Urban Trails East Bay. Alexandra Kenin
McLaughlin Eastshore State Park (part of Hike 10 along the Berkeley Waterfront). For that last hike, I offer a dog-friendly workaround, so feel free to bring Fido.
For all routes, refer to each individual hike writeup to determine whether permits are required, if dogs are allowed, and if there are fees for cars or dogs. Fees and regulations can occasionally change, so it’s always a good idea to double-check with local agencies before you hit the trails.
ROAD AND TRAIL CONDITIONS
New trails are added to parks from time to time, and current trails can experience closures due to fallen trees, erosion, and washouts. Please refer to park websites (see Appendix II) to ensure the trails you want to visit are open.
Another option is to visit websites like www.alltrails.com to read recent trail reports and see if hikers have encountered trails that were muddy, impassable, or otherwise unpleasant.
OUTDOOR ETHICS
At the core of outdoor ethics is the principle of leave no trace, which means that you should leave the trail (and park) as good as or better than you found it. If you bring something into a park, pack it out. And if you find litter on the trail, pack that out too. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics “protects the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly.”
Views from Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline (Hike 3) stretch from Richmond to San Francisco.
Their seven Leave No Trace (LNT) principles help people reduce their impact on natural areas:
1.Plan ahead and prepare.
2.Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3.Dispose of waste properly.
4.Leave what you find.
5.Minimize campfire impacts.
6.Respect wildlife.
7.Be considerate of other visitors.
And while some of these principles apply more to overnight trips, it is helpful for outdoor enthusiasts to be familiar with and follow them. Learn more at: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles.
TRAIL ETIQUETTE
Observing proper hiking etiquette keeps you safe while hiking and also ensures that future generations can enjoy trails, parks, and natural areas. Here are some general guidelines:
Obey park rules. This one is pretty simple. If a park isn’t open to dogs, keep your pup at home. If bicycles are not allowed on a trail, don’t bring your bike. If you find yourself with a bike on a trail that prohibits bikes, walk while pushing your bike instead of riding it.
Stay on trails. Don’t take shortcuts or unofficial trails that cause erosion or harm sensitive environments.
Observe the right-of-way. When you encounter cyclists or horseback riders, move to the side of the trail and let them pass. Hikers are more nimble and able to move off the trail.
Keep dogs under control. If you bring your dog on a hike, follow the park’s leash rules. If dogs are allowed off leash, make sure they stay on the trail and are under voice control.
Halt for horses. As mentioned above, when you see a horseback rider, step to the side of the trail. You don’t want to catch a horse off guard. Make yourself visible so the horse sees you, but also crouch down to make yourself look smaller. If you encounter a horse on a slope, try to step downhill of it; if spooked, horses tend to run uphill, and you don’t want to be in the way if that should happen. Don’t raise your voice around a horse, although talking calmly to its rider can help reassure the horse that you don't pose a threat.
Leave wildlife alone. Giving wildlife a wide berth can keep you and wild animals safe.
Don’t roll rocks off cliffs. You never know who or what is below you, and falling rocks can cause serious injuries.
Don’t bring things you find in a park home. Don’t bring sticks, rocks, shells, or other natural features home with you. Leave them where you find them. It’s fine to inspect things you discover, especially with curious kids, but don’t remove them from their natural environment.
Leave no trace. If you bring something on a trail, pack it out with you. This practice helps keep the trail in good condition for future hikers. (See Outdoor Ethics above.)
WATER AND GEAR
While most of the trails in this book can be enjoyed without much preparation or gear, it's always a good idea to bring water, even if you’re just out for a quick walk or run. Water is essential for hydration and can also be used to clean out scrapes or cuts.
In terms of gear, you will want to make sure you have good walking or hiking shoes. Walking around in flip-flops or other open-toed, loose shoes can lead to tripping and can make it easier to injure your feet. Shoes aren’t the only thing to evaluate carefully when you prepare for a hike. See the Ten Essentials below for a full list of gear that can help you stay safe on any hike.
THE TEN ESSENTIALS
Whether you’re crossing Sausal Creek in Oakland’s Dimond Park, climbing a stairway in Berkeley, or standing at the top of Mount Diablo, it’s always good to know you have the Ten Essentials (developed by The Mountaineers) in case of an emergency.
Navigation: Stay on track by using the maps in this book as well as park maps or a smartphone app. If you’re relying on your phone, even if you may think you’ll have cell service for your entire hike, it’s always a good idea to download maps that you can use when offline in case you end up without coverage. Some apps like Gaia GPS rely on a GPS signal, which you may still have, especially on open ridges or summits, even when you do not have a cell signal.
Sun protection: The East Bay can be a sunny place; it’s always best to be prepared for the sun with sunglasses, sunscreen, and a good hat. Some outdoor clothing comes with built-in sun protection.
Enjoy expansive vistas from hilly grasslands in places like Coyote Hills Regional Park (Hike 34).
Insulation: Layering is essential in the Bay Area, where the temperature can be very different in the sun versus the shade and during the day versus at night. Depending on what the weather forecast looks like, you may want to bring extra clothing, like wool arm warmers, a long-sleeved shirt, a coat (rain jacket and/or windbreaker as well as a fleece or other insulating layer), a hat, a scarf, and gloves.
Illumination: In winter the days are shorter, which makes a headlamp or flashlight handy, but even in summer, you may find yourself on the trail as the sun sets. A headlamp takes up very little room in your backpack and can help you stay safe if you end up hiking after dark.
First-aid supplies: Trips, falls, and other accidents