It's a short and steep hike up here. However don't expect a blazing 'C' at the top. We went during 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. read more

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

The Big C - Big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great hike, just follow Google maps and it leads you directly to the "C". The swing is no longer there but it's still a great spot to visit and pretty quick to get up and down. Great view of UC Berkeley and SF. read more

The Big C - The view from the big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great short incline hike to two swings at slightly different locations. The swing with the view of the Bay and the bridges was broken as of 5/24/19, but someone had tied the two ends of the rope together. The other swing that is intact doesn't have the view of the Bay because it's covered by trees. But it's still fun to swing at! LOCATION: Use Google Maps to search "Foothill Lot". You'll head to the south east end of the lot to start the hike. From there you can search "Big C" on Google Maps, but it's pretty easy to follow the path and find the swings. read more

want another IG worthy spot? yeeeep, you can find that here. I read through the reviews for most simplest tip on how to get to the hike. In the review by Alex N below, they had really good instructions, so it got us there no prob. We used the addy from yelp, followed through with everything. Per the instructions I followed below, when it asks you to turn RIGHT on centennial dr, do not turn, but keep following straight. Right on Gayley. Right on Hearst Ave. There will be a sign indicating "FOOTHILL PARKING" to your right. Pull into the lot and go all the way to the end of the lot. Remember to pay for parking at the parking box. its $1/hr. The hike starts at the end of the lot. As you start, walking up the baby slope at the end of the lot, the road will split two ways. It will split LEFT and RIGHT. both ways will take you to the top. We took the right path, and it seemed quicker as it went directly up. Once you see the fence you go through it and continue up and you will be there. Took us less than 15 mins to get up taking this way. the first set of swing was really hard for me to get up as i was really sore, so i actually couldnt get on. we continued up to see the BIG C and there was another swing at the top which had a great view as well, and a better seat that can fit 2. read more

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I may be biased (maybe extremely so) because Cal is my alma matter but I really think this hike deserves a five star rating, if only for the view alone. From the C, you can see the legendary Campanile, the entirety of Berkeley's campus, the bay bridge, San Francisco, and on a good day, the golden gate bridge. You can also HEAR concerts at the Greek theater too! You can reach this hike through the Foothill parking lot (right above the Greek Theater and the Foothill dorms). You can park there by paying a small fee. The hike is a bit strenuous because it is all uphill, but it is short and has beautiful views along the way, even if you are unable to make it to the top. I suggest wearing running shoes because the hike is an unpaved dirt path. I also suggest wearing pants because there were a lot of mosquitos last time I went, although it was at sundown. Make sure your phone is charged for photos and to use as a flashlight during sundown. Lastly, if you at any point during the hike feel like giving up, remember that students during the early 1900's constructed that path and built the C out of rocks. Yes, someone once had to carry rocks up the unpaved hill. Enjoy the views along the way and you'll be at the top before you know it. Go bears! read more

The Big C - The view from the C right before it got dark - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Allen and I had to take a break from the eating (damage) that we've done in the past 2 hours, so we decided to go on a nice stroll. The map started leading us towards the residential halls (which I dearly remember) during my first visit at Cal in November 2011. Anyhow....HUGE SLOPE. Not really a specific pathway towards the "entrance" of the trails. You'll just have to do your best to avoid any cars (luckily this place is too steep for much traffic). Overall, fun hike! We could have definitely gone further, but we came here to check out the iconic swings! I definitely did not take glam shots since the sun was blaring in my face, but I do love the ambiance up here! Families come and push their kids on the swings (dangerous...), while college kids come with friends and picnic around. If I had brought some extra food up, then I would have definitely stayed around to soak in the sun and view! Check it out if you come semi-prepared! I saw people hiking up in just normal attire. read more

The Big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Yep. It is a Big C. Could it be a bigger C? Yeah, but it isn't claiming to be the biggest C. The C is big enough to be considered big. Yep. The nice thing about The Big C hike is that it is easy enough that anyone can make it to the top while still feeling like a bit of a hike. It's not too long of a hike nor are any parts of it super steep. This makes it great for student outings, a small activity, or just something to do with people visiting the area. The view up top is great too with the iconic UC Berkeley skyline. On a nice sunny day, parts of the San Francisco skyline is clearly visible as well. Whether you come here at sunrise or sunset, the view is just great. I've even been here once for a nighttime hike with lights and that was all fun as well. Go Bears! read more

Review #253 - 2018 I actually came out looking for this spot twice before and was unsuccessful until today, August 18th. We showed up around 4:30 PM and were able to park at the Berkeley Lawrence Laboratory. We found a small opening across the street that led up to the hike. Be forewarned that this entrance is pretty tiny and steep so I wouldn't recommend taking this route, but we did survive the hike even though I was carrying my daughter in my arms. When you get to the start of the hike, you should take the straight path all the way up to the swing. Don't take the steep path immediately to the left when you see the semi-broken swing because we made a big mistake fighting it all the way up. We got smarter by taking the easier path back down. The view up here is great, but it's best to come right before the sun sets if you want a better photo of the background otherwise the sun will be too bright and your pictures won't come out as nicely. The reason for the 4-star review is because there's so much trash along the path. There was a big pile of beer bottles in one particular spot, which definitely shows that these college kids need to learn how to pick up after themselves. So sad! read more

The Big C - 08/18/2018 - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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BIG C AT SUNSET IS SO PRETTY. Everyone at Berkeley needs to hike up to this place a little bit before sunset on a clear day. I've come up to the Big C during the day and during the night, but those views are whatever to me... It's all about the view during sunset!! Wow I was so blown away. The sky turns into such pretty colors, and the city lights look amazing under the pink/blue/orange colored sky. CHECK OUT THE PHOTO THAT COMES WITH THIS REVIEW. LEGITTTTT. It's my Facebook profile pic now heh. I get too lazy to hike up sometimes, but thinking about how the view looks during sunset truly motivates me and helps me forget about my lungs going crazy and the pain in my legs. On your way up, there's going to be a swing to your left at one point (up a small hill, tied to a tree). GO ON IT!!! read more

The Big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

HELLA NOT a hike but definitely gram worthy! This little climb up to the swing is fun, fast, and easy! You don't need to wear any fancy boots or worry about your shoes unless it just rained but even then I think you'd be fine. My family went up and had enough time for everyone to have their own little mini photo shoot. My short butt could have probably got on the swing an easier way but I made it more difficult for myself anyway... BUT I got up there doe! LOL Overall, I'd come back and maybe even picnic up there! read more

Hike is not very long. Less than a mile, but very steep incline. Wear some nice running shoes and be ready to climb the steep incline. As of December 2014, the swing is broken. The view is great... You get a view from Berkeley out to the Bay (both bridges), Alameda, and campus. There are wild turkey and deer running around on the peak sometimes. Gobble Gobble! read more

The Big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

"On our rugged Eastern foothills Stands our symbol clear and bold Big 'C' means to fight and strive And win for blue and Gold [...]" This C means so much to the UC Berkeley campus that there's a fight song to commemorate its making!! Such a nice, short hike with AMAAAZING views!! It's not super difficult to find, either! It's behind the Foothill residence hall area, and there's a parking lot that leads up to the start of the trail. It can probably be done in about 15 minutes. You hear people say that it's easy, but the beginning is REALLY steep (but still manageable). Hang in there and keep with it because before you know it, you'll be at the very top THE SWING IS BACK!! Go ahead. Take a picture. You know you want to. Not too far from the swing is the top of the hike, and at the top, you'll find a HUMUNGOUS yellow C (hence the name, Big C hahaha). You can see this from far off in the distance and from many places on campus. During Big Game week, you might see the C colored red, as Stanford comes and tries to defile campus...but soon enough, you'll see it painted yellow again by students! If you're lucky, you'll see some deer friends and even turkeys gobbling and trotting up the stairs at the top. I think I've also seen bunnies, as well as a skunk up here... Bottom line: I love hiking, and I especially love how such a nice, short trail is located so close to campus!! I love coming up here every so often, especially during sunset, and taking in those gorgeous panoramic views. Coming up here reminds me of all that there is to love about Bezerkeley. GO BEARS! read more

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After staying in home for 3 months due to COVID-19; i went for a hike and this place was extremely beautiful and refreshing the wing and the view was breathtaking i must go back there again. read more

The Big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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We walked here from UC Berkeley! From the center of campus it was probably a 30 - 45 minute hike up. We followed Google Maps which brings you up Hearst Ave which then enters the Foothill parking lot and then you walk an unpaved path that becomes a pretty steep incline at the last little bit. Once you get to the big C, you see the giant C in the ground and a really beautiful view over Berkley, all the way to SF and even the Golden Gate bridge on a clear day. Unfortunately, there is no swing anymore, but at least you can appreciate a nice beautiful view up here! It's pretty difficult to get down because it's quite steep and since it's just a dirt path it's easy to slip. We also saw a turkey up here, which was super random! read more

