Just outside Oakland, discover a natural oasis filled with towering redwoods, lush meadows, trickling brooks and miles of hiking trails.
Redwood Regional Park is several miles from downtown Oakland, but it feels a world away, offering a respite from Oakland’s urban atmosphere. The area was logged extensively in the mid 1800s to supply building materials for San Francisco. It has now been returned close to its pristine natural state. Today, walk among majestic coastal redwoods soaring 150 feet (45 meters) into the sky.
Discover over 40 miles (60 kilometers) of trails throughout the park. Hike into Redwood Regional Park from the north or south, as the Skyline National Trail and the Bay Area Ridge Trail cut through the park. Anthony Chabot Regional Park to the south and Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve to the north provide natural buffer zones.
Get a good sense of the park along the 7-mile (11-kilometer) Stream Trail and French Trail loop. Enter at the Canyon Meadow Staging Area and take a shady, flat stroll along Redwood Creek. Loop back up along the shady French Trail. To explore the park by bike, follow the Redwood Bike Route. The 8.2-mile (13.2-kilometer) trail circumnavigates the park. Read the trails’ informative plaques to learn about the area’s natural history, the park’s plants and animals and environmental initiatives.
As you hike, watch for the park’s wild residents, such as the rare golden eagle or more common deer and raccoons. See rainbow trout glinting in Redwood Creek. The species was named when a spectacularly colored specimen was found in the San Leandro Creek drainage, which includes the park’s Redwood Creek. Look, but don’t touch, as the park does not allow fishing.
Take a trip from planet Earth at Chabot Space and Science Center on the park’s northwest fringe. Check out the digital planetarium, powerful telescopes and interactive exhibits.
Visit Redwood Regional Park any day throughout the year. There is free street parking around the park, but many prefer parking in the supervised Canyon Meadow or Roberts lots. Overnight campers are welcome. Reserve a spot in the designated camping areas before your visit.
