The Lake Temescal loop is a beautiful easy-medium short walk that's a little over a mile. 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! read more

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Great place for fishing or a walk if you live in the area. Its a scenic place for not being all that 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. read more

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Have been here twice. I walked around the lake. There's people fishing and a small lawn near the entrance for people who want to do picnics. There is also a little creek that passes by. There is some benches and tables, but more towards the back part. read more

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Since my family moved to Oakland over 10 years ago, Lake Temescal has been a regular, sometimes everyday stop for us. It is one of the cleanest parks I've been to, and the park staff really go above and beyond. I've never seen park crews out and working and happy like I do at Temescal. The front parking lot off Broadway Terrace fills up fast, especially on weekends, so we usually go to the back lot. It's a great place for parties and large get togethers. We love coming to Temescal off-peak hours on weekdays with our dog. There's ample space to give way for runners, walkers and other dogs, and we love seeing so many kids and families around. The lake itself is scenic although you'll see way more people fishing than swimming. Not sure if I'd personally get in the water, but it's such a nice little escape into nature. Cannot speak highly enough of the park staff. They are always so friendly and have regularly recognized and greeted us and our dog. They keep the park amazingly clean, and they're always quick to say hello and chat with you. Such a special place. read more

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I always enjoy coming to Lake Temescal!! Lake Temescal is much smaller than Lake Merritt, and it has more trails around it also. You can walk or run around this lake pretty quickly! It gets pretty busy on the weekends, when sometimes you have to pay to park. But one of the highlights of this lake is that it actually has a beach, man made of course, but cool nonetheless!!. There are restrooms and water fountains here also!! People come here to walk, run, picnic, bbq and fish!! I've seen some people catch some pretty good sized fish here! So when you swim here in the summer, you are swimming with the fish!!! There is a Beach house here also next to the beach, which can be reserved for all types of private events! read more

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Beautiful park with nice views and trails. Spacious, well maintained, and clean restrooms. Not a lot of parking, so it's best to plan ahead. Overall, it's a really nice place to enjoy all that nature has to offer. read more

Lake Temescal - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

Buen lugar para pasar el día con tus niñas niños le recomiendo este lugar para pescar también está muy buena read more

Lake Temescal - Está buena la pesca aquí pero ay gentes que dejan los ganchos usados tirados y es precaución para caminar - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

This is a pretty accessible and clean park for families and small events. There isn't a lot to do here and the highway noise is non-stop and very loud. But you can find a few small quiet places if you look hard. The park staff keep it pretty clean and the restrooms aren't too bad, though they don't have the best ventilation, so the stench is a bit rough. But for the Oakland area, it's pretty surprising to have multiple safe restrooms without serious problems. read more

Lake Temescal - Looking at the playground near the parking - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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A Jem of a park/small reservoir that is tucked away in the Oakland Hills, between Highway 24 and 13. Lake Temescal, overseen by the East Bay Regional Park District, is extremely clean with great views of the natural landscape, water, and overlooks the entire East Bay/Oakland Hills area once you hike up the hill-y trail. It's a good 2-3 mile hike that loops around one full circle. Would highly recommend this place for a picnic, a light 30-minute mid-day hike (for people who want to avoid high sun exposure), or for kids to run around while you enjoy the outdoors. There is ample benches, tables, play structures, and restrooms for the whole family to enjoy. There's plenty of parking within the Park Area (noticed there is a guard shack that usually requires a $5/day parking fee, when manned), with plenty of street parking for folks who want to try their luck at free parking. read more

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If you're looking for family-friendly in Oakland, this is definitely one of the family-friendliest spots because it's like Myers Lake near Mayberry on "The Andy Griffith Show". I was halfway expecting Andy and Opie to be walking by with their fishin' poles whistling and skipping rocks. But they didn't show up 'cause Aunt Bee probably had supper ready. Even so, it's a popular place for fishing as I saw somebody on every available pier. The lake is apparently stocked with a variety of fish. Otherwise what's the point, right? I didn't come here to fish. Rather I was taking advantage of the short trails that circle the lake. There's an elevated one on the hills along the southern shore and a narrow one right on the lakeshore on the same side. The other side is paved with a beach that hasn't been open since the pandemic began. Not that I would dip my toe in the lake. There appeared to be a lot of sludge in the lake when I was there because the lake has a lot of sediment runoff and is getting shallower. But hey, what does climate change matter when it's pretty? RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ read more

