Ridgetop Rolling

Bicycle Ride the Nimitz Way Trail in Berkeley's Tilden Regional Park

07.22.2020
Bicycle Nimitz Way Trail Tilden Berkeley

Tilden Regional Park is the flagship of the East Bay Regional Parks system. And its best views? Find them along Nimitz Way, a paved, multi-use ridgetop trail. We recommend biking this trail for about 4 miles (one-way) because, well, it’s fun!

You’re high up on a ridgetop without having to worry about cars, so you get to focus on the views, which are plentiful, and pretty damn great! The trail starts at Inspiration Point on Wildcat Canyon Road, and it’s popular with walkers, baby strollers, and runners. After about a mile, the people thin out and you’re left with wide-open views of the bay, San Pablo Reservoir, the surrounding hills, and ta-da: Diablo, sparkling views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Pacific. Stop at one of the many benches en route to take in the scenery from east to west.

Bicycle Nimitz Way Trail Tilden Park Berkeley

Early in the ride, or on your return, detour to the Rotary Peace Grove, honoring people who have contributed to world peace. We recommend riding about 4 miles to where the pavement ends. You’ll pass through a couple of cattle gates and likely say hi to a few cows relaxing in the hills. The route is mostly gentle with just a few ups. If you have a mountain bike, you can continue on the dirt road where the ups and downs get a bit more dramatic, and so do the views.

TIP: Summer mornings can be foggy and breezy here, so if you have some patience, wait it out until later morning for the best chance of the marine layer dissipating. Parking fills up fast.

From Berkeley, take Grizzly Peak Blvd. to Wildcat Canyon Rd. and follow it all the way to the parking lot at Inspiration Point (map). Ride the Nimitz Way Trail north 4 miles to pavement’s end. Continue half a mile or more if you have a mountain bike and want more views! Dog-friendly.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View

  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View

  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View