Lake Anza Beach

(94 reviews)

3.4 mi

One of the best if possibly the only east bay dog beach? Great area, perfect size, they do have…read morebathrooms although one major drawback is not water and/or foot washing area. If they put in a water/washing area for our feet and our dogs, this would be perfect. Hopefully someone from the city will read this!

Just to be clear it is not legal to have your dog running loose. Yes plentiful people do and I have…read moreat times thinking it was ok. Very nice beach with plenty of loose dogs but recently there was an incident that brought back enforcement and tickets to people with loose dogs. Enforcement is rare but just want people to know it is a risk letting your dog run free.

Beach (looking toward Albany Bulb)

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Lake Anza

4.3

(104 reviews)

0.1 mi

Such a beautiful lake and park, with a grassy field ideal for picnicking, and a few ducks on the…read moreday I visited. There are several benches set up along the border of the lake for visitors to relax and admire the views. A rough trail on the far side of the lake made for a somewhat challenging hike, climbing over giant rocks and weaving through trees and debris. It wasn't too bad though. The sandy beach area of the park is fenced off and only open seasonally, with a small fee to enter ($5 for adults, $3 for kids and the disabled, free for babies). But the beach cafe can be accessed from outside the gates and offers various menu items like coffee, tea, hot cocoa, smoothies, lemonade, pretzels, hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, and ice cream. Lake Anza is free to visit, and offers free parking in a sizable lot. Restrooms are seemingly well kept too. I enjoyed my time here this past weekend.

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 Anza at Tilden Regional Park - Berkeley, CA

Lake Anza

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Lake Anza

McLaughlin Eastshore State Park

(37 reviews)

3.7 mi

We recently explored this picturesque dog-friendly park in Berkeley, CA with our cocker spaniel,…read moreZoey. There is a large paved parking lot with bathrooms. They have both paved and dirt trails along the tidelands. The park extends through multiple nearby cities, ending near the San Francisco Bay Bridge. Despite being so near the freeway, it's a lovely pace to walk. We found out that some of the trails are not ideal for a dog stroller! At one point, we saw an unusual looking building on a small hill in the distance. We asked a fellow hiker, who said it used to be the facility for Golden Gate Fields. The picture with my husband shows the building in the background. We will probably return in the future to check out more of this park.

Well paved easy trails. Great for birding, boat watching. Well maintained bathroomsread more

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Cesar Chavez Park

4.5

(187 reviews)

4.1 mi

Cesar Chavez Park is one of my favorite parks to go to in the entire Bay Area during the summer…read more It sits on the water, so we can get very windy here. That's why I prefer to go in the summer when the days are warm. The wind cools you down nicely. The average temperature here at Cesar Chavez Park is probably about 10° cooler than the temperature in Berkeley proper during the summer, because here you get the onshore wind right off the ocean. Kites are extremely popular at this park. Bring your own, and sometimes there is a person selling them for exorbitant prices. To walk the circumference of the park takes about 45 minutes.

Beautiful spot by the bay with tons of space. Loved the large off-leash area for dogs--it made it…read morereally easy to just relax and walk.

Squirrels ain't shy here lol

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Shorebird Park Nature Center & Adventure Playground

(146 reviews)

4.1 mi

OK early morning stop. I wanted my parents and kids to see some water and we stopped by since we…read morewere in the area and this park is open early. It's too cold to go into the water but you can see a bit of San Francisco on a clear day. Its actually a perfect representation of the Bay Area for visitors. Cold, sky is gray, and rocks near the water is covered with slippery seaweed. At the very end of University Ave you can find plenty of parking and two of the odd/unique attractions. There is a giant sundial near the pier. Its 10 foot in diameter and a gift from Berkeley's sister city Sakai, Japan. There is a giant proto-asian culture style statue called "The Guardian" on the grass. The Guardian is an extrapolation of a six-inch clay and wood sculpture in a Buddhist temple in Penang. The city fiercely resisted Frederic Fierstein's plopping of the Guardian. Fierstein fiercely fought back. Fierstein gathered signatures and placed an initiative on the ballot in support of the Guardian. The worst thing about coming so early are there was a person smoking weed in their car and kept loudly cursing on the phone even with kids and old people visibly around.

What a tucked away away spot to come across with my wife. We came across this spot after having…read moredinner at Hana Japan. We were in absolute awe because it was very serene. We saw pol just relaxing in their cars, some ppl were fishing and others just taking it all in. Had a great conversation with a car neighbor who told us about some spots here in Berkeley and Oakland to go and check out. We are so excited about learning more of what the East Bay has to offer every time we decide to venture out.

Covered in seaweed during low tide

Beautiful waterside park

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Lake Temescal

4.3

(166 reviews)

3.5 mi

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!

The waterfall and the beach area were a nice surprise. Looking forward to going there again.read more

They have a pay phone. No idea if it works.

The lake

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My dog enjoyed Lake Temescal... perfect walking distance with a beautiful lake.

