Get Outside

Paddle & Row

Rent a canoe, stand-up paddleboard, or kayak from California Canoe & Kayak for a paddle around the Oakland Estuary or San Francisco Bay, or opt for a pedal boat or rowboat from Lake Merritt Boating Center to cruise around the lake.

Did you know that just a 20-minute drive from downtown puts you in the heart of towering redwoods, sky-high eucalyptus, and gnarled old oaks? Often likened to wandering straight into an enchanted forest (no joke!), the wooded hills of Oakland offer visitors a peaceful respite from The Town’s urban energy. And with several thousands of acres to roam, all you have to do is choose your trail and go.

BY LAUREN BONNEY

DR. AURELIA REINHARDT REDWOOD REGIONAL PARK

Redwoods? In Oakland? Yep! Perhaps one of the most wonderfully surprising things about the city is that it’s home to forests of coastal redwoods. Nestled in the heart of the 1,833-acre Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, these peaceful groves make you completely forget about the city just a few miles away. There are several ways to access the park, but the main entrance is Redwood Gate off of Redwood Road. Open daily; pet friendly.

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve

You never know what you’ll find blooming at Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve. Boasting plant species found nowhere else in the East Bay, the preserve is an ecological gem with a microclimate that supports unique rock strata, nutrient-rich soils, and native plants that bloom year round. Open daily; no dogs or bikes allowed; accessed from the Skyline Staging Area.

JOAQUIN MILLER PARK

Say “Om”

Every week, United by Yoga instructors lead a vinyasa flow outside at Brooklyn Basin

Non-members are always welcome, and don’t forget to bring your own mat.

Leona Canyon Open Space Regional Preserve

Explore this wooded canyon tucked within the 290-acres of Leona Canyon. An ideal spot for hiking, biking, and dog walking, this protected open space is located behind Merritt College. Here, you’ll find relief under the shade of bay laurel canopy, the technicolors of a fern glade, and the sounds of Sausal Creek (there’s even a redwood grove just up the creek). Open daily.

Did You Know?

An enticing mix of sun-exposed hillsides, oak-laden woodlands, quiet redwood groves, and lush creeks and meadows, Joaquin Miller Park is a hidden jewel treasured among locals. Home to more than 200 plant species, including the rare Oakland star tulip, the park offers hikers, bikers, joggers, equestrians, and picnickers several hundred acres to roam. Dogs are welcome too, either on leash or at the fenced off-leash dog park. Open daily; accessible from the Sequoia Arena Gate off Skyline Boulevard.

Oakland is home to the country’s oldest continuous women’s whaleboat rowing club. Affectionately known as the Ladies of the Lake, the Oakland Women’s Rowing Club was founded in 1916 and has a diverse membership of women ranging from 50 to 90 years old.

Bring Your Pup!

Most park trails in Oakland are dog-friendly. But read up on your chosen trail prior to visiting as some parks require dogs to remain on the leash.

ways to play

SKY FULL OF STARS CHABOT SPACE & SCIENCE CENTER

The observation deck sits 1,500 feet above the Bay, making it ideal for telescope viewing. The center’s three large-scale telescopes, named Rachel, Leah, and Nellie, are open on Friday and Saturday nights for free viewings. Nellie is the most powerful, with a 36-inch reflector housed in a rolling-roof observatory that offers 180-degree views of the sky (plus outstanding views of the cosmos).