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Nestled between highway 24 and upper Rockridge neighborhood lies a beautiful peaceful park with a lake. There is a playground area, picnic tables, ample grassy fields, easygoing trails and a huge lake where fishing is allowed with a permit. I've been here for a summer work picnic and have walked here several times with my +1 for a tranquil stroll around the lake. The times I've been haven't been excessively crowded but it's becoming more popular as the weather gets nicer. If you drive, they have started charging a $5 parking fee, which we avoided since we walked from my place. We also noticed some folks parking outside of the park to avoid the fees. They also have public restrooms that are cleaned regularly but don't have a sink so highly recommend bringing hand sanitizer. Look forward to bringing family and friends out here in the future for an outdoor picnic! read more

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We came here for a picnic last weekend and had a very good time! The weather was very warm and really nice. Good things to know: - Parking is $5. There are two parking lots, north lot and south lot. When you enter Lake Temescal on Google Maps, the default should take you to the north lot. The north lot looks like a bigger parking lot, but I'm unsure since I didn't see the whole south lot, only part of it. - If you're planning on using picnic tables, I'd recommend to park in the north lot because the parking lot is closer to tables, so you don't have to walk as far from your car with your food; however, there are a couple things to consider. The restrooms at the north side are hole-in-ground type bathrooms, with only hand sanitizer for hand cleaning. On the other hand, the bathrooms on the south side are actual bathrooms with sinks. - There are small trail loops around the lake that you can hike on for views! They are short though, so for a workout you'd probably have to do a couple loops. - The north and south are not that far, all things considered, so you can definitely walk all the way to the other side in about 10 minutes. The only time it'd be bad or harder to do is if you're lugging a ton of picnic stuff with you. - Last thing is, when we went this past weekend around 1pm, it was not too crowded. You can definitely still get a picnic table if you get there late, but it wouldn't hurt to go early to get a couple of tables in the shade if you're having a party. For just a picnic on the grass, there's A LOT OF SPACE! Great for social distance hangs! read more

PICNICS - summer is all about being outdoors in nature and picnics and hiking . I love Lake Temescal. Hubby and I have been coming here a couple of times already . We bring our picnic basket our chairs and just enjoy the natural sunshine and beauty. On one side parking is $5 and this is the side with the gorgeous trees and pond . Another side is really an open field and less picturesque! Highly recommend lake temescal and will be back again and again read more

Lake Temescal - Lake Temescal - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

Nice little pond. Noticed I said pond. It's small and nice. They have lightning trout there also. People are friendly there. read more

"Cute Park, but Please--No Crank Calls on the Phone!" This is a fun little gem that is a popular picnicking and jogging area for the locals. The day that I visited, the southern parking lot was closed because of the virus shut down, but the northern parking lot was open. When the kiosks are open, you have to pay to park at each lot. Of course, if you join the Park Foundation, it's always free. I enjoy strolling along the beautiful lake and trying the several hiking trails. Although the facilities at the southern lot are temporary closed because of the corona virus, you can still walk into the southern lot. I parked on the street up top. I saw a lot of broken glass on the ground there, but since my car is old, I assumed it would be safe from robbers. Both the northern and southern areas have restrooms as well as drinking faucets. There is also a payphone in the southern parking area. The phone has a warning sign about not letting your kids make crank 911 calls on the phone. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of kids come here? I'm pretty sure other payphones don't have a warning about kids making crank calls. The day that I visited, I saw no one using the phone, crank calls or otherwise. There was no one else nearby, and I suddenly felt a strange desire to pick up the phone and start making crank calls, but I resisted the urge. I didn't want to be like those bad kids. Besides the two main parking areas, there is a set of steep stairs at Broadway Terrace that you can use to access the park. It's really not that difficult, and it's a peaceful and beautiful way into the park. One of the more interesting features is the small pond called the Sediment Detention Pond. It was built to keep debris from getting into the lake area. The green pond tends to look scummy, but it's serving a good purpose. There is also a cute footbridge nearby. Try to not fall off the bridge into the pond scum. This facility is actually operated by the East Bay Regional Park District. Technically, the name is Temescal Regional Recreation Area. Several information plaques explain how the creek runs through this area and how earthquake upheavals have changed the course of the creek. Very informative! There were no earthquakes the day I visited, although there might have been some small ones that I didn't notice. There's an interesting historical feature at the north of the lake. It's called the Landvale Station Trail. There are several information plaques that explain the historic train route. read more