Ashby Spit Park - Point Emery

(15 reviews)

4.3 mi

Beautiful day at Point Emery! I came here with my husband for a quick late lunch picnic to avoid…read morethe crowd. We were thankful to found a last parking spot when we arrived. Got to come down and sat on a bench for a quick picnic lunch. Love the view on a beautiful sunny day on a Saturday afternoon!

Close access to the beach and trail for running/biking!…read more You can still see the freeway, but overall it's a relaxing route to run/bike and to see the coastline.

Information about Point Emery.

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Toll Plaza Beach

2.5

(2 reviews)

6.1 mi

Here's a video I made of this secret Beach: https://youtu.be/lbQslFsYw4Y…read more Lots of junk and little to see. This place is a very out-of-the-way junky strip of land right next to the toll plaza. You can only get here when going westbound. You take the exit 8A then take an immediate right and there you are. It's the same exit you take when you are going to the parking lot for the Bay Bridge bike trail. I did not have high hopes for this strip of land, and these hopes were realized. I came here to find three geocaches, which I found. However, I was not prepared for all the junk and Stuff dumped along the road. The junk is everywhere. It appears that some homeless people also might be living here. I did not feel particularly safe the entire time I was here. After the furthermost section of road, the road was partially flooded so I did not try to access that section. Who knows, maybe over there at turns into an island paradise?

Toll Plaza Beach AKA Radio Beach - Just to the north of the toll plaza . It's a little difficult to…read moreget here - the only access is by taking the very last exit to West Grand before you reach the toll plaza. Once on the exit, take the first right and you will go down a pot holed access road to the beach area. It's not the lind of beach where you would want to lay out on and tan or go swimming for that manner - this is still Oakland after all :) The beach is popular with wind and kite surfers and also you may see a motor home or two with some derelict types "camping" there.

Kiteboarding at toll plaza

Homeless guy?

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All-Outdoors California Whitewater Rafting

4.8

(273 reviews)

12.3 mi

We took a Class 3 day trip on the South Fork of the American last week. Everything was…read moreprofessionally done and went smoothly. Our equipment was in excellent shape. Our guide was experienced, patient and knew the river well. He took good care of my 10 year old granddaughter, who was a first-timer. This is a quality outfit. I recommend them without reservation. Of note: the South Fork has become a bit crowded with rafts. I'll be trying a different river next time.

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.

Rafting on the North Fork of the American River

Making memories on a river rafting trip

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Picnic lunch on our 1-day Middle Fork American River trip - sandwich ingredients, chips, cookies, and freshly-cut pineapple

Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area

(29 reviews)

1.6 mi

The pool is great! And it's open way more hours this summer than the past. Pretty much 12-6pm…read moreeveryday for rec swim. FYI the pool is only open during the summer.

The Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area (SCRA) is a hidden gem located above the Cal Campus and on…read morethe road up the hill on the way up to the Lawrence Hall of Science. It features an outdoor swimming pool, a ropes course, locker rooms, fitness center, barbecue/picnic area, and the Haas Clubhouse. I've been here for a few private parties at the Clubhouse. But what I really enjoy is bringing the family here for a swim and a chance to hang out poolside or on the grass. It's quiet, peaceful and in lush surroundings. And it's only a short drive from the urban grittiness of my Albany home.

If you just want the lazy swim in the sun, this is it!

High-up obstacle course!

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Berkeley Aquatic Park

3.6

(81 reviews)

3.7 mi

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.

I come here to walk and reset. The smell and the transients can be off putting sometimes. They have…read morea park for the kiddos and disc golf. There is parking and a bathroom but the bathroom closes kinda early. It is located near the freeway so it can get a little noisy, I have to wear headphones to bypass that.

Trail/park

Pier

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The Big C

(76 reviews)

1.4 mi

It's a short and steep hike up here. However don't expect a blazing 'C' at the top. We went…read moreduring a hot day and there isn't much shade around the area. If you're looking for a short burst workout this is a pretty good one with a fabulous view. I'm sad the swing isn't there. I would have like floating in the air. We paid for parking by the wooden stairs. However, there must be another area to park for free as there were other hikers en route.

Fast hike with nice views but no swing and poorly maintained. There is a lot of construction in…read morethe area as well.

Wild turkey in the distance

Swing

The rope swing

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Hearst Pool

3.8

(20 reviews)

1.8 mi

TL;DR beautiful pool, beautiful gym…read more PLUSES: + outdoor pool = great view (campanile) + design is old, rustic, and beautiful + huge locker rooms + halls are perfect for a photoshoot

This 33-meter (108+ feet!) rooftop pool of Roman proportions and elegance is a treasure of the UC…read moreBerkeley campus. The locker room is approached by a walk through a sunlit hallway of old, multi-paned windows. The locker room is spotless, and fabulously equipped. Then, the pool itself...holy crap...first of all, it's on a ROOF, and it's made of MARBLE and mosaic tiles. And there are huge concrete terraces on which to sun and rest oneself, as well as to view eye candy from the waterpolo team doing leisurely laps as if just for show. The lanes are huuuuge so collisions are rare. In fact, it sometimes feels like the place is a secret even from the lucky students who can enjoy it, because I don't remember it ever being crowded. In fact, as the sound of the Campanile heard between breaths of the fresh Berkeley breeze blowing over the verdant quad can charm anyone into thinking that they are having a dream of liquid solitude. Here, I was able to break through my 2-lap ceiling and seal my love of swimming forever. Okay, one pain in the ass is that you have to pay a fee to rent out a locker...but at least you CAN rent out a locker! Another pain in the ass is that you have to wear a damn swim tag on your person to show that you are allowed to be in or around the pool in the first place...but the crispy, sun-yellow, and oh-so-filchable towels provided by the gym make up for all this... Yeah, so basically, there's nothing negative that can be said about this pool. It is a drop of Heaven on Earth.

