A great walking trail…read more Stopped by for my daily walk and was reminded why this is one of my favorite places to be active. Features: Walking paths Benches Dog friendly Fishing Water views Shade some Parking The trail picked up by the watering plant in Pinole. Small parking lot, don't feel too safe walking it alone. Definitely will walk it again with a friend.

Beautiful biking and walking trail along the SF Bay trail. Clean. Paved. Safe. And you see the…read moreamtrack line roll by.

The city of San Pablo should really consider renaming this trail because a lot of people will think…read morethis is within Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. In fact, there is a separate Wildcat Creek Trail over there further downstream. This one is different. It's a paved urban greenway similar in spirit to the Richmond and Ohlone Greenways nearby. It's been the subject of a significant restoration project, very valid in intention, but the reality is that it's badly in need of maintenance because there's a lot of careless dumpling and quite a homeless population roaming on the walkway. It's not without merit, but it definitely needs help on a more consistent basis. Rebranding it might increase local interest in using it for its intended purposes. RELATED - Exploring this part of Contra Costa County? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18

Not many people here when I arrived only one other person was parked here.. but as we sat here…read morewe're now the 4th person within just 10 minutes! One of the downfalls is it's on a fairly packed street when there's traffic! Park ranger was here cleaning up so it's not a dirty place at least in the parking area. Today it was very cold as well since it's right by the water. It's located right after the Richmond sanitary service. I'd come back to walk when I'm not almost being blown away LOL. We got a wonderful concert from across the water. Couldn't understand them since I don't speak Spanish but i was vibing LOL. The park ranger was closing the gates as we were leaving at 4:11pm so keep that in mind before you travel out here ! Would come back and would recommend if you want somewhere not to steep in incline. Thanks for reading hope this helps !

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more It's actually not that hard to imagine the motorcycle hill climb races that took place here nearly a century ago. The surprise is how this steep escarpment remained untouched by real estate developers given how suburban this part of El Cerrito feels. I keep picturing that scene in "The Great Escape" where Steve McQueen jumped the POW camp fence as a testosterone-driven act of Nazi defiance. He would've ended up on somebody's backyard deck or in a hopefully filled swimming pool if he tried it now. You can get there from the bottom of the hill on the sorta corner of Navallier and Blake where you see a little staircase and a flyer posted on the fence about the hill's history. Or alternatively, you can take the hidden hillside stairs of El Cerrito and enter at the top through the nondescript path from Potrero Avenue. From the entrance, the first segment affords you a wide foot trail and a panoramic view of the bay (photo: https://bit.ly/2PI6CXp). The hillside trail itself is rustic in either direction with a lot of tall grass and dead trees that look like they were cut and left there for years. And yet, the constant views of El Cerrito make it a more pleasurable experience than you would expect despite the unexpected appearance of immobile wild turkeys (photo: https://bit.ly/3kO4wAM). RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

A hiking trail that's perfect for both uphill and downhill hiking, Motorcycle Hill just proves…read moretrails can not only exist just about anywhere there is public land but it also proves that trails can be created at anytime thanks to the fortitude and creative energy of a group of community nature lovers. In this case Motorcycle Hill was founded by El Cerrito Trail Trekkers, which was formed in order to build, maintain, publicize and use the little known urban trails of El Cerrito, California and they not only lead local trail hikes for community members to participate in and explore but their main goal is to create new safe trails in safe open spaces so all can enjoy and make sure that paths continue to be cleared of excess brush so the fire danger remains low, which in this day and time is remarkable we've been so lucky in our hillside neighborhood. I've have been to Motorcycle Hill about six times and every time I venture downhill (notice not uphill because I'm no fool as I still have to walk all the way home!) and I get to experience something interesting and new every time I venture along Potrero Avenue high in the hills of El Cerrito to begin my trek each and every time. If you're not careful you will miss the start of the trail from the top of the hill each and every times as it literally is a slim dirt pathway in between two single-level homes. Once you keep walking along the dirt path and see a huge swath of small cactuses growing like bushes to your left, you know you are on the right path. From there you keeping walking straight along a dirt path which I believe was created much longer than the rest of the trail as it hugs the hillside until you hit what is basically a naturally-made observation area that looks over the entire cities of El Cerrito and Richmond and you would see it all if it weren't for the numerous eucalyptus trees blocking your view line. From there you will notice a nice wooden handrail that serves as your starting point and barrier for where you are supposed to walk next, down Motorcycle Hill. which is a series of small switchback dirt trails down the steep incline (hence the name Motorcycle Hill and dirt bikes tend to do this as they head downhill as well). And I do mean steep as you can tell this remains a fairly new trail that hasn't been traveling along by a vast number of trekkers as there remains a long of brush and dirt which can get in the way for a smooth trip down the hill. And just be careful because it can be a trip down this hill, as many a time I found myself slipping to the point where I had to grab on to a tree or even the dirt below to make sure I wasn't rolling down the steep hill. And beware of your shoes as they're going to get really dirty as even on a warm day after walking back and forth down the incline, my shoes were filthy of dry brown dirt. But that's just one of the sacrifices one makes when walking down one of El Cerrito's newest trails. Once you're done you'll find yourself among a number of eucalyptus trees that has been cut down to their stumps on the back side of some residences and then you'll once again find yourself in between a narrow pathway in between two homes, this time on Blake Street. Then you're back in the suburban community from where you once came with passing cars whizzing by. But for a little while, you will be as grateful as I was for this tiny and tranquil oasis among all of the chaotic suburban city life. At Motorcycle Hill, one can enjoy a healthy hike with scenic views of San Francisco Bay and beyond, and we have the El Cerrito Trail Trekkers to thank for all of this.

