Even on days when the fog shows up instead of the sun, we live in a particularly gorgeous part of the world. We have the sparkling bay, neighborhood gardens and streams and sunsets framing the Golden Gate Bridge.

And when we need a break from concrete streets, a short bus or car ride into the hills will deliver us to a natural refuge.

The string of parks that line the East Bay hills provide easily-accessible green space and a chance to breathe in a little nature. Tilden, Sibley, Redwood Regional and Anthony Chabot are open to all, free to use and full of well-maintained hiking trails. 

If you’re unsure where to hike, or just prefer companionship for your outdoor adventures, several organizations and hiking groups can help facilitate your summer exploration of the East Bay hills.

For starters, the East Bay Regional Park District – EBRPD – offers free drop-in hikes every Saturday morning. The district offers many guided hikes, but the Saturday Strolls provide a family-friendly opportunity to check out a different park each week. The hikes are between 2 and 6 miles long and dogs are welcome on most, but call ahead of time to make sure.

EBRPD also offers women-only hikes once a month. Women on Common Ground hikes are led by a naturalist and are held in the evening, which means the last part of the hike is often by starlight. Registration is required, but these hikes also are generally free. 

If you’re queer and looking to go on outdoor adventures with other LGBT folk, consider joining the San Francisco Bay Area Gay & Lesbian Sierrans – a chapter of the Sierra Club – or check in with the EBRPD to see if the “Rainbow Rambler” hikes have started up again.

Rue Mapp, an outdoor enthusiast and Oakland resident committed to diverse participation in outdoor activities, created the online community Outdoor Afro, which “connects African-Americans with natural spaces and one another.” While Outdoor Afro is a national community, Rue has been partnering with the park district to create local events. Group outings are posted on the Outdoor Afro community webpage.

If you’re interested in exploring beyond the Oakland and Berkeley hills, the Greenbelt Alliance – an organization that has been advocating for Bay Area “open spaces and vibrant places” for more than 50 years – offers guided hikes and urban outings around the Bay. East Bay events are frequently on the other side of the hills, in Moraga or San Ramon, but on Aug. 1, the Greenbelt Alliance will be leading a tour of the Pt. Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond.

There also are several informal, DIY hiking groups around the East Bay. For those who live or work in Contra Costa County, the Causal East Bay Hikers Club is open to new members and also is free; join the mailing list to stay informed about when and where hikes will take place.

Additionally, the Super Fabulicious Hiking and Outdoor Adventure Group is a meet-up group that organizes hikes around the Bay and has an East Bay chapter; each hike costs $1 per person.

If none of the group events suit you, put on your shoes, grab a water bottle, make sure you know how to spot poison oak and see where the trail map leads you. Another great way to become familiar with our East Bay parks is to volunteer. Sign up for an existing trail maintenance crew and help maintain our fabulous parks. 

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Local Hiking Resources:

Bay Nature Institute online events calendar:

Visit http://baynature.org/events

East Bay Casual Hiking Group:

Free and informal co-ed group of adults, of varying ages and abilities, who meet regularly to hike together in Contra Costa County. Hikes typically range from 3 to 9 miles in length. Kids welcome. For more details, visit hiking.bondon.com.

East Bay Regional Park District:

Free organized hikes around the East Bay, with a full schedule of activities available here.
  •    Saturday Strolls (weekly, drop-in) - visit www.ebparks.org/parks or call (510) 544-3187 for details.
       o    July 10 – Meet in the Lower Parking lot of Roberts Park. Moderate hike.
       o    July 17 – Meet at the MacDonald staging area, Anthony Chabot Regional Park.
       o    Aug. 7 – Meet at the Fairmont Ridge staging area, Lake Chabot Regional Park.
       o    Aug. 14 – Meet at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.
       o    Aug. 21 – Meet at Canyon Meadow Staging Area, Redwood Regional Park.
  •    Women on Common Ground (monthly, registration required) - call (510) 544-3243 or email kcolbert@ebparks.org for more information or to register.
       o    July 10, 6 p.m. – Green Barn Visitor Center, Sunol Regional Wilderness
       o    Aug. 8, 6 p.m. – Point Pinole, Point Pinole Regional Shoreline

Greenbelt Alliance:

Greenbelt Alliance has organized a series of outings celebrating Bay Area natural treasures for all seasons. Visit www.greenbelt.org/cgi-bin/calendar.cgi for more information.

Outdoor Afro:

Online community connecting African-Americans with nature and each other. For more information, visit www.outdoorafro.com.

Sierra Club – The San Francisco Bay Area Gay & Lesbian Sierrans:

For a small annual fee ($12), join this outings and conservation club for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered people and friends. Hiking locations around the Bay and beyond. Visit sfbay.sierraclub.org/GLS for details.

Super Fabulicious Hiking and Outdoor Adventure Group:

Meet-up organizers coordinate outdoor activities all over the Bay Area and occasionally outside the area as well. For more information, visit www.meetup.com/SuperFab.

About Sara Knight

Sara Knight writes and lives in the East Bay. Her writing on queer rights, politics, and environmental policy has appeared in YES! Magazine, Earth Island Journal, and the SF Bay Guardian. When not in front of the computer, she can be found hiking in the hills, learning how to keep her garden alive, and sampling local culinary wonders.