I did myself a favor and started purchasing yearly parking passes for the reservoir, so I don't…read morehave to deal with the parking meters anymore. The Lafayette Reservoir is one of the most peaceful places I have ever been. Love it here.

Lafayette Reservoir is a beautiful local park! And there is so much parking and bathrooms with…read moretoilet paper and soap! That's honestly way more than I was expecting. The parking lot we parked in had a max 2 hour limit, which isn't enough time to walk the entire perimeter of the reservoir but it looks like there are other lots that don't have as much time restrictions. Beautiful little walk - not much of a hike because of the paved path, but it's a nice distance and has beautiful views. We would definitely come back again.

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.

One of the great views of the Bay area is Grizzly Peak…read more I came to visit and my friends took me here to get a view of the Bay area as a whole and it was so amazing. The winding roads that led to the peak were definitely something this Florida gal was not ready for but it was worth the drive! Not too long but definitely a bit winding path upwards. The view is free and you can see all parts of the Bay here, especially if it's a clear day. It seems like a lot of locals (especially kids) come here to hangout. A nice spot to detour and take people from out of town to hang.

The view here is beautiful, both day and night. I stopped by on a whim, and it was really relaxing…read moreto just take in the scenery and think. There are plenty of spots where you can pull over, park, and walk to areas with some seating, making it a great place to unwind.

A pretty awesome workout at this trail. We did about six miles in a little bit over two hours…read more(1300 elevation). There were mixed shades and sun. There were some rocky paths here and there. Overall it's a moderate and enjoyable hike with some great views along the way.

Spectacular views especially on a beautiful clear day! My favorite trail is the one that is about 2…read more1/2 miles and straight to the top where you can see San Francisco, all of the Bridges, Mount Diablo, and San Pablo Dam! 360°! Enjoy!

Amazing walk, perfect hike & workout. Great for careful curious children. Highly recommendread more

Way back when I was visiting the area regularly, I visited Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve…read more It's a nice hiking venue that's often overlooked because of the popularity of neighboring Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. For my money, this place is one of the "hidden gems" of the East Bay Regional Park system. Tip: The park brochure offers numbered stops with information about the rare flora, Take your time on the hike -- it's easy to miss some of the rarer plants like the Western leatherwood. When you hike here, there's a variety of trails with different degrees of difficulty. There's also a nice variety of uphills, downhills, inclines, lovely foliage and some really exceptional views. We did the Lower Huckleberry trail loop (which ends with the Upper Huckleberry Trail). It was challenging enough for us to work up a pretty good appetite by the end, but I found myself wishing the trail signs were less confusing, and that what was there also contained distance info. We ran into a few groups of other hikers, and everyone was pretty friendly. All in all, we had a hike that was both satisfying and challenging. This is a great place to hike year-round -- the preserve also offers a nice respite during warmer months since most of the trail is shaded by a canopy of oak trees.

Quality/Quantity - If you are following, just had Uber Eats from Gold Medal Restaurant (see…read morereview). And my buddy did NOT want me to share the views from his hidden Oakland hills home. So this park is a VERY good example of his views! Atmosphere - Cut and pasted from the internet: "The peak was named for the California grizzly bear which inhabited the local area until the late 1800s. Grizzly Peak is a summit in the Berkeley Hills above Berkeley, California. The peak is located on the border between Alameda and Contra Costa counties, within the boundaries of Tilden Regional Park, and directly behind the University of California, Berkeley campus." Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - Thanks for having this peak for me to share my buddy's views. :)

Super romantic! Went on a first date with the love of my life here and later got engaged here as…read morewell. Love the city view and fresh air from nature. Parking is easy too as there are always spots.

This might be one of my new favorite hikes in Oakland! I love the volcanic cliffs and seeing the…read morebeautiful green rolling hills. The trianl takes you through many different terrain so it never feels boring. I also enjoyed discovering interesting sites like the labyrinth and creepy sheds. They have a medium sized parking lot, but you can also park on the side of the road if needed. Bathrooms are available.

Perfect place for a hike for me. You can hike from the parking lot and make a loop and the distance…read moreis just about perfect; not too short, not too long. There is a bathroom at the parking lot as well.

I was able to snag a parking spot at the staging area (there aren't a ton of parking spaces…read more However, people park along the road). I did the self guided tour Volcanic tour. We wanted a more of hike, so after the tour we ended up doing a big loop. For those who might have reactive dogs, there are a ton of off leash dogs.

"Popular Trail in a Spooky Location."…read more The staging area is on Old Tunnel Road in Orinda. There's also an entrance to the Sibley Park close by. There's only a few spaces at the actual staging area, but on the road to the service yard, there's a lot more spaces. I believe the road to the service yard is where the old tunnel used to be, but I think there's nothing to see there. The day that I visited, there was a sign that said the trail was closed--darn I missed it! The trail was actually in good shape--just a portion of the trail was washed out. But don't worry, I didn't go down the hillside. Along the trail, there are no facilities or water, so be sure to bring lots of water. The trail takes you up to Grizzly Peak Boulevard. If you keep going, you will end up at Tilden, near the steam trains. So overall, I'm glad I hiked this trail. At least once, anyway.

Hidden gem - full sun trails…read more This hidden gem as a small car park so it is not the ideal spot for large gatherings that you may want to organize. However it is a great point for some beautiful trials that I recommend you undertake in late fall or winter as they are in full sun and it feels very hot. Epic views from the top worth your while.

"Cute Little Park--just ask for TP"…read more This is a surprising little gem with fun, interesting trails. There are two levels of parking. The lower parking is just a few spaces, near the restroom. The upper area has far more. There are several gorgeous trails, especially in the springtime. The day that I visited I went up to Mulholland Ridge Open Space. It's a bit of a steep hike but completely doable. For those interested in geocaching, there are several geocaches in the park. They have restrooms on the lower level, but they're pretty rustic. They appear to have no toilet paper. Other than that, they're really great restrooms.

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.