Albany Hill Park is aptly named, as it's just one big hill, or one big rock off of I-80!!…read more You can drive to the top and follow the trails or stairs back down. Or you can start at the bottom and work your way to the top. On the way up one trail, I saw a cross and a swing, and plenty of dog walkers. There are some good views at the top looking through the trees. When I was here, I felt like I was at a super small version of Golden Gate Park. Albany is a really small city, just driving through you can pass through it and you might not know it, but when you see this big rock, you'll know you're definitely in Albany!! Very nice park, seems like the highlight of this little city to me!!

Turkey sighting. I usually see them out around San Pablo Ave., near the Albany city services area…read more-- Police, Fire, City Hall. It was nice to see one out in nature and not doing the casual street stroll. Apple maps showed me two different routes to destinations of this name, depended on the day. One was up Taft, the other was to a path near Ranch 99. Well, the Ranch 99 route starts with a long walk that includes a long stair climb. On the bright side, there's your warm up. Downside really only if you have someone already there waiting for you. Live and learn. Enjoy the outdoors and a good walk.

I agree whole-heartedly with the first reviewer of this hidden gem (Ciana W.) and I just want to…read moreadd that there are tons of hidden paths like this in Berkeley. www.berkeleypaths.org would tell you all about them, with detailed maps and walking guides provided. This is one of the many things that make Berkeley so charming and loveable. There are so many stone stairways and narrow footpaths paved with fallen leaves hidden in all these quiet, unassuming neighborhoods! I live in the Elmwood area and, wow, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Oak Knoll, Pine Path, Garber St, Oak Path... just north of my neigborhood. I also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Mosswood and Orchard path north of the International House. And now, I discovered this hidden treasure of Vine Lane and Rose Walk! Absolutely five stars. And thank you SO MUCH, berkeleypaths.org, for preserving them!

Are you ready to fall down the rabbit hole into a true-blue wonderland?…read more The delirium and dementia of Telegraph Avenue are equally and oppositely reflected in the glamour and mystery of Vine Lane, one of Berkeley's many secret hidden pathways. This is my gift to you: take a walk up through Vine Lane to the Berkeley Rose Garden. Start by putting on your comfy shoes and wandering up the hill that is Euclid Street, taking careful note of the gorgeous, dilapidated old houses, the swooping trees, and the almost eerie peacefulness of North Side. Hang a right at Cedar Street, and look westward out to the Bay. By the time you make a right on Hawthorne Terrace, you'll be in a completely different world, and to prove it, there is Vine Lane. Tucked away so delicately that you could almost miss it, there between the Gothic Revival and Arts & Crafts homes, is a small pathway cutting up the hill. It is as simple as that -- a pathway, or miniature pedestrian route built sometime around the turn of the century. Walking silently, respectfully, and ever upwards, you can just feel the stillness of the hillside, and you can appreciate the idealistic thoughtfulness of the city planners who built these paths. Vine Lane is aptly named because the walls of the residences, most of which are set off the path by several yards, are covered in luscious vegetation. It's worth going to see the changing colors in both fall and spring. At the top of the mount hangs a small lantern and sign in wrought iron, proclaiming "VINE LANE" in an elegant script. This place is unexpected, charming, and a complete relic of Berkeley's mystical and lurid past. Continue on to Cordonices Park and the Berkeley Rose Garden if you want to keep falling further into that rabbit hole...

One of my favorite places to visit in the bay area. It's a great place to go hiking or even for a…read morescenic drive but it is a drive with more twists and turns up throughout the hills. It's a beautiful place to catch the sunset but only if the clouds allow it. There's a few places to pull off the road to get a better view if driving as well.

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.

I had forgotten just how gorgeous this hike is--the scenery is incredible the entire way. Be…read moreprepared for a steady climb through most of the route, with plenty of wooden stairs, gnarly roots, and rock steps, but the stunning views make every bit of effort worth it. There are many great spots to stop for photos, take a break, or enjoy a picnic--we did all three. Thanks to the recent rain, there was still plenty of water flowing, which made the trail even more beautiful. The picnic area at Laurel Dell is especially serene, with a babbling brook nearby. There's even an outhouse, which is always a welcome sight. I actually found climbing up much easier than descending as one has to really pay attention to their footing. We were happy seeing Alpine Lake again knowing we were close to end of hike.

A scenic trail, the winding uphill drive to reach the trail sets the mood and makes one start…read morefeeling the adventure even before one gets on the trail. The Cataract trail is medium difficulty level so one must be geared up well especially wearing the right shoes. It's along the stream of water and is quite narrow, has nice views. We were there before the sunset and the colors around looked so pretty! Quite close to the Fairfax downtown. There was no parking near the trail so people mostly park along the road.