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Amazing feels with the wind blowing you on top of the Big C! Thankful to other Yelpers that show us the short cut to The Big C. DONT turn right on Centennial Dr, keep going STRAIGHT. Turn right on Gayle Ave, turn right on Hearst Ave, and then look for FOOTHILL PARKING LOT. Go ahead and park all the way at the end of the slot; get on the right and begin the steep incline. That is the fastest and hardest route, but hey, I prefer going up that way. Woalah! Enjoy the San Francisco Bay Area View! It makes you feel great and achieved. read more

The Big C - I feel the fusion when I am with you :D And I am only human, what can I do. Chemicals, Tiesto - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Spur of the moment hike this past Saturday 8/12 with my boyfriend and dog Ace. We arrived to The Big C around 1pm. I forgot it was move in day for UC Berkeley, causing the parking lot to be more full than normal, I kept driving pass the cars towards the south end of foothill parking lot it bought me directly to the entrance of the trail. Park and get started on your way. Fellow yelpers weren't joking about the incline It is very steep but the hikes only a good 15 mins. The view is so worth the burn you feel 15 steps in. (haha) It was such a beautiful day out, perfect temperatures; 80s with a breeze. Such a beautiful view the whole hike was very serene and once at the top you can overlook and see cal stadium along with SF skyline it's beautiful. I really enjoyed the swing it was a few people in line so I didn't want to hog the thing. But seriously I could come here every day and swing all night long. It's no words to describe how beautiful the view is while being on a swing. Just go and experience it for yourself. This may be an every week thing for me. read more

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OK SO I HATE HIKING... and in general exercising. But sometimes I get dragged out by my friends and the Big C is one of those places that I wouldn't mind coming back to often. I went once before I even started college in the middle of the night so I was always too lazy to figure out how to get there again until I went yesterday. FYI: just start at the upper part of the Foothill Parking Lot. The Big C is a great mini hike for people like me who just aren't very fit. Yes, there are some pretty steep areas that are slippery (might want to wear shoes with good traction), but the short distance makes up for it. The firetrails are much more difficult. Also, I was really happy to see the swing on the way to the Big C. Instagrammers rejoice! The view is amazing. It's just pretty nostalgic to be up there and reflect within sight of the Campanile/campus. read more

The Big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

Just got back from here, it does have an amazing view of The Bay! The hike is STEEP but if I survived anyone can lol. There is a swing that has a view of trees which is nice, unfortunately for us the swing that has the view of the bay was broken :( there's only a rope to swing on, but we still had a good time! read more

The Big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Easy, fast hike with a high reward. Gorgeous sunset and view of the bay (you can see the Golden Gate bridge and the Bay Bridge on a clear day) as well as Berkeley! I love how the city lights up-- you can see University Ave stretch all the way down in fuzzy yellow lights (or maybe that's just me because I don't wear my glasses). The C gets painted during Homecoming, The Big Game, etc football stuff by the Berkeley Rally Committee I believe. I remember one time it was painted Red White and Blue for Bastille Day. Well, it was probably for The 4th of July but I went on July 14th after getting Masse's. It takes 5-10 minutes once you're at the Foothill parking lot. The screenshot off googlemaps might be easier than for me to describe how to get here-- Go as much as you can! Get that heart rate up and love the city you live in because you'll miss it so much when you're gone. love read more

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I'm happy to give five stars to the activity: hiking to the Big C! As others have explained, there's a pretty obvious path that goes uphill from the south end of the Foothill Parking Lot. You'll find the Big C clearly mapped on google maps if the phrase "Foothill Parking Lot" doesn't make a lot of sense. We went more or less straight uphill from the parking lot and got to our goal in 10-12 minutes. There are more gentle paths that probably take a few extra minutes. The C itself is in pretty bad shape, although it's easy to argue that the Hearst Gym is a more pressing maintenance issue. There's a fine view out over the Bay at the top of the hill, and already plenty of good views along the path as you go up. read more

The Big C - The Big C picnic table is probably not the best spot for a hillside picnic. - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