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Lake Temescal is a little piece of paradise near the Oakland hills. It's really easy to get to near the highway 24/13 exchange. My wife and I looked at Lake Temescal as a potential place get married at, or at least take some of our wedding pictures. We chose another location, but we've always wanted to go back. The day we was visited it was nice to see the scenery, but we didn't actually walk around the entire park. Because of this pandemic, it has been difficult to get exercise in at a gym or park. We went back a few weeks ago, and actually made it around the entire lake. That day we weren't in the mood to go for a jog, but we're itching to head back over there get in a few laps! There were so many people fishing, walking around, and having such a great time! There were several youngsters running around the lake like they were preparing for a cross country meet. It's such a nice place to pack a picnic basket, and honestly it's amazing that it's just a few minutes away from downtown Oakland. Come by, you won't be disappointed at this little oasis tucked in by the Oakland and Berkeley hills! read more

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Went here to celebrate our bro's birthday June 2020. It was a perfect 70 degrees and our party of 10+ made sure to socially distance ourselves as we walked around Lake Temescal. It's a quick less than a mile hike so we did it twice before calling it a day. A great place for families to hang out on the lawns, to fish for catfish or trout, and quick hikes. Don't hesitate to check it out! 4+ stars! read more

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Such a gem of a place! I often think of Lake Merritt when I think of Oakland because it's so popular and a big staple within the community. Never would I have thought that another lake could be just as charming. Lake Temescal isn't as large or as busy as Lake Merritt, but it's still a wonderful place to visit. If you're looking for an intense hike or miles of walking trails, this definitely isn't the place for that. Its' main purpose is for recreational use but there's still a nice walking path that's perfect for a light stroll. I've driven by this park almost daily for years and didn't even know that it existed. I had heard about it from a friend and visited the park last year. Let me just say that it's so serene here. The views of the lake are so endearing, especially while the sun is setting. This is a great place for families and kids. When I visited the park, it seemed like a hot spot for local fishing too. There are large grassy fields that are great for picnicking and dog play. The pathway that surrounds the lake is probably only about a mile or two long, but it's a great way to explore the park. There are several benches along the pathway where you can stop off and relax. I had dinner here at the lake and it was so relaxing and peaceful. Near the entrance of the park, there's an adorable little waterfall and a "beach". So, this beach isn't a "real" beach of course, but it looks like a fun spot that kids would enjoy during the summer time. It was closed when I last visited. It costs $5 to park in the lot when an attendant is in the kiosk, but they only charge this fee from April to October. There's also street parking on the side of the road. I love that isn't as crowded as Lake Merritt. I feel like I can really take in the serenity of the lake since I don't have to share it with half the city. I'm so impressed with this little late. I plan on spending more time here this year when the weather starts to warm up. read more