One of those backyard discoveries that makes me question why it's taken me so long to actually get…read morehere. Welp... I finally made it here. And it is truly sensational. I've pretty much been all up, down, and around Tilden Park. But even with that, I always seem to discover trails that I've never hiked before. It's a huge park, so that makes total sense. Wildcat Peak was one of those recent discovery trails and vista points for me. I've always seen it on the park map, but you know when you get used to hiking on your favorite trails and you neglect all of the rest? That was me. I mean, that IS me. A creature of habit I guess. So on this very day, I decided to explore a different part of Tilden. Entered the park through the nature area and started near Jewel Lake on the Wildcat Creek Trail. This trail is super easy, flat, and partially paved. You'll pass by Jewel Lake along this trail. Turned right onto Sylvan and then left onto the Wildcat Peak Trail. This part of the Wildcat Peak Trail features switchbacks that incline up to the peak. It's a nice workout in general, but the views of the Bay is what makes this jaunt super enjoyable. Once you reach the peak, you'll have the most incredible views of the Bay Bridge, Briones Reservoir, San Pablo Bay, and Berkeley city views. There's a little brick barrier wall at the summit where you can sit and admire the views. It's 360 degrees of pure scenic bliss up there. From here, you can go back the same way you came up, or you can connect to another trail. I connected to the Laurel Canyon trail which looped me back around to the Tilden Nature area. There are so many vibrant wildflowers and plants nestled along this trail loop. The trail has a nice mix of covered and exposed paths. You'll pass through beautiful groves and notice the rampant wildlife on the trails. In the late winter and early spring, it's so incredibly green here. Wildcat Peak is such a gorgeous vista point within Tilden Park. I'd highly recommend the Wildcat Creek/Wildcat Peak/ Sylvan/Laurel Canyon trail loops. It's simply marvelous.

It's hard to imagine that the bucolic fire roads in Wildcat Canyon and Tilden Park once connected…read morethe US military with missile radar stations and launch sites during the depths of the Cold War. Or maybe not given the escalating tensions we have with Russia. But back in 1962 during a moment of atypical calm, a stone circle was built by the Berkeley Rotary Club to allow people agitated by the Commies a meditative spot to take in panoramic, 360-degree views of the SF Bay Area to the west and San Pablo Reservoir to the east. Years later it's still a nice respite if it isn't crowded up here as it sometimes does on warm weekends. Most people walk on Nimitz Way, the mostly paved path from Inspiration Point, to get here. However, my favorite route starts on the Wildcat Creek Trail where I take the gradual climb on the Conlon Trail where you get the same bay views you get from the peak. Except maybe for a herd of unimpressed cows in your way. I then descend on the zig-zaggy Wildcat Peak Trail back to Wildcat Creek. Gee, I sound like an actual hiker, don't I? RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

If you don't mind hiking between 12 and 14 miles in a day with some incline, this is well worth the…read moretrip from the parking lot. Great views along the way for the coastal trail and you could turn this into a loop trail if you take the unofficial shortcut. This is one of the beauties of California. Recommended activities: Hiking, Running, Walking Parking options: Free parking lot

People who have never been to Oregon will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls (a…read morewaterfall that flows into the ocean) on the entire West Coast. People who believe AllTrails will tell you that this is one of only two tidefalls in California. (If you use Alltrails, you aren't allowed to hike with me, by the way.) Neither of these statements are anywhere close to true. As a matter of fact, there are at least two tidefalls on this one beach, and there are many more in areas that are not easily accessible to the public. Tidefalls are common along the coasts of Oregon, Washington, and Canada. There are several tall tidefalls in Cape Perpetua alone. That being said, Alamere Falls might be the biggest, prettiest publicly accessible tidefall in Northern California. I recently hiked Alamere Falls for the first time in nearly ten years, and I couldn't believe how much had seemed to change. First of all, the road to the Palomarin trail was hell in a compact vehicle. Even going like two miles per hour, I got a little motion sickness from the thousands of deep potholes. The road is so bad that it almost seems beyond repair. At this point, it's probably only suitable for high clearance vehicles, although I did not notice any signs warning of such. Secondly, I'm pretty sure I was the only sober person on the trail. The vibes were so, so weird. Consider packing your (legal) weapon of choice. Thirdly, I was certainly the only person to take the 'legal' trail down, although I gained some new perspective on this. While the trail that I took is ostensibly the trail recommended by NPS, one does have to wonder why it is so overgrown. It feels like, "Obviously, no one ever really hikes this trail," because it's nowhere near clear or well-trodden. Certain areas of the trail were so overgrown that it was impossible to see my feet, and difficult to find my footing. These areas were chalk full of poison oak, stinging nettle, poison hemlock, and a wide variety of (harmless) snakes. By contrast, much of the "social" trail was four feet wide, flat, and clear. Which made me wonder-- which trail is really safer? The cliffs at the end of the social trail are constantly crumbling. The risk of falling, breaking a leg, or at least spraining an ankle, seems high. But by contrast, the risk of spraining an ankle on the recommended trail seems high, too. And the stinging nettle hurt a lot, but only for a few hours. My personal recommendation is to take the recommended trail, but wear solid boots, long pants, and tall, colorful socks. Tuck your pants into your socks, or wear gaiters. Use permethrin or your tick repellant of choice. While the official Palomarin Trail may be very long and difficult, it's also worth the trouble. The ocean views and wildlife were unbelievable. I actually saw a mother deer nursing two spotted fawns in the middle of the trail. On the beach, I found agates, fossils, shells, giant bull kelp, snowy plovers, and lots of by-the-wind-sailors jellyfish in multiple stages of life and decomposition. The waterfall itself is pretty-- but make sure to check the tide!! I never do, and I almost always get stranded. The first time I ever hiked this trail, I actually had to climb up a cliff in terror and wait 3 hours for the tide to recede. But that doesn't need to happen to you if you remember to check the tide before you come out, while you still have service.