Admittedly, the big C itself isn't much to look at. It's yellow, it's cracked, and there's bottles of alcohol littering the scene. However, the view that the Big C affords is breathtaking. You can see so much more of the bay than on top of the campanile, and I can only imagine how pretty it would be at night. (My friend and I decided to go on a bright, sunny day. Tip: wear sunscreen.) Also, like a previous reviewer stated, there's a great spot to take a panoramic photo halfway up the trail! The hike is about 20 minutes long at a leisurely pace, but only if you start from the correct location. It took us a good 30-40 minutes just finding the right starting point. If you're coming from North Berkeley, go up Hearst (which becomes Cyclotron) and take the fork on the right to park in the lot behind Greek Theater. If you're coming from South Berkeley, we actually found a way to get there from Stadium Rim Way: go into the parking lot on Stadium Rim, walk on the dirt trail behind the Greek Theater and head north, then take the wooden stairs up into the Greek Theater back lot. Watch out for raccoons and snakes! (The turkeys and deer decided to take a day off, I guess.) read more

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Last Sunday, I decided to give my girlfriend a dose of Cal pride by taking her to the Big C for the first time. It had been a few years since my last trip up here, but honestly everything felt exactly the same. Especially since the recent downpour of rain had subsided, the weather was clear and the view of the Bay was magnificent. It was nothing short of magical. For those of y'all who have never been initiated (ahem Stanford kiddies!), the Big C represents the heart and soul of Cal. Sitting high atop the Berkeley hills, this masterpiece can be seen from the Campanile (https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-campanile-berkeley) as well as from space (just kidding, maybe?)! It's what we as students turn to for inspiration, for an escape from reality, and for a reminder of what it means to be a Golden Bear. So why should you hike to the Big C? First of all, the scenery is breathtaking. On a clear and sunny day, you should be able to see the entire San Francisco Bay - from the glistening blue waters along the peninsula to the shining Golden Gate Bridge. Plus, the really cool thing about this hike is that YOU CAN COME AT NIGHT (without getting in trouble)! Besides sunset and sunrise, this is probably my favorite time to go. If you're brave enough, you'll be rewarded with an amazing view of the skyline. Secondly, it's extremely peaceful up here. Despite the ridiculous number of students at Cal, often times you won't see too many people hiking to the Big C (probably because of all that studying). And so you can totally spend hours at the Big C without being disturbed. Plus, you have to check out the swing(s) near the sign. A bit dangerous, but it's quite the trip! If you're not into that alternative medicine lifestyle (you know what I mean!), the Big C can truly provide a safe and therapeutic experience for everyone. Furthermore, you know how I said you probably won't be disturbed while chilling up at the Big C? Well, that's only partially correct ... for if you're lucky (or unlucky) you might encounter some animals! Because the Berkeley hills include/are next to areas with wildlife (e.g. Tilden Farm), animals may occasionally come down and graze. For example, when we went last weekend we saw lots of turkeys! Gobble, gobble, gobble. And once in a blue moon, this happens: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/hundreds-goats-stampede-calif-article-1.2258347. Best of all, y'all can easily make the time to explore the Big C because it's SO ACCESSIBLE for Berkeley students. For one, the hiking trail starts at the end of Foothill Parking Lot - about 5 minutes walking distance from the edge of campus. If you aren't sure where that is, a simple Google Maps will direct you. Furthermore, the trail is SUPER SHORT. From the start, it's just a 0.3 mile climb to the top. On average, it takes most people 15-20 minutes to reach the sign. But, this can easily be cut in half if you run/take some of the faster shortcuts up. As a warning though, I do encourage everyone to take their time going up because some parts of the short hike can be very steep. Especially after it rains/during the night time, proceed slowly with caution. Also, if you are planning on driving here, definitely park at the Foothill Lot since I think it's only a few bucks for several hours. For those of you who don't want to pay, there is plenty of street parking nearby along La Loma Avenue. All in all, there is really nothing quite like the Big C. The sign itself is massive, golden, and iconic. I mean come on, does your school have anything like this? Be it rain or shine, night or day, during the first week of school or even in the midst of finals, you should definitely check it out. It's a quick trek, the view is unparalleled, and best of all the Big C is right next to campus! I give this nugget an "Omg, I'd travel 2 hours for this" rating. I guarantee you, even Stanford students have to bow and appreciate this beauty. Have fun and prosper, read more