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Such an underrated park in the Bay Area! The place is so beautiful with its clear blue waters and mountainous backdrops. Came here for the first time on a weekend and I was blown away by this cute "getaway" from the city. There are a couple of sections in the park: the lake and two grassy picnic areas. The lake itself was surprisingly very clean and clear (I was so surprise when I was able to see the bottom of the pond). The lake seems to stem from a moving water source although I don't know where or if there's a source. Walking around the lake takes only around 20 minutes so its a great length if you are planning on bringing kids. There are also plenty of places to sit and just take in the view. Do bring a jacket because it does get chilly, even during the summer. Overall a absolutely fantastic place to relax and will definitely be coming here again! read more

Lake Temescal - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

This is a great park to exercise, jog, walk, bike, etc. The lake is a great water feature to enjoy as you make your way through the park. The park rangers are actively cleaning and maintaining the park, and are accommodating when you have questions. Some picnic areas available for a small gathering. There are two playgrounds for kids to enjoy. Don't be afraid to bring your dog, as you will definitely see many dogs enjoying their day in the park! read more

Lake Temescal - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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It was a beautiful Fall day for a walk around the small lake. My son and daughter in law had their dogs. Leashes were required. The dogs loved barking at the ducks and pelicans in the lake. There were many large gatherings of people enjoying themselves. read more

Lake Temescal - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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Parking was RIDICULOUS. It took me and my 3 teens (with a "map" provided by staff ) over an hour in 100+ weather to find my group. Multiple parking lots were full/closed. It was pretty and scenic yes! But the grass k. Various spots were soaked to the point of ruined shoes near our events "spot" and bathrooms were a bit of a disaster and distance to walk to. It's a beautiful spot but come prepared ! read more

A beautifully designed and maintained natural haven amidst the chaotic freeways and crime-ridden communities of the East Bay. This park is for everyone and everyone shows up. People are on their best behavior. They bbq and party but not to excess. Or like me walk their dogs, always on leash to assure others my dog is not going to bother them. Mostly it's just locals walking through. The water is available for swimming or fishing, neither of which appeals to me. But this little lake is lovely to look at, so I stop often and use one of the plentiful benches to observe the water from a different aspect. There's lots of parking, including on the street if you don't want to pay. Serenity prevails. read more

Lake Temescal - My dog Trixie. - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

It was a fun quick trip for an outdoor walking with the kids! Place is beautiful, clean and not complicated. I don't enjoy going to places that seem complicated. There's play area, beach area, picnic area, fishing area and enough parking space. read more

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I love this lake. Bass and trout fishing is pretty popular here. I also attended a couple of bbqs and birthdays out here for my son. It's a nice area for yoga, workouts, walks, and trails. There's plenty of natural wildlife like the pelicans and cormorants who are also looking to catch some fish. There's 2 entrances the north and south side. Parking is usually free unless it's summer for swimming. Parking is $5 and fishing permit is also an additional $5. Lots of people used the lake as a way to social distance during the pandemic. I even saw a couple of outdoor yoga classes and aerobics. I guess you have to adapt to the times. read more

Lake Temescal - Dock - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

This is such a beautiful area. I'm sure it's a really popular place during regular times because of all the public spaces I've been to recently, this was the most packed. My boyfriend had been here a couple of times for parties in the barbeque area. I needed a change of scenery since I was getting tired of Lake Merritt, so he took me here for a nice evening stroll. You can park along the street and make your way down to the park/gated entrance OR you can drive right down and into the lot. It's basically a loop around the beautiful lake, which has ducks and birds and was fairly well kept. People were fishing and every dock was taken. There is also a large grassy area, where you can easily spread out for a picnic. This is just the kind of place I would have hosted a barbeque - before COVID, of course. I would recommend going on a weekday. The lake is so pretty during sunny weather but I'm sure it gets crowded fast. There were a few tight and narrow areas along the lake, which did not give us much room for distancing so we would have to walk quickly when crossing paths with others. Luckily, everyone kept their masks on but still. Other than that, it was nice to find another gem in our neighborhood. I will be back! read more

