High and Mighty in the East Bay

Hiking Oakland's Redwoods Regional Park

Warriors players aren’t the only living things to stand tall in Oakland. Tucked beyond Oakland’s bustling city streets is Redwood Regional Park, a secluded escape of second-growth redwoods that’s treasured among locals for its canopied forest and dog-friendly trails. The 4.8-mile loop that links Stream, Fern, and West Ridge Trails is a terrific way to experience the park’s highlights, taking you through a thicket of madrones, coyote brush, and oaks during your first stretch, followed by beautifully serene redwood groves and a scenic open ridge for your second stretch.

Find the trailhead at the Skyline Gate Staging Area, and begin hiking on Stream Trail, a wide dirt trail leading into a canopy of cover underneath colossal redwoods. Along your path, you’ll pass several camping and picnicking sites. At the junction for Fern Trail, turn right and follow it for about half a mile.

The steep climb up, surrounded by (you guessed it) ferns, is the most challenging part of this hike. At the junction with West Ridge Trail turn right. The top of this ridge gets sun soaked, with views stretching east, where on clear days you can see Mount Diablo. The trail eventually descends under the protection of oak and bay trees, passing the Chabot Space and Science Center en route to completing the loop.

From Hwy. 13 in Oakland, take the Redwood Rd. exit and go east (uphill). To reach Redwood Gate, the main entrance where you can pay your parking fee ($5), cross Skyline Blvd. at the top of the hill and continue for a little over one and a half miles. Redwood Gate will be to your left. To reach the Skyline Gate Staging Area from here, head back to Skyline Blvd. and turn right. Several miles farther along Skyline you will reach several entrances, such as Robert’s Redwood Bowl, Moon Gate Staging Area, and finally, the larger Skyline Gate Staging Area, where you can park. Dog-friendly ($2 fee). 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Napa's Art of the Matter

    Downtown Napa uncorks more than just excellent wine. Art has firmly established itself along the walkways and parkways in the area, punctuated by an annual ArtWalk (year-round) and a temporary Lighted Art Festival.

    View
  2. Animal Encounters

    Located where Redding’s famous Sundial Bridge overlooks the Sacramento River, Turtle Bay Exploration Park is 300 acres of gardens, a museum and playground, aquarium, and unforgettable up-close animal encounters!

    View
  3. Tamtastic Sunset

    Sure, the East Peak of Mount Tam is absolutely spectacular at sunset, but some magic-hour enthusiasts are onto a fresh perspective in getting a little more personal space for their panoramic viewings.

    View
  4. Hike Artdoors

    Add a little color to your new year. This 3-mile loop through the Montalvo Arts Center mixes the beauty of the natural world with local artists’ creations.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Locals' Feature: Max Smith of Moment Skis

    Meet Max Smith, VP of Moment Skis in Reno, Nevada. Moment is the largest ski manufacturer in the US and you can see how their innovative and artistic skis are made by visiting Moment Skis headquarters in Reno. The Factory is where the magic happens, so drop in for a visit and say hi to the team, including employee dogs who are on quality control.

    View
  2. Sundialed

    Redding is home to one of the world’s most famous pedestrian-only bridges—the Sundial Bridge was created by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava (its sister bridges are in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Seville, Spain). The glass-deck bridge across the Sacramento River is a true sundial....

    View
  3. Mural Roll

    Redding’s bikeshare program encourages biking in and around the city, including downtown. It’s a fun way to see some of the city’s mural art while also stopping for lunch at one of the newest restaurants, Pipeline Craft Taps and Kitchen.

    View
  4. View from Keys View Joshua Tree

    Trio of Trails

    Get into Joshua Tree National Park Park early and hit the classic circuit of short trails before the crowds arrive. We also have some food and overnight recos.

    View