the north, south and east. I should point out the trail goes on through several cow pastures and does not really have a set end. There are benches to sit on at a far hill that sits about 7-8 miles from the entrance. Mostly, I stop at a couple of concrete platforms that look like they may have been part of a structure or something. I consider the latter to be inspiration point. This area is about 4-5 miles from the entrance. The only bathrooms are located at the entrance so make sure you go there. The majority of the trail until the very end has gently rolling hills and is flat at many portions throughout. Therefore, it is good for all ages. read more

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Inspiration Point is home to the easiest trail (legit saw multiple people with walkers and infinite strollers) to a totally fine viewpoint of quintessential East Bay. Impressive? Not terribly, to be honest. I mean it's not hideous but it's not "inspiring" and the again the trail to get there is pretty geriatric... which is fine. Something outdoorsy and active for everyone... but not what I expected. It was mainly a TON of old people, families with very young children, and very fancy pure-breed dogs that sh*t everywhere (the beginning of the trail especially just smells like dog doo island) with their rich owner who are either too lazy to pick up the sh*t or too lazy to throw the poo bags in the garbage and instead just toss them on the ground. smgdh. This is why we can't have nice things. If you're looking for an all-ages brisk strolling path or just a place where you can walk and goss with your bestie, this is it. read more

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The views are amazing! I ride by this area so many times and failed to really stop and enjoy.Most of the time I'm in another area to hike and enjoy the views.That will not be the case anymore! The parking lot is really big so you have lots of parking if you get here early. This place gets packed good thing I'm an early bird. Tony and crowd's just don't mix. The trails are simple so it doesn't take a pro to hike this area. If you're like me and love nature this is definitely a place to be. read more

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Located inside the Tilden Regional Park. Great vista point as well as starting point for a hike starting at Nimitz Way Trail. Good mixture of shaded and non shaded areas. Lots of great views of the valley and water. Path is well paved. Plenty of parking either in the lot or off the main road. read more

Ahh. Good old Inspiration Point. I half expected that I would discover the meaning of life or be inspired to change the course of my life when I reached it, but alas that did not happen. Still this is a great area to relax and enjoy the sight that echoes out in front of you. It was pretty dry and windy when I went, but I can only imagine how beautiful the sights would to behold in the spring when everything is green and lush and full of animals fighting for food to prepare for the upcoming Winter. Overall, a nice visit, but I just wasn't knocked off my horse with inspiration like I planned. Maybe next time. read more

Inspiration Point certainly isn't bashful when it comes to boasting about its potential to inspire. With views of Mt. Tam, San Francisco, and Mt. Diablo, the vista point is certainly one which inspires me to get moving. On a sunny day, the paved trail leading to the point can feel like a highway of sorts, with runners, cyclists, and pooches zooming by. The off in the woods effect is diminished, but is replaced by a collective of sorts, of all walks of life. There is no shortage of dogs with ear to ear grins, trotting along with newly discovered sticks. The point itself is a easy destination to get to, a reasonable climb off the otherwise flat trail. It clearly inspires many visitors, judging by how many people were there during my last visit with dog in tow. If you think that the vista from Grizzly Peak is impressive, you must check out Inspiration Point. read more

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Nice paved walk on weekdays when its been raining and all the other trails are too muddy to traverse. However, it gets way too busy on the weekends with strollers, people walking dogs and bikers zooming through. Beautiful views on sunny days just after the rain. read more

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I love this place! Very, very easy hike and it's mostly paved. It's probably less than a mile up to the peak from the parking lot. There's a short walk uphill (unpaved) to get to the peak (aka the Peace Grove), where you discover gorgeous views of of the Bay and the city! You can sit here and contemplate or eat a nice little packed lunch or dinner! I took a friend up here on a night stroll and we had a little picnic here as we sat and appreciated the East Bay beauty and the stars all by ourselves (very romantic!). It's dark late at night so remember to bring a flashlight! Headlamps are best. And during late Fall (after October) it gets really cold at night so you might want to wear layers. Also, if you feel like taking an even longer stroll instead of just going to the Peace Grove, just keep following the paved trail and I think it's probably 8 miles all the way around. Not sure though, just check the trail map. Lots of bikers go here, too, so it's not just for hiking. read more