Have lived in the Bay Area most of my life and today was my first time visiting Lake Temescal and only heard about it a week or so ago. Easy parking even on a weekend afternoon and lots of space to socially distance from others. The path around the lake is nice and not too long (though a bit narrow in some places and no barrier separating it from the lake). We had an infant in tow and glad we used the carrier instead of the stroller. There's a swimming beach which was closed when we went and a lovely Rec center and gardens (possible wedding venue?). Definitely makes us want to make the move to the east bay! read more

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It's easy to forget that there's a cute little lake in the Oakland hills were you can enjoy a sandy beach, swimming (when the water quality is OK), and a gentle hike. During the pandemic, the picnic tables are closed, but we saw lots of people enjoying picnics on the grass spread out for social distancing. read more

Lake Temescal - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

Cute little park in a nice little suburb just under highway 24. I had seen signs for this park several times over the last two years and we finally walked down to it on my last visit. The little lake provides a nice 1 mile loop to walk or jog around and there are accessible restrooms on site. Apparently the park stocks fish here for people to fish with licenses (under 16 years of age persons do not require permits to fish) so we saw several people fishing. Unfortunately there were also several people smoking in this park, despite signs posted saying that smoking is not allowed. There is a nice lawn for picnics or just hanging out as well as a small play structure for kids. I didn't pay attention to the parking situation but the road getting down into this park is narrow and a bit scary. Pushing a stroller on the tiny path adjacent to the roadway was a bit dicey - fortunately we went towards sunset when it wasn't so busy. They could benefit from doing some work on this road. read more

Peaceful little lake, just a short 20-30 minute walk on a dirt path all the way around. There's a small sand area that's closed off due to covid, and a couple small fishing docks too! Great spot for a little nature and water :) read more

Lake Temescal - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

When people in Oakland refer to "the lake"-- it's Lake Merritt. I prefer Lake Temescal. Smaller, less crowded, and parking. $5 cash parking on weekends (currently). But, if you park on the street and not in the lot... that's free. Am I that broke? Yes. Plus you walk further-- hello exercise! The beach area is closed. No swimming. You can fish with a permit. You can walk trails and picnic. There's plenty of trees to provide shade.. Restrooms. I like Lake Temescal. read more

I'm giving this place points for being a nice hidden gem in the urban sprawl that is Oakland. Where Lake Merrit being the dirty urban lake, where you just cringe to think about the water quality, this lake in the hills gives you glimpses of more rural settings. Key word is "glimpses", cuz even though there are lots of foliage, including nice sized redwood trees and ferns, next to a decent sized lake all nestled in the Oakland hills; the buzzing of highway 24 and large houses sitting hill side unfortunately never leave the senses. It's a getaway, but not really. Rating is mostly for the hike experience. I'm glad it's there but there are so many better options if you want a decent workout for this area. This is slightly above a casual stroll. We had to hike the circumference 3 times to make worth of the trip. The lake seems like a decent size but you can walk the circumference in about 15-20 minutes. There are varying trails, with it paved and smooth on one side, and natural dirt on the other. The dirt side has two levels, lake level is flat and narrow and mostly for shore fisherman. The elevated level which may climb to 100 feet above the water, will be the best option for any sort of a work out. It also yields the best views obviously. Lots of joggers, bicycles, children and leashed dogs. A decent urban park and a good asset for Oakland. read more

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Looking for nice trails closer to home especially with gass prices rising.. it's been forever since I came to this park. It brought back soooo many memories.. as a s child this park so huge now I'm like it's a decent size. I really enjoyed my walk today I did two laps around the trail then just exploded the waterfall witch was very beautiful and peaceful. read more

What a beautiful find! I came across this place while visiting Oakland. Very peaceful and nice views. I loved that they also had open bathrooms that's great for people with children read more

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Beautiful neighborhood park in Oakland with a short loop walking path. The path is flat and paved for half, and has some stairs and dirt on the other part. The water is not typically safe to swim in due to toxic algea, etc., though I shocked to see swimmers there last year. They have a little boat house you can rent out for parties. And they have a nice grass area where picnics can be had. It's lovely on sunny days and not too crowded. There are freeways around it, though not super noticeable in most of the park. read more