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I absolutely love this place; whenever I come here it brings back great memories of my time at Cal. You can enter from the parking lot behind the Foothill dorms or directly from the backdoor of the Foothill dorm there are a set of stairs that lead to a dusty road. The incline is EXTREMELY steep at first but you can do it, the short (15 min) but intense hike is extremely worth it. It's a good work out especially if you run to the top as I did oftentimes as an undergrad. My favorite time of day to go is during sunset when you can see the Campanile, the Berkeley campus, and the entire bay. More often than not you'll see turkeys on the way up too! Half way through the hike you'll note a mini path onto a hill-ish area with a rope hanging down the tree. There used to be a swing here but since January 2016 when I last visited it has been removed. That swing was in the Facebook profile pictures of hundreds of my friends and it's too bad it's gone because it was so cute and the views there were stunning. read more

The Big C - beautiful views from the top - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

Short hike and great view. Took us only 10-15 minutes. We went on a Sunday but there wasn't a lot of people. If you don't know the area and follow the map it might take you a while. Follow Google map until it asks you to turn right on centennial dr, don't turn, keep going straight. Then turn right on Gayley Rd. Then right on Hearst Ave. Keep going straight until you see a sign for Foothill parking lot on the right. Turn into the lot, the head trail will be at the end of the parking lot. Don't forget to pay for parking, look for your slot's number to pay. Go up to the first small hill then follow the pavement on the left. Once you reach that hill you will see 2 ways, one is up hill and one is flat, either way will take you to the swing. If you pick the flat, there will be a shortcut on the left when you see the fence. There are multiple swings. Have fun. read more

I love love love the Big C. It will always have a special place in my heart. I feel like this place is a hidden gem. Maybe I am wrong? I have never been able to run the entire way up, starting at the base. Usually, i get tired after 5 minutes of running since the incline is so steep. I think if you are a good runner, you can get to the top in less than 15 minutes. I been up here about 8 times, and every time I go up, there is always something new/interesting. For example, my first time up, I encountered a fawn. The second time up, I saw some wild turkeys at the base. The third time up, the "C" was painted pink (usually, it s blue or Yellow--you can see the multiple layers of different colored paint) This is a great date spot! I can't wait to come up again :) read more

I've hiked up to the Big C at least 4-5 times, most during my undergrad years here. The entire hike from the parking lot takes about 10-15 min. The view from the top is nice, but it's blocked by trees. There's a nicer view halfway up the mountain. Gorgeous view of the bay during sunset, especially on a clear day. read more

I got lost (typical me) and I had to crawl under a tree and over a stump, but we made it! It is a short hike, but quite uphill. But just keep your eyes on the prize and keep on going. Back in the ROTC days, we used to run that hill! The C itself is in need of some maintenance, but the view is breathtaking! Make sure you go to the top of the C instead of stopping at the bottom because it is much better at the top. Every Cal student must do the Big C hike! We also saw turkeys roaming around. Like, they even had the gobble gobble thing! I wanted a closer look but I have a fear of birds... Some people also come to have a beer, but I wish they would dispose of their bottles...::sigh:: undergrads... Rally Comm was in charge of maintaining the C, I'm not sure if they still do that. But most importantly, they guard the C from those Stanfurdians when they try to paint our C red! ....grrrrr! I love our C! GO BEARS! :) read more

The Big C - Even on a cloudy day...(not to sound like the Black Keys)...it's breathtaking! - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

I went 6/13/18 and the swing was there! Great view and not bad of a hike took me maybe 10 min to get there and if you keep hiking past the swing another 5 min you can reach the Big C and another bigger swing! Very fun and pretty! read more

The Big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

Park in the Foothill Parking Lot - charges $1 an hour. Five minute hike up to the swing! read more

The Big C - Amazing view! - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

Totally worth every step! Not from the area and first time to Berkeley to see a concert and found this place without too much hassle. Go to foothills dorms (walk up Hearst/gayley street) behind the dorms is a huge parking lot walk to south end meaning towards the amphitheater at the end of a parking lot is a cemented drive way type of thing walk up there and then the dirt path is right there. Start the hike. Take pictures. Get on the swing and feel young again! read more

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If you are a Cal alum this is an automatic 5 stars. Go Bears! read more

What can be more breathtaking than a view of Berkeley and San Francisco in the far distance? We arrived right around sunset, and it was clear skies. It was definitely a mission hiking up to the top (it was pretty unplanned and we weren't familiar with the path), but it was worth it. read more

The Big C - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

The Big C. How I Miss Thee... Quite a hike going up there from foothill for a warning! bring a flashlight if you are going up there at night! I love the view from here though, you can see the whole bay/campus/campanile.. definite memorable view. i haven't gone with the rally comm for football weekends or whatnot but oh my goodness....they need to clean the place up.. the big C is really torn up with the change of paint and rivalry traditions.. it definitely looks better from campus and not up there. BIG C... why are you so dirty :( read more