On a clear day, this is a great place to take a hike. The drive over the first time might get a bit confusing without a gps or smartphone. There is a parking lot that fits a good amount of cars and it's free. The hike itself is great, the majority of the path is paved so it's easy and you aren't scared of weird things of nature biting at your feet or jumping out of the bushes. It's pretty easy to miss the turn off when you go up to inspiration point so make sure to read the signs. Once to make the turn to the left, there is a dirt walking path that takes you up to inspiration point. It gets pretty steep (nice workout), but doesn't last that long...and the end is totally worth the workout. On a clear day, you can see the golden gate bridge, Mount Tam, and the city. Do this and you won't regret it! read more

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The Nimitz Trail rides right on top of the ridge with great views west over the bay to the GGB and SF, east over San Pablo reservoir to Mt Diablo. TIP: Best time is early morning. Gets crowded after 7:30am on wknds with lots of walkers. Paved for 4+ rolling miles then steeper fire road for another 2-4 miles. Good for running and low thrill biking with kids on geared bikes. Too hilly for little tykes. Can be windy and foggy. Decent parking in lot, bathroom are new and fine for parkland. Dogs supposed to be on leash, but pre-7am never had any problem with well-trained pets. read more

Great place to ride your bicycle or hike. Best time to ride or walk would be during the early morning hours on a weekend or in the evening during the Spring or Summer time to catch the sun setting over the Bay. Lovely wildlife to see along the trail from wild bunnies, quail to coyote! read more

One of the most beautiful, easiest trails I've been to! Completely accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, this paved trail offers stunning views of green mountains and blue water along an easy road. This isn't a loop as far as I'm aware so just turn around when you've had enough. Plenty of benches along the way. Make sure to bring some snacks and water since there is no where to buy near by. Toilets available in the beginning. read more

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One of my favorite hiking trails (cause that's the only one I know....) I went for a sunset hike, and check out the pictures I posted here. You'll see why this trail is AWESOME. Tips: as romantic as it may sound, it's actually pretty scary after the sun was set... bring flashlight.... read more

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I'd have given this spot, basically a parking lot, 5 stars if it wasn't so crowded on weekends. You'll see cars parked all down the road on the side when the lot fills up. Get here early, and don't leave anything in the car as there's break in's here sometimes. This is Tilden Park and this parking area gives you access to the trail head for Nimitz Trail, a paved path for those who don't wanna get their feet dirty hiking! It goes I think over 4 miles to the north. It's best seen on a bike or skates if you know how, warning there's hills out there! This is a popular "parking" make out spot too .... I came across used condoms in the parking lot! read more

Sometimes I take a roll of the dice and pick a park and a trail to amble around for an afternoon. Super glad I did the Nimitz Trail at Tilden Regional Park. Good God, one of the East Bay's most AMAZING features are all the freaking parks and trails here. When I leave I am seriously going to be missing it so, so much. All the more reason to come back... Again, if one wants solitude (which is what I was definitely seeking), you gotta come here during the week. This trail isn't super hilly -- a nice, mega gradual rolling climb -- mostly flat. Wonderful. read more

Awesome place for a bike ride! There's ample parking in the parking lot, and we biked for about 1.5 hours. Almost all of the road is paved which is nice for road bikes. Beautiful views all around during the hilly ride of surrounding towns and mountains and we passed by several cows munching on grass. We offroaded a bit down a bumpy dirt road after opening a gate (I don't think it was restricted area??) for a few minutes which was quite an adventure. It wasn't too crowded on a Saturday morning so it was a pretty peaceful and pleasant bike ride! read more

Yooo this place is no jokeeee!! I walked along the paved trail and didn't realize 2 hours passed. Had to turn back! Wonder how long it is lol read more

Very nice trails, did the peace off trail to the top. Great views will come back and work through all of the trails