Fantastic pool no matter what the weather.

Assessing the stroke

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Yet another sunny day at UC Berkeley's renowned Hearst Pool

Sticky Art Lab

My son just attended a birthday party in this little hidden gem. The space is inviting and the kids…read morehad so much fun . The instructors were so kind and engaging with the kids . My little boy is already asking to go back again ! Definitely recommended !

We just had our 10 year old's bday here! Every thing was great, and the kids really got in to the…read moreproject we picked (felt succulent gardens). Planning to come back soon for an adult night (or another private party with my girl friends!).

Front door of Sticky Art Lab

Tote bag stamping workshop.

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Screen printing workshop!!

Lake Anza Beach - beaches - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Lake Anza Beach also viewed

Albany Beach

(94 reviews)

Alameda Beach

4.0

(167 reviews)

Very calm and accessible. We parked on the roadside and the beach is right there - miles and miles…read moreof shallow water and sand. There are a lot of driftwood and kelp, so it smells fishy. It's still clean enough that we played frisbees without our shoes. We moved onto the Crown Memorial State Beach afterwards. Although that beach had a parking lot and a cleaner beach, we thought the Alameda beach was more chill. Regardless, both had shallow water where it's safe for small children to wade out and play.

Alameda beach is one of the few beaches in norcal where you can lounge at…read more We have been regularly doing our open water swims in the area and the water's always feeling relatively clean and refreshing. There is plenty of parking all along the roads and overall, a great place to reset in the mornings, evenings and on weekends.

Clipper Cove

4.0

(6 reviews)

Now here's a thought. Why not pack a picnic and take the Treasure Island Ferry to come here? The…read moreferry never hits its 48-person capacity, and It's just a quick stroll from the ferry dock to the cove. They've built a convenient walkway down to the beach. Connecting Yerba Buena Island with Treasure Island, this cove feels fairly well hidden and doesn't get much tidal action since it faces north away from the Golden Gate. It's too cold to swim, though people like to kayak, paddleboard or even do their yoga here. Don't look at me though. I'll just sit on a bench. RELATED - Exploring Treasure Island? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/HiNQ-xtdod

What an awesome little cove.. so dog friendly and clean. A rather steep staircase to get to but…read morethen just flat sand and cool views of both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Bay Bridge. There was almost nobody there. We watched sailboats tying up to each other, a Floating Party!!, these sailors got it right! The bathrooms up top are very clean as well. A great place to stop and stare and let the dog run and swim, in warmer weather I might go swimming with her.. A nice afternoon if you were to bring a picnic and someone you love.

Rodeo Beach

4.5

(214 reviews)

a beach that has plenty of parking? in the bay area? Score…read more this area is quiet and spacious. plenty of space on the sand to spread out and make your own for your group. to the right of the beach are some trails for biking or walking and it is not difficult of a walk. nice little stop the sand is more of a brown, but cleaner than ocean beach

This is a beautiful dog-friendly beach with nearby trails located in the Marin Headlands. There is…read moreplenty of parking and restrooms provided. As often happens at a beach, our senior dog, Zoey, reverted to her childhood and ran and played like a puppy here. It's always a joy to see her so happy!

Point Molate

3.9

(21 reviews)

I am always up for discovering new spots I haven't been to in Norcal, Bay area specifically. I had…read moreno idea Richmond had a beach! Point Molate Beach park is a somewhat hidden spot right off 580. There are picnic benches, and steep grassy area. You can get down to the sand at a couple spots with care and ninja like agility (LOL). I enjoyed some time here on a Friday morning. The views of the water and the beautiful San Rafael-Richmond bridge is one of my favorite sites in the Bay. The park wasn't crowded. The parking lot is small. The port-o-potty was surprisingly well maintained and was just cleaned when I arrived. There was some construction going on. After some research, turns out a pedestrian and bike path is coming sometime in 2027. I honestly have no complaints. I'm happy to find a nice, secluded spot to get away and take in some beautiful views. I plan to return again sometime soon.

Nature and bay come together here with breathtaking views. Drive the road to the end and have lunch…read moreat the park tables or on out to The Sailing Goat. View the bay, see deer and Osprey (sea eagles) nesting. Easy access at the last exit heading west to San Rafael. just before getting on the Richmond/San Rafael bridge.

Bayfront Park