Tilden Regional Park Wildcat Creek Trail is a 2.5 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Berkeley, California that features a lake and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and nature trips and is accessible year-round.
NOTE: The parking area for this trail is closed due to COVID-19. Visitors can still walk or bike here from elsewhere. Please check the park's website for more information: https://www.ebparks.org/news/covid_19_park_and_trail_updates.htm#parks-open-closed
It's a fire road trail, which was very convenient for keeping distance while hiking with friends. It's an easy hike past the lake and you can turn around at any point. On the way back we decided to loop around on the other side of the lake. After you cross the wooden bridge, it's a single file trail with some poison oak, so you need to be careful, but it was worth it for a change of scenery.
You get to see Jewel Lake and it is nice as a first exploration into this part of tilden. I definitely want to do more of the trails that are more challenging.
I am not much of a mountain biker, or a road biker for that matter, which made this fire trail pretty ideal. Mostly flat with a few slopes here and there. Admittedly, I did turn around before the major elevation happened.
Nice easy loop with great views. A few too many cyclists though.
We like this hike as a training; there’s a long slope that can be a bit steep in some part, and a beautiful view at the top. Very few people during the week except in parts close to the parking lot.
A nice relatively flat connection trail between Tilden and Wildcat Canyon! Nice to get in some easy miles here.