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more I'm familiar with the Albany Bulb from previous walks off Buchanan Street. Most of the challenge came with scaling the craggy surfaces amid the makeshift, 'Burning Man'-style art pieces. I did take glances toward the left and wondered if there was anything beyond the tiny beach. Apparently not until this past July when the East Bay Reguonal Park District built out the shoreline trail that hugs Golden Gate Fields. They didn't skimp as the restoration project cost over $18 million, but the result is worth it as the new mile-long section offers uninterrupted views, intermittent benches, and defined paths that separate the cyclists from the walkers. The beach area looks a lot more inviting with picnic tables, restrooms, extra parking, and a staging area. Now if you combine this with a walk around the Bulb, you've got your 10,000 steps. Just sayin'. RELATED - Exploring Albany? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3ebRKbk

Beautiful trail next to Golden Gate Fields with lots of different paths you can take to explore…read more Love the views of the city and the bay bridge! Parking can be a bit tricky, as the lot is pretty small, but we were lucky enough to see someone pulling away as we got there. There's some street parking too. Some areas could be a bit muddy or pebbly so wear comfortable walking shoes. Would not recommend flip flops or sandals on this path. It connects to the Albany Bulb so you can check out all the cool artwork while you're there. I love that the art always changes and I see new and different pieces every time I go.

The park seems to be mostly a playground than anything else. Nothing really much here, but I see…read morepeople come here for different reasons. Probably most of there are here for the ocean I guess. At the same time, I don't think it's a bad place to come here since the main part of it is the nature.

Barbara and Jay Vincent Park in Richmond has abundant park space abutting the water. It is a fun…read moreplace to sit and watch airplanes, including seaplanes, as they take-off or land in and around the Bay Area. Walking paths through the park are smooth and there is abundant space to sit, be it on a grassy area or a bench. Each of my visits here has been via foot and I have found access to be a non-issue.

This is a fine park. Post pandemy they had a lot of Canadian Geese excrement all over, but it's…read morebetter now. The pictures of the plastic covered doo-hickeys were actually rocks. They appeared one day and were uncovered a while later. This is a beautiful area with a beaufiful sunset. Not Hawaii beautiful, but it's fine even if the sun sets behind a bunch of buildings or a cloud. There are no good eats in the area. The restaurant has a review of mine, but it was taken over by people who truly don't care about the folks that they serve, but you can read that review. It's fine for walking, a quick walk after work (I worked at a school that was near the park). It's nice, peaceful and safe.

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more Lucretia Edwards passed away fifteen years ago, but her legacy as an environmental activist can be felt in all the regional parks to be found in Richmond, an unexpected bonus for anyone getting familiar with this otherwise relatively nondescript East Bay city. This park was named in her honor though there appears to be little sense of a park here. It's primarily a promenade wide enough to accommodate walkers and cyclists (if everyone is masked). It wraps around Ricnmond's Inner Harbor Basin and adjoining boat marina. It starts at the worthwhile museum dedicated to Rosie the Riveter and the World War II home front activity centered in Richmond (review: https://bit.ly/3rXHw5A). Then it extends to a Q-Tip of greenery, Barbara & Jay Vincent Park. It's all flat and paved, and if you're lucky, you can see dolphins cavorting in the harbor. They must view it like a spa retreat because they didn't seem to be in a hurry to go back into the bay. RELATED - Exploring Richmond? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18

They finally finished the Rodeo stretch of the San Pablo Bay Regional Trail at Pacific Avenue. They…read morespent money on a large footbridge over the marshland, but there is little to do at the end but turn back since it turns industrial pretty fast. One suggestion I have is considering the walk over the railroad overpass and into this postage stamp of a shoreline park. There is indeed a Rodeo Beach but nothing like the scenic sandbar in the Marin Headlands. Just a lot of concrete rubble. Nicer is the small bluff that drops into the bay, an almost Monterey touch you don't expect to see in these parts. There's also a beached tugboat and remnants of a long-gone pier to consider for photographic purposes. OK, now you can walk back on the trail. RELATED - Exploring the western part of Contra Costa County? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. **…read more If you've ever seen the back side of the northern part of the East Bay from Richmond to Berkeley, you'll see the rolling hills of Wildcat Canyon in the distance, and the little brown and black specks are cows. Before I discovered this gem of a semi-hidden half-mile trail, I thought the only way to get over there was either by way of Wildcat's main entrance up in the northern part of Richmond or miles away through Tilden Park in Berkeley, which basically translated into a commitment of hours of walking on the main trail. That's why this trail is so vital to anyone who happens to be in El Cerrito, Kensington, or North Berkeley and looking to get closer to those cows. It starts at the end of Rifle Range Road off Arlington Avenue. There's no parking lot, but street parking shouldn't be a problem as I've never seen it that crowded here, even on weekends. It descends right away, but the slope is gradual even if the surface can get rocky. It's a casual walk, but do be mindful of the sporadic poison oak on the side and the occasional coyote sighting. I've not seen one but there's always a first time. The trail ends at a picturesque small bridge that intersects with the main hiking route, Wildcat Creek Trail. Here you have several choices. You can go left and end up at Wildcat's main entrance. Or you can go right and make your way to Jewel Lake and the Tilden Nature Area (my favorite route). Or take one of four different routes up the hills to get upfront with the cattle, or you can just make the uphill return walk back to Rifle Range Road. No harm, no foul. Get your steps in! RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU