Whether you live in the East Bay or just visit occasionally to escape Karl’s clutches, you can’t deny there are some amazing open spaces on the other side of the bay, prime for the avid runner and casual jogger alike.
In a follow-up to The Bold Italic’s guide to the best running trails in San Francisco, here are the best of the East Bay.
Run with a view
Nestled in Berkeley’s incomparable Tilden Park is Nimitz Way, a four-mile paved trail (eight miles roundtrip) that follows the ridge between Wildcat Creek and the San Pablo Reservoir. From here you can see both the Bay and Mt. Diablo. There are mile-markers for those of you “quantified selfers” (your GPS might not work). Although there are some daunting hills, the views are worth the trek.
Strawberry Canyon above Cal has some killer fire trails, as well as views of the UC Berkeley Campanile, Mt. Tam, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The trail is about seven miles roundtrip from the parking lot, or about nine miles if you start behind Memorial Stadium and run past the pool. While you won’t want to spend too much time on this trail in the dark, there’s a bench roughly two miles into the trail that’s a notoriously great spot from which to watch the sunset.
Run by the Bay
The Bay Bridge Trail is one of my absolute favorite routes. Start in Emeryville at the entrance near the IKEA parking lot and head toward the bridge for an eight-mile stretch. For now, you can almost go all the way to Treasure Island (once the trail is complete later this year, you’ll be able to run two miles farther). Expect to encounter some bikers, dog walkers, and families along the route, although it’s all worth it for the even, paved path and clear views of the Bay Bridge.
The flat, paved trail that runs along Shoreline Drive at Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda clocks in at a little more than three miles. There are bathrooms along the route and a parking lot. Go on a warm day so you can change into a swimsuit and jump in the water to cool down post-run.
Run through redwoods
I spent much of middle school and junior high at Oakland’s Redwood Regional Park for cross-country practice, and it remains one of my favorite places for a hike or trail run. There are a variety of paths you can take depending on the distance and difficulty you’re hoping to tackle, but a mile of paved trail through the redwoods starting at the Canyon Meadow Staging Area is particularly popular. I’ve also run through the park starting at the Skyline Gate. There are a decent number of hills, and because the park consists mostly of shaded all-dirt paths, any rain renders the trails pretty muddy. If you have a dog (or borrow one from a friend, like I do), you’re allowed to have them off-leash, which is rad. Plus, the trail is wide and becomes pretty solitary once you get about a mile or two in.
Run by a lake
Lake Merritt is a classic running spot, which makes sense considering its central location, lawns for post-running stretches, and the optional extra cardio boost up Cleveland Cascade. But you can expect this 3.4-mile loop to be crowded and offer a decent smattering of goose poop.
For something slightly off the beaten path, try Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley. The paved trail runs 3.5 miles along the south and east shores of the lake. Stick to that stretch of trail or connect with any of the other 70 miles of trails throughout the park. Head to the park’s café after your run to refuel with a breakfast burrito or burger. (I’m a bad influence. No shame!)
Run around a reservoir
The nearly three-mile paved path around the Lafayette Reservoir is easy to get to and has ample parking and nice scenery. There are some inclines on the trail, but it won’t be challenging for an experienced runner. After you finish the loop, stick around for a picnic or rent a paddle boat. Warning: it can get hot here. I’ve been the victim of seriously scorching temperatures — not even Karl can save you in Contra Costa! If the forecast looks brutal, try to go during a cooler time of day and bring plenty of water.
If you’re in the mood to test-run a new trail, check out Trail Stompers. They have a great list of popular trails listed by difficulty. Give me a holler in the comments section if I missed your favorite East Bay run.
Top photo courtesy of Miguel Vieira/Flickr
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