After all these years of hiking in Contra Costa county we finally decided to go on a hike at…read moreOursan Trail in the Briones area. We parked at the Oursan/Bear Creek Trailhead staging area which is an about 1/2 mile down from the Briones Park Main Entrance on Bear Creek Road. It's fairly large parking lot in comparison to the other entrance at the corner of San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road. Both the Oursan and Bear Creek Trail require an EBMUD permit which can be purchased at the EBMUD website or at their Headquarters on San Pablo Dam Road. The trail runs along the beautiful Briones Reservoir to the left and the hills of Briones, Lafayette, Orinda and El Sobrante. The trail length is about 1 to 10miles, but you can hike as far as you can and turn around. We hiked about 3 miles in and then turned back since it was getting late. This trail is moderate to easy with a few up and down hills. A few are fairly steep and luckily I had my walking poles to help me. We had our normal tennis shoes on, but the next time we will definitely wear our hiking boots. This is probably one of the best hiking and most serene trails we've been on this year. The trails we've been on at Tilden Park are nice, but Oursan trail is different. On our entire hike we only saw 5 other hikers. If you are looking for a nice trail with very few hikers and spectacular views of the Briones Reservoir, and the hills of Orinda, Lafayette and El Sobrante this is the trail for you. We encountered some cows, but they were off in the distance and were not an issue. Other hikers have told us that the best time to do this trail is in the spring when all the flowers are in full bloom and the hills are nice and green. Dogs are allowed, but will need to be on a leash. No bikes are allowed.

I had been curious about Briones Reservoir because driving on Bear Creek Road, it looked inviting -…read morethough it turns out to be quite a restrictive area when it comes to recreational activities. That explained the complete absence of any boats, canoes, or kayaks on the water. I had read about this particular trail online as it hugs the northern side of the lake from two different staging areas. I stopped first at the Briones Overlook, but found the trailhead blocked by some major excavation occurring around the dam. I then drove over to the Bear Creek staging area which has the trailheads for both the Bear Creek and Oursan Trails. I inadvertently walked on the Bear Creek Trail for a bit but it was dull as dirt, so I went back to get on the right track. I knew I needed a EBMUD permit and indeed I wrote down my permit number on the sign-in sheet. Good thing I had a pen in my pocket because someone stole the one that was attached to the clipboard. From the outset, there was a gentle climb before the reservoir came to view, and then it got very woodsy and surprisingly hilly. That was where the moderate part of the trail came in because I had to side-step a lot of loose gravel to make it down some of the slopes. The trail eventually evened itself out though some stretches were overgrown with tall stalks. I went as far as Hampton Trail and then headed back because the total distance was almost ten miles. That was enough, right? Especially since there were no benches or restrooms en route. I did run into a couple of snakes which froze the moment I walked by. My testosterone clearly intimidated them. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

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

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

Lands End, through Seacliff and to the Golden Gate Bridge through the Presidio did not disappoint!…read moreAlways a soulful traverse.... never disappoints even this forever-my-hometown native San Franciscan. Easy trail with some well etched steps. Many opportunities for more challenging descents (and later ascents) to beach acccess points. Beware the traditionally nudist section of North Baker beach!

My friend that used to live in Sacramento turned me on to this hike. She said this is the hike the…read morelocals go to. So when we arrived from the airport, we dropped our luggages at our hotel and took a Waymo to the trail. This trail is magnificent! We had the perfect weather - 70 degrees and very clear. Great coastal views and views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Sutro Baths. Amazing!!! A must see in San Francisco.