There's another lake in Oakland?? And it's two miles away from me?? Not to mention GORGEOUS?? Went here on a long, 10 mi round trip run on a late Friday afternoon and was floored by this place. Lake Temescal is beautiful! Running the hill up to it was awful but completely worth it for the serenity and the view as I ran around the trail. The trail around the lake is three miles long, and switches between asphalt and dirt. Relatively flat, with a few short inclines and declines. I ended up taking a wrong turn, I'm guessing, and ran on a dirt right to the edge of the lake! There was a dad there with his two young sons fishing, which was adorable to see. This place seems perfect to have birthday parties, BBQs, picnics, etc. When I went, there were a few cars parked in the lot and a couple of people out having a picnic. I didn't see anyone swimming when I went - tbh the water looked kind of murky and full of algae blooms, so I don't know if it'd be the best. However, the free restrooms are a plus! Will definitely come back during one of my next long runs - hopefully I'll see the waterfall. read more

Lake Temescal - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

This park is a gem and I'm so glad to know it exists! I came in the North entrance (that's where the Yelp address brings you) and opted to park on the street rather than pay $5 for the lot. This was an easy choice because it wasn't very crowded and we got to park right nearby. If it were busier, I probably would have paid for the convenience. There are picnic tables right near the parking lot along with a playground, an open field, some clean portapotties, and a few communal charcoal grills. This alone seemed like a nice enough spot. Then as we started walking toward the lake, more and more picnic benches kept cropping up, all with their own ambience around them and all looking like perfect places to have a picnic. When we got to the lake, we could see lifeguard stands and buoys in the water...this place is the real deal. The sandy shoreline looked pleasant, but there was a $2 entry fee to get in while lifeguards are on duty, so we kept walking. Across from the lake was a bigger building with larger bathrooms, for anyone not feeling the portapotties. If you kept walking past the lake, that's where the real fun part of the park begins. There's a path that leads all the way around the lake, and is an easy walk of maybe about a mile. There are several more picnic sites along the way, these with bbq pits and signs to designate which is which so they can be reserved (like "Big Rock"). There was even a 3-piece jazz band playing at one of the picnic sites that we stood and watched for a bit. Along the way there were a few fishing docks where you could go look at the water (no fishing without a permit). There were plenty of birds and wildlife to keep you busy. At the far end of the lake is the South parking lot, and then you can start winding back around towards the beginning. There were also a few other trails to go wandering, it was a very serene and peaceful place to be, and so close to downtown Oakland too! Yes it is near the freeway and the Caldecott Tunnel but it was not even noticeable unless you were looking for it. This is a great place to have a group picnic, especially if you can secure one of the reserved spaces. read more

Lake Temescal - View from one of the trails - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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Review #028 - 2018 I've actually been to this park a few times in the past--my first time dating back to 1999, but I've never actually spent more than 15-20 minutes walking around the park. This was my first time making the effort to walk around the whole park and spending some time to watch my daughter play on the playground. The park is nice and big. Very open space for people with kids and dogs to run around. The lake adds a nice touch for romantic walks around sunset, for those of you who want to take your date somewhere after dinner. They do charge a parking fee only on weekends, I believe, but don't quote me on that. They also have a small "beach" fee. read more

Lake Temescal - Bird enjoying the lake - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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I have been coming here for over 40 years;. Relaxing' walking' fishing,': Swimming and beach and climbIng structure with kids I still go often and read, draw, walk as an empty nester. Clean, close, accessable, Staff is friendly and maintain cleanliness and a feeling of safety. A beautiful modesr gem. read more

This is such a hidden little gem of a park. I come here on a regular to walk around the lake. It's never really busy and has plenty of space to bring kids and pets.If you like to hike they have a few paths in the area to take nothing major just to get a little sweat going. One good thing about this park is they have plenty of parking. Oh, I'm also forgetting they have fishing and a little beach. But ever since I have been coming here the beach has not been open. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area. read more

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