SF Bay Area - East Bay Running Guide
The running routes of the East Bay reward those who choose to cross the Bay. Removed from the hustle of nearby cities, the trails near Berkeley offer everything from redwood forests to reservoir loops. If you venture further north to the Carquinez Strait, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a different time and place – the waterfront towns are some of the oldest spots in the Bay Area. The East Bay’s temperatures can differ dramatically from SF’s, so check the weather before taking off.
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Tilden
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Distance 9.3 mi
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Elevation 920 ft
Perched high above Berkeley lies Tilden Park, 网上理财项目home to miles of rolling trails, breathtaking views, and grazing cows. This route starts at Inspiration Point and heads out along the ridge on the Nimitz Way Trail. There are restrooms at this trailhead but no water. The drive to the trailhead alone is one of the most beautiful drives in the East Bay. The Nimitz trail is paved but offers a dirt shoulder that many people run on. You will run all the way to the Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in Richmond before heading back along the Wildcat Creek Trail. If you'd like to extend your run, you can continue on through the miles of trails in Wildcat Canyon. Most of this run will be gentle rolling terrain but there is a massive descent down to Wildcat Creek Trail and a challenging climb at the end through Meadows Canyon to return back to Inspiration Point. Much of the route is exposed so wear your sunscreen and bring water. You can refill your bottle at the Little Farm before you start the final ascent.
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Redwood Regional Park
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Distance 8.3 mi
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Elevation 1,301 ft
Redwood Regional Park offers both serene lush forests and a location convenient to the urban metropolis of Oakland. The park has a multitude of trails that vary from challenging to docile. This route starts on the East Ridge Trail, a fire road that runs along the top of the ridge above the redwoods and gently descends as it heads to the southern end of the park. The return trip back on the French Trail will require a bit more concentration for the technical terrain. This single-track trail lies deep within the magical redwood forest. Here you will find rolling hills, including some seriously steep climbs, which will bring you back up to the Skyline Gate. The French trail is much more secluded than the ridge trails and will become dark before the sun actually sets. Bring a headlamp if you are coming late in the day. There are restrooms and water at the Skyline Gate as well as along the Canyon Trail.
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Strawberry Canyon
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Distance 7.4 mi
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Elevation 744 ft
You can't run at Cal without conquering the fire trails of Strawberry Canyon. The toughest Golden Bears love to grind their way up the grueling three-mile climb and are rewarded with spectacular views of campus and the bay from the top. Beware the infamous "Connector", an extremely steep section that will slow most runners to a walk - you'll know it when you get there. The fire trail will level out eventually before it ends at Grizzly Peak Blvd. From here you can return back the way you came and maybe add on a side adventure to check out the "Big C" (the gold "C" that lies on the hillside above Cal Memorial Stadium). If you want to make this a longer run you can continue along the lovely single-track Selby Trail that will gently bring you back downhill as you run along the wooded edge of Tilden Park.
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Lake Chabot
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Distance 13.2 mi
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Elevation 1,587 ft
Lake Chabot is an idyllic park with ducks paddling in the lake and deer prancing on the hillside. But don't let the peaceful scenery fool you, there are some tough hills waiting for you beyond the lake. This route starts at the marina and takes you on a tour around the lake with an extension to the north. If you want to stick to the perimeter of the lake, the loop will be about 9 miles total. The trails closest to the marina are paved but the trails north of the lake are dirt. You will start your run with some gentle rollers that will quickly ramp up to much more demanding topography. Just as you are starting to really suffer, the trail will bring you back down to the serenity of the lake. Once you are back at the marina, you can buy yourself a picnic lunch from the cafe and even rent a boat to paddle around the lake if you have the time.
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Bay Trail
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Distance 4.5 mi
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Elevation 19 ft
Once you've had enough fun battling the hills, take to the San Francisco Bay Trail along the waterfront for a nice flat run. Many runners like to run along the Bay Trail between the Berkeley Marina and the Emeryville Marina to string together the two parks. Be forewarned that this trail is right alongside highway 80 so the traffic noise will be loud. What this route lacks in peacefulness it makes up for in flatness and convenient access to the freeway, as well as some gorgeous scenery of the waterfront and the San Francisco skyline. One can easily customize this route to be as short or as long as they like by adding on loops at each of the waterfront parks or continuing farther along the Bay Trail. The parks at the Berkeley Marina offer public restrooms, drinking fountains and parking.
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