This is an idyllic place to hike and picnic in Tilden. There is a lake (pond?) that has a swimming…read morearea, but I personally don't think it is especially clean for that. But there are lots of turtles and birds to watch. For picnics, there are tables and a large grassy expanse for laying down a spread and also playing frisbee. For a hike, the loop around the lake (pond?) is perfect for kids and adults who are able to climb rocks and scramble comfortably along a few narrow strips of the trail. There is a bridge and an area where kids like to explore the creek. There are other paths off the lake, but those do tend to have more mountain bikes. This is an especially nice park when we have our late summer weather in September and October. Plenty of parking.

Lake Care…read more Recreational swimming reservoir located in Tilden Regional Park that was named after Spanish "explorer" Juan Bautista de Anza. The Good: *Free *Swimmable *There's a beach area** with actual sand *Fishing allowed (w/ CA fishing license [$62]) *±3/4-mile loop trail around the lake that has some gorgeous almost Hoh Rainforest-like vibes (IYKYK). *Restrooms** *Large paved lot The Meh: *Area has signs about a dangerous algae bloom in the water, so if you do go swimming, make sure not to intake too much water--and keep your pets away from it! *There's also signs telling you how to prepare any fish you catch here. The Ugly: *As the signs state "Rough Trail," and boy howdy is it rough. Especially when it's wet, as some of the trails around the backside were ultra thick, slippery mud which had us fighting for our lives! Bring a hiking pole(s) or a hiking stick to help with steadying yourself. Conclusion: Cool spot with a trepidatious hike that's for a good payoff. Gird your loins and just do it! **area was under construction when we visited in Dec '24, but we're assuming it'll be done by summer?

The Lake Temescal loop is a beautiful easy-medium short walk that's a little over a mile…read more As you walk the only partially paved trail you'll see a ton of wildlife (ducks and fish) and quite a few dogs being walked as well as a waterfall water feature. The views are picturesque and it's quite serene for how busy it is. The second half of the trail (after you loop around near the fallen tree) isn't paved and in poor weather would be likely too muddy to be particularly safe, so I would probably walk elsewhere after a good rain or while it's drizzling. All in all, we had nevr been to this lake before and it was gorgeous so we fully intend to return!

Great place for fishing or a walk if you live in the area. Its a scenic place for not being all…read morethat large. Parking lot, kids play structure BBQ areas and picnic tables along with a clean walking path around the edge make for a good day with friends or family. I think it had been 35 years since I was last here since a few days ago. I barely remember a company picnic with my parents as a little kid. Obligatory company Christmas parties and picnics I'm sure everybody knows what those are about - and as a little kid it wasn't so bad. I think just now as we get older its the type of thing we look to gracefully exclude ourselves from. Too cool for school, too cool for Lake Temescal - yeah, maybe I think so.

Google maps will take you to the south lot, which offers free and easy parking. Overflowing trash…read morecans and a porta potty were located near the parking lot when I visited this past Saturday. Plenty of unmaintained grass throughout the park, not ideal for picnicking. But there were a few picnic tables and park benches along the trail bordering the pond. Along the paved path, I enjoyed the surrounding scenery and views of the water, as well as ducks, pelicans, and seagulls floating in the lagoon. I also found some disc golf baskets and exercise stations on site. Nothing too exciting here, but it's still a lovely park and not a bad option for getting your steps in.

It's a nice and huge park. No unhoused or drug dealers around. Family and dog friendly. Maybe…read morepeople playing frisbee golf so watch your head.

A lake in Tilden Park…read more A beautiful lake, but as the sign reads, don't let your pet swim or drink the water. They might get sick. Walking around the lake has beautiful views.

First time visiting this lake and it was so pretty! They have a grass lawn to play or hang out on…read more We decided to walk the trail around the whole lake. It's technically a walk but does included some light climbs up and down rocky areas. Loved exploring here and will be back to explore more!

A nice park near the Berkeley Marina!!…read more Lots of dirt trails, with the fence keeping you from venturing off. I've accessed this park at the corner of Frontage Road and University Avenue and also at Marina Blvd. There are plaques explaining the history of this area in the park. This park is bigger than I think it is, I also don't think I've been on all the trails yet. Definitely gotta check this place out more again!!

Park near Berkeley Marina. Its a park I've driven by probably dozens of times - something…read moreoverlooked. For whatever reason I was never drawn to this place. Its a great place to take a walk near the bay and between that and the highway. Its all fenced off between the marina and the park - witch can make it seem isolated. I like the marina much better than this place. I'd rather walk at the marina near the water.

Very nice park with lots of things to do with your little ones…read more We recently went on the Train ride, that was super cute and fun The carousel ride is so much fun also Feeding the animals and was a great experience for the boys Parking is free, you can bring your own snacks and drinks Lots of hiking trails to enjoy

Lots of different trails with moderate uphill climb. There are plenty of dogs and the…read moredisappointment lies in owners just leaving behind poop bags on the trails. The view was great and there is parking available. I suggest coming earlier before 9 a.m. I did not see a restroom available. Families hike here with their kids.

We love Marty and his crew!! They really take the time to…read moremake sure that we were happy and would enjoy our day on the lake. They made sure we had everything we needed and really made us feel special. They are easy to use as they make it easy to book, register, and get onto the lake - way better than any other place to rent boats! Josh and Jeremy were GREAT! We highly recommend and will definitely be returning next summer!!!!

*Great & Amazing Experience, I will come again sometime*…read more This was my first time choosing to rent from this company. I was worried that I had to rent a U-Haul pickup truck to tow their equipment. No Worries!! After making a reservation online, you show up on time. Time is important, it was quite a drive and I was 30 minutes late to my reservation. It was all good, I made it on time to enjoy the jet skis! Upon arrival, a person will brief you everything. Once completed, you follow the person towing your rental to the launch gate. Parking is $20, cash only! From there, you will enjoy your rental! Despite my experience, I did ran through a problem during my rental. I followed their rules and yet I got a warning light. Called the phone number they have given me, luckily I was with a buddy. They sent guys out to tow the jet ski, thank you! After we got back, no problems or damages were found on both jet skis. Small issue was oil overfill during the time the jet ski went through maintenance. It was understandable but I was given $25 for my next rental and refund back. We've taken it with care and hope someday to return to have fun!! S/O to the staff, thank you once again :)

We've rafted twice more with All-Outdoors since my last review - Goodwin Canyon in October 2022,…read moreand then Middle Fork American River again this past month (both 1-day trips). The last time we rafted Middle Fork American was on a cold, gloomy, drizzling day in October 2019 - so we had to give it another go in warmer weather. This time around was just as memorable. Two of us in the boat ended up falling out in the water at Tunnel Chute, which happened so fast that I barely knew what had happened - thankfully, there was a nice calmer stretch of water right after through the river tunnel, so we were easily able to get back into the raft. (Thank you to our guide, Troy, for hauling me back in, and for being an awesome guide in general!) Plus this was one of the photographer spots, so the action was all captured for us to laugh about later. Later, after our tasty sandwich picnic lunch, we had a few unexpected events happen, starting from the portage down Ruck-a-Chucky Falls. Shout-out to all three guides in our group - Troy, Shea, and AJ - for handling things so calmly and getting us all back where we were supposed to be! We had plenty of calm stretches floating down the river as well. The canyon is beautiful and quite peaceful. We saw a ton of dragonflies flying above our heads, masked ducks chilling on rocks and diving underwater, and wild grapes and blackberries growing alongside the river. We'll be back again for another trip with All-Outdoors! Maybe we'll try a 2-day or 3-day trip next time.

This rafting company is the best! We did the South Fork of the American River and had a blast. I…read morehighly recommend this trip and company. Ask for Markus to be your guide. You won't be disappointed.

Open every weekend (weather permitting) including holidays 11am to 6pm…read more Super cute steam train that takes you around the park Tickets are $5 per person Kids 2 years and up need a ticket Credit card and debit card accepted Parking in the main lot gets full fast but there is additional parking not too far away and parking is free My little man enjoyed this ride I love making new memories with him

Redwood Valley Railway was honestly way more fun than I expected. It's one of those small, somewhat…read morehidden attractions in the East Bay that you might not hear about unless someone tells you. But once you visit, it feels like a perfect little weekend activity, especially if you have kids or dogs. The main attraction is the miniature steam train that runs through the redwood forest in Tilden Regional Park. The train goes through trees, small bridges, and tunnels, and the ride is surprisingly scenic. It's about 12-15 minutes long, which feels just right--not too short, but also perfect for kids. Even though it's technically designed for children, adults definitely enjoy it too. There's something very nostalgic about riding a tiny train through the woods. One thing I really liked is how dog-friendly the place is. You'll see a lot of families bringing their dogs along, and it's honestly pretty cute seeing dogs riding the train with everyone else. The surrounding park area is also really nice, so you can easily walk around a bit or have a small picnic after the ride. That said, this place is extremely popular on weekends. There's basically always a line for the train. Because of that, timing really matters. I would strongly recommend arriving around 10:50 AM. That way you can usually still park in the main lot and get in line right before the first train of the day at 11. Getting on that first ride makes the whole visit much easier, otherwise the wait can get pretty long. Another cool thing is that on Sundays, there's actually another train experience nearby run by a train enthusiast club called Golden Gate Live Steamers. It's just further down the hill, and they usually offer free miniature train rides (donations encouraged) in the afternoon. Those trains are run by hobbyists and are even more "enthusiast style," which is pretty fun to see. Overall this place feels like one of those hidden local gems. It's simple, charming, and surprisingly fun. Great for a relaxed weekend morning--especially if you want something outdoors that works for both kids and dogs.

This park is absolutely delightful. It sits in the city of Piedmont, which is a bit of unusual city…read moregeographically because it is completely encapsulated by Oakland. It's somewhat of an oasis in Oakland. And this park is an oasis within that. The park isn't huge, but it does the job. Love the trails, great with the dog, and every once in a while, they'll have the food trucks. Parking nearby is easy.

We spent a crisp morning walking throughout the variety of trails in Piedmont Park. There's a dog…read morerun, play structure, plenty of bench seating, and many shady areas to explore. The safety railings and paved walkways with extra grooves to prevent slippage, especially in steeper sections. The trails would also make a great place to run as most of the paving is flat. This is definitely a place for repeat returns.