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

The Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area (SCRA) is a hidden gem located above the Cal Campus and on the 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. read more

Summary based on many visits over years: --Ok pools, but idiot parents let their kids use the pools as toilets, so who knows the health issues --Parking has become progressively more difficult and is now close to impossible --small fitness center --too bad the big upper pool was closed read more

Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area - Swimming Pools Near Me - Berkeley, California

Best pool in Berkeley, and it even has ample parking. On one of my favorite things about Berkeley is that so many of the beautiful spots in the hills are devoted to things like museums and recreation areas, not just houses. Without even taking sunbathers into account, the view is quite nice. This is a great place to swim laps, though I caution that if you are a college-age male, there will invariably be a Masters swimmer in his fifties who wants to show you up. You may not think you're racing, but you're racing, buddy. Six lane pool, 25 yards, four lanes for lap swim. Day passes are $5, and it's free with a Cal Rec Club membership. read more

Perfect place to while away a sunny day! There is a large, clean outdoor pool surrounded by the verdant hills of Strawberry Canyon. I love floating in the water or swimming on my back while I admire the numerous shades of green and how they go so well with the deep violet blue of a clear spring sky. Yesterday we spread out a blanket on the lush grass (currently speckled with little clover flowers) near the bottom of the wooded hillside and played scramble in between dips in the pool. Ahhhhh read more

I. Love. This. Pool. I almost don't want to write this review because after you read it you will go there and ruin it for me. The pool is $6/adult for entry and parking is sort of expensive and metered. There are usually spots, even on hot summer days. The pool has spots to sit in the sun or shade (bring something to sit on though). There is a weirdly entertaining mix of cal students and families with little kids, so the people watching is great. Do look out for adventure camp pick up around 3:30 though because traffic around the pool and parking lot becomes a disaster between 3:30 and 4:15. The pool itself seems pretty not gross. Is there probably pee in it? Yep. Is it also a public pool? Yep. So either keep your eyes and mouth shut or start digging a private pool in the yard. The bathrooms also seem pretty clean, even at peak hours. No food or snack bar though, so bring your own. read more

To arrive here, you go up a steep hill and arrive at this canyon hidden in the hills. The entrance is outdoors, so you don't have to go through a gross locker room. There's a big grassy area and concrete deck and you can just dump all your stuff there if you prefer. But if you do use the locker room, it's very clean and modern. Just beautiful. The pool leaves something to be desired. They have the lanes set up the opposite way and the pool is not quite rectangular so I kept going crookedly, plus there wasn't anything on the bottom to follow nor were there targets on the wall. The water seemed a little murky too. But oh, the atmosphere. When you take a breath, you see tall, verdant trees towering around you. When you get tired, sit on the expansive deck or on the lawn, and watch the sun shine over the hills. Hawks soar high above. It's relaxed. It's not a pool of speedos and, well, girl speedos. Guys were trunks and a lot of the girls have bikinis. But you can still concentrate on your swimming, and if you were that hardcore you wouldn't be here. People are polite and there are a lot of families with kids. There is also a very nice exercise room in the upstairs deck. The attendant was studying but he fell asleep. In one corner of the deck sat a young couple facing each other. They gazed quietly into each other eyes and held hands. Maybe they had come to swim but were tantalized by the trees and ended up just sitting, deeply in love. They shyly touched each other's legs, and slowly moved closer together as the people swam on. read more

Not for lap-swimmers!!! I made the mistake of hiking up to SCRA to lap swim one day. The sides of the pool are slanted/not flat, so flip turning is so hard. read more

Please note that the parking lot is not free, and you must bring exact change--the pool-admission office will not provide it. The machines will accept bills, but they do not take credit cards, and they will not give change. If you only have a $5 bill, you pay five dollars. Parking rates start at $3.00 for one hour, $4.00 for two hours, etc. I just went to Strawberry Canyon Rec. pool for the first time. It's a particularly hot day today, so the pool was busy, but there was still a lot of room in the lap-swim lanes. The wading pool was closed (5/16/08) -- looks like it needs some repair -- but a shallow area was blocked off and was full of moms bouncing their little kids. I think this is the only pool in Berkeley that is open for lap swim during the afternoon--the others tend to be morning, lunch, and early eve only. My only complaint was that the college kids in the free-swim area kept sitting on the lane dividers and letting their floaty pool noodles drift over into the lap-swim areas. Otherwise, I thought this place was pretty good. There are lockers, but I believe you have to provide your own lock. It also looked like everyone brought their own towel. Note that the cement around the pool gets flaming hot on a really sunny day--ouch! read more

Went to the SCRA today with the family! It's definitely a little gem up in the hill. We got to enjoy the sun and the pool. There were a lot of camps there, but it was still enjoyable. We will definitely be visiting again! read more

Natural. Sunny. Open. I like this pool on a deceivingly nice day. If its too nice, it's basically sorority girls talking about "Project Runway" or dudes glaring around for an asscrack. BUT...the meditation class at SCRA is fantastic. read more

I just went to SCRA for the first time and I loved it. I admit that all I did was lay on the grass and tan, but still the place was great. The day I went it was fairly peaceful. There were probably 20 cal students, a couple of lane swimmers, and a group of small kids. SCRA is tucked a little bit into the Hills, so although it is close to the bustle of campus, it feels like you are in a forest. read more

Great outdoor pool with plenty of grassy areas to enjoy the rare sunny day - it seems like it's less windy here, too - which makes it all the more enjoyable. I love our East Regional Parks! read more

