Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley Hills
Minutes from downtown Berkeley but feeling a world away, Tilden Regional Park is a 2,079-acre wonderland of oak woodlands, wildflower meadows, a swimming lake, a botanical garden, and trails that climb to panoramic Bay views. It is the green lung that makes Berkeley, Berkeley.
Trails for Every Speed
With over 39 miles of trails ranging from the flat, paved Nimitz Way (perfect for families and cyclists) to the vigorous climb up Wildcat Peak at 1,211 feet, Tilden caters to every fitness level. The Seaview and Big Springs Loop is the crowd favourite, rated 4.7 stars by thousands of hikers and delivering aerial views of Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, and the Bay.
The 750-foot boardwalk through oak-bay woodland to Jewel Lake is a gentler option — a peaceful, wildlife-rich stroll that ends at a historic reservoir where herons and turtles are regular guests.
Beyond the Trails: Lake, Garden & Farm
Lake Anza is Tilden's social hub in summer: a sandy-shored freshwater lake open for supervised swimming from late spring through early autumn, ringed by picnic tables and buzzing with families. Year-round fishing is permitted for visitors 16 and over with a California state licence.
The Regional Parks Botanic Garden within the park holds what is considered the world's most complete collection of California native plants, including rare and endangered species from every corner of the state. The historic Little Farm, where children can feed cows and sheep, rounds out a full day's itinerary.
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