Best Trails near Berkeley, California

Easy and nice views

Easy and beautiful

Really great hike except for the section after you reach Grizzly peak boulevard. It's hard to find the next section of the trail (you need to turn left at the end of the trail and walk along Grizzly peak to find the trail entrance) and then the next section is not well maintained. Also the trail is not well marked so have a map handy. If it wasn't for that segment, I'd rate this hike a 4/5. Great views.

We did the full trail and it's definitely a solid workout (some of the steeper climbs I've done). It looks us about 2.5hrs with some water breaks. Some shaded and some direct sun. Recommend plenty of water, bug spray, and suncreen. We also brought our pup who loved the climb as well and was off leash the majority of the time. Also definitely recommend solid trail shoes or hiking boots.

We arrived around 9am and had no issues with parking right at the trail head.

This is the shorter version of lake Anza. Not really a hike, just walking round a small lake though. Do the other hike

Long enough and ends in a lake where you can buy things from a shop and swim

Steep and at an incline most of the way so wear shoes with good grips as it is slippery downhill. Offers great views of bay.

In between highway and great coastal views. Can get very windy at times.

One of my favorite hikes! Really nice views if you hit it on a non-foggy day, but the eucalyptus groves in thick fog are just as pretty. Challenging enough to feel like a workout but not too tough. Nice choice for dog walking too.

Nice trail

This trail was beautiful and great for a beginner!

A little too steep for me sometimes but overall really beautiful hike with amazing views, sun & shade and little food/horse traffic during the week!

Wide trail; no part was too difficult. Saw a gopher snake. Good views, and lightly traveled.

this trail is overall beautiful. pass by the stream and be surrounded by redwoods. be prepared for some stretches without much trees and sun exposure in a sunny day during the Meadows Canyon Trail

I give this trail 4 stars for vistas and wildflowers and 2 out of 4 knee caps for the downhill trail. The higher the knee cap the better for mature hikers. I departed from the farm making a loop up to Wildcat Peak and down Laurel Canyon Trail back to the farm and it wasn’t too too hard on the knees. The only thing is at times it was difficult to find the markers. ⛰

Good trail. Soil and rocky. If you use poles the rocky parts are difficult to get a grip but it’s a good work out and is clearly marked. I’m more partial to narrow trails but you get good views of the San Pablo and Briones Reservoirs and the Bay.

Be prepared. Just be prepared. It’s steep but rewarding!

All I can say is, come prepared if you have not hiked this trail before or even one like it. It will humble you if you are in decent shape, your muscles will burn and turn into jelly, and you will feel accomplished when you reach the top!

Poles or walking sticks would make this an easier trek as the terrain is a little loose at times.

The hill is a bit more than an easy little incline, in my opinion! But I was running. My legs definitely feel this one.
I went Friday at 1:30pm and saw very few people.

Beautiful views and an easy loop with a couple side trails. Definitely moderate. Nice picnic table with a swirl of rocks to have a snack on, but it is windy and chilly in the morning, so bring a jacket!

It’s really steep, which makes the return trip (descent) a bit difficult. The majority of it is in the sun, with limited tree coverage, so be sure to wear sunscreen! I prefer some of the other fire trail hikes that are more wooded.

Fairly easy and nice long walk

This hike is a nice representation of California. Know that this trail is legit hard. The uphills are steep and seemingly never ending. The views will provide just the right amount of distraction and reason to stop and rest. There’s also plenty of shady parts. It’s a bit tricky to follow the trail on the rebound. We got off trail, but plenty of cut overs were available. The trail also had quite a few benches, so take a lunch/snacks and enjoy the view! There’s a reason this is called a panoramic hike. You’ll have multiple views of Mt Tam, SF, Oakland and beyond.

Take plenty of water!

Excellent hike, but would put it in the moderate category. Trail was very rocky in some parts and there is a 6” ledge along part of the lake that was a little treacherous.

cool trail

Very nice trail with a good mix of views. Will definitely come again.

I love this hike and have been back 4 times in the past 2 months. It’s about a 6.5 mile loop and the first half is all incline but you get some breaks in between each hill which helps. Be prepared for some rocky/gravel areas which can get slippery so wear good hiking shoes.

The second half of the hike is easy and you get even better views from the other side of the hill. Beautiful views throughout the trail. About half is covered. It can get pretty hot depending on the weather and the annoying flies come out.

The path is wide and well signed. It starts with a gentle incline through mostly exposed ravine. This takes you over the hill and back towards the road. From the new trail head, you walk steadily uphill through partially shaded trees to the ridge line. Once at the top you are rewarded with views of East Bay hills and reservoirs on one side and Bridges and bayviews to the other side. There are some nice benches to sit and enjoy the vistas. Then, it is a shady decline through bay and eucalyptus trees. Some parts are a bit rocky and steep, but doable.

best for dogs

Solid elevation with an incredible view at the top!

Good hike - views were nice. Parking lot is really small but since we went on a weekday we got a spot. Very steep near the start but otherwise a pleasant hike. Saw lots of lizards and a baby king snake. Got engulfed in a ladybug swarm which was a little strange! Can get a little warm in spots but not bad even in summer.