This is my happy place! The pool is beautiful, clean and heated to just the right temperature for distance swimming. There is plenty of parking and the staff are very nice. True to it's name, the pool is in a canyon surrounded by lush greenery. Last time I visited, a wild turkey wandered out into the pool area, it was so much fun. A piece of natural heaven close to San Francisco. read more

Maybe it's my fault for going on the hottest day of the year, or because I used the shower nearest the door, where people with the least impulse control are likely to shower. I had fond memories of swimming here when it was completely empty, but today was a seething mess of people. There was no parking, cars stalking pedestrian in the lot like vultures, further crowding the jammed lot- Are you leaving?? Unattended children with open mouth sores thrashing about, screaming in my baby's ear, and touching my baby's face. The worst horror was finding a very used and seemingly moldy tampon hidden in the upper corner of the shower stall. Would you like to take a hot shower and discover a nasty very used tampon with the water probably splashing off it and maybe onto you???? I don't think I will be able to go back to a community pool for a very long time. Oh yeah, and the entrance fee is $10, and the swimsuit spinner still doesn't work. read more

I was very disappointed by this pool. Entrance is very expensive ($10 for adults, $5 for kids) and the facilities were dirty and in bad condition (torn shower curtain, hair in the shower, shower head they doesn't work, bathing suit spinner working on and off). There are no bells and whistles at all, few toys for kids, no diving board, no beach chairs (or chairs at all). For the price, I much prefer the outdoor pool in Piedmont. I'd suggest bringing camping chairs or spare picnic blankets if you go as the area around the pool is just cement. There's a grassy area a bit further with little shade. read more

My favorite pool in the East Bay. It has generous recreational swim hours every day. My autistic teen loves water and if it weren't because of this pool, I would not know what to do with him when the school and summer camps are not in session. This large pool, which is located in Berkeley Hills, is heated, it has both deep and shallow area to accommodate everyone and even designated area for swimming laps. The only drawback is that it is very hard to find Parking during sunny and warm weekends. read more

FYI, the wonderful small fitness center that was here has closed. Apparently this happened 4 years ago; I just found out today. :( The rest of the facility (pool, clubhouse, outdoor areas, etc.) is just as it ever was. read more

This is a great place to laze around in the sun and then do a couple laps when you need to cool off. I swim here because it's not as crowded as some of the other pools I've seen, it's nestled in the hills, not overrun with children, and the water temperature is pleasant. Plus, parking is easy to find (although you have to pay). read more

Good place for a date. Nice area with lots of old trees. I learned to swim here back when there was a diving board. 6 bucks to get in plus buck per hour parking read more

Oh how I can't wait for the weather to get warm so I can start biking up there to jump in the pool! If you can handle some of the painful conversations surrounding you, you can really, REALLY enjoy the sun, the beautiful trees surrounding you, and a fantastic day. I think it's only about 5 bucks to get in, but well worth it. read more

Strawberry Canyon Pool is clean, the right temperature and relatively inexpensive. Even though King Pool is closer to my house, I go to Strawberry because it's less crowded and deeper. The pool also has a nice grassy area off to the side where you can lie down and read a book or dry off. Also, if you decide to do the back stroke, you can look up and see the beautiful evergreens. I would definitely recommend this pool, my one criticism is that sometimes the lifeguards aren't always too attentive. Every once in a while a rowdy group of teens come and sit on the dividers, which is sort of annoying, other than that, great experience! read more

Love this pool, it's probably one of the nicest pools in Berkeley. It does get pretty crowded during open rec swim though, so be wary! The parking is also kind of limited. read more

Sunshine pool with a nice grass area for hanging out.

I LOVE this place. It was so peaceful and the water felt amazing. It almost makes me wish we had a normal summer in the bay area. September and October when the weather is a little warmer, I am totally heading up there to tan, swim and lounge. read more

Sweeeet jeeezus, who is running this place? When you call the number listed here, it's not Strawberry Canyon, it's one of their other pools, but the rep who answers, doesn't say "this is pool x, may I help you?" she instead just gives you the wrong information, so she has dozens of cars out polluting the environment as they make a pointless journey to Strawberry Canyon to find out it's not the 'magic' hour when they're actually open. read more

It's a chill spot. Water not too cold. Too many people when i went but still a cool spot to chill with friends. Only down side, and it's not directly related to the business, but someone stole my bikini from the girl's locker room/shower room. Who does that?! Sad. read more

Limited foot traffic often enables swimmers to enjoy a cathardic atmosphere. It is a bit far away from public transit though....

Strawberry Canyon Aquatic Masters also know as SCAM is a great way to workout. I used to be a lap swimmer and was reluctant to try a master's workout because I did not want someone directing my workouts and I thought that I wasn't enough of a competitive swimmer. I forced to try out the master's team when there was a breakdown in the Strawberry Canyon pool. I soon found that, even though I quit competitive swimming when I was twelve, SCAM has room for all levels of swimmers. I also found that having a coach write workouts made swimming laps more interesting and less boring. I have improved my strokes from the tips I get from the on deck coaching. I found that the camaraderie of my teammates encourage me to swim more often and to push myself a little more. SCAM now swims at Golden Bear Rec center located on the Clark Kerr Campus and at Spieker on the main campus. If you want to check it out, you can drop in and swim a workout. There are many to chose from, three morning, one midday and one evening workouts during the week and three on Saturday morning. If you want to find out more, check out this link to the Cal Rec Sports webpage: http://www.recsports.berkeley.edu/insidepage.aspx?uid=5bdeda17-b32a-4eb1-9ebd-944676befe3a read more