The Big C - bicg c view - Local Flavor Near Me - Berkeley, California

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My friend Rebecca went to Cal for undergrad, and she said that climbing the Big C is supposed to be some sort of tradition for Cal freshmen. It's basically this giant C painted on some hill in Berkeley, and she said that they usually get underclassmen to paint it during rush week or something, or during sporting events. She didn't get to climb it for some reason while she went to school there, so she wanted to try it out yesterday. Sure, why not? I'm a perennial fan of adventures and climbing a mountain seemed like yet another fun thing to do on a gorgeous day. So, yea let's go! Well, what I thought would be a pretty quick find and climb turned into an almost THREE HOUR endeavor to try to find how to get up there! We walked, drove in circles, and then walked some more up and down the highway, ran into Road Closed/Restricted Access obstacles, and drove around in circles some more. It was an exercise in patience, persistence, and perhaps some irrational thinking too. But hey, I had a good time still. By the time we got to the top (the climb itself was only about 10 minutes!), I felt like it was worth it not only because the view was great but because it was certainly a hard-fought WIN. Plus, there were many large, dumb turkeys walking around at the top of the hill, which was awesome. The C itself is pretty pathetic, but whatevs. It ain't about the C. Directions for how to get up there: Drive up Hearst, veer right when you reach the parking lot for the Greek Theater. Drive into and PAST the parking lot, and drive up the dirt path. You'll see two paths; park your car on the path to your right. And then climb up the left path. You'll reach your destination in 10 minutes, max. I wish someone had told us this when we were trying to get up there. Then again, I didn't really mind being stupid and persistent for three hours at all. A lesson in not giving up. Also, note: Like others have mentioned, it'd be nice to bring some sandwiches and a picnic up here; seems like a good place to kick back with some friends and eat and have a few drinks. But just make sure to sober up before climbing back down. read more

In a nutshell, it's a short, easy hike that rewards you with a nice view of the bay area at the end (actually, the trail head is high enough to enjoy the bay area view as well). For all the years I attended Cal, I have never been here. So after years of living with guilt and shame (not really), I finally decided to come here, and bring a group of high schoolers I now work with along with me. Parking: You drive up Hearst, and shortly after passing Foothill Dorm, you will see Foothill parking lot on your right. Go in there, and it will split into the upper and the lower lot. The trail head is all the way at the end of the upper lot. (Tip: Sacrifice one person by dropping him/her off at the split where the pay-for-parking machine is. And text that person with the parking spot number after you park. Otherwise you will have to go back and forth...) The trail was somewhat steep but was short enough that I didn't have to give away that I was getting a shortness of breath and my legs were starting to burn (I can't show my weakness in front of a bunch of high schoolers). When we got to the top, there was a nice view over the Bay Area waiting for us. It was not a very sunny day, but we were still able to see even the Golden Gate Bridge. Why 3 starts you ask? Maybe I picked a wrong day to come, but there were trash and empty beer bottles everywhere over the Big C, to the point that it was impossible to take a group picture without having beer bottles in the shot. (Not a very pleasant sight if you are working with high school students.) To be honest, it was a little embarrassing before the students... read more

Why have only 2 Yelpers rated the Big C?! It's our symbol, on our rugged eastern foothills! Even I, however, have to deduct a star for drunk, loud frat boys. That said, it's a good place to cuddle and talk, and to watch SF fireworks from. read more

Sharon J's picture was extremely helpful!!! Since I came on a weekday, I couldn't park in the Foothill parking lot. Ended up (free) street parking around Gayley & Hearst and then walked up to the parking lot/trail head. When you get the trail head - head to the concrete trail on the left hand side. From there, any splits takes you up to the big C. Steep hills,but was able to hike it in sandals and a maxi dress (impromptu hike). Made it to the swing and the C. Swing was way more worth it. read more

The BEST secret spot in the Berkeley hills. A must-do hike (warning- it's pretty steep) for anyone who lives in the Bay Area. Apparently they don't always have the swing up, so just cross your fingers that it's there for you! Bring water and wear good shoes- we definitely didn't plan appropriately, but we survived. read more

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Five stars for view. Two stars because that view includes the campus of the vile, dirty Golden Bears (see previous review of Memorial Stadium and reference to teddy bears and golden asses) Four stars for heart pounding hike, though it's a short one. Five stars because it's easy to, shall we say, "modify." read more