Parks & Nature
14 places · Natural escapes in the DMV
Point Reyes Station, CA
Abbotts Lagoon
A pair of coastal lagoons connected by a narrow channel, separated from the Pacific by a thin strip of sand dunes. The 3.2-mile round-trip trail crosses open grasslands before reaching the lagoons and continuing to the beach. The lagoons support large populations of shorebirds, waterfowl, and raptors throughout the year.
Berkeley, CA
Cesar Chavez Park
A 90-acre waterfront park on the Berkeley Marina peninsula built atop a former landfill, offering 360-degree views of the Bay, San Francisco skyline, and Golden Gate Bridge. The park is popular with kite flyers due to consistent winds. A network of trails circles the grassy hilltop.
Richmond, CA
Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline
A 307-acre regional park at Point Richmond combining hilltop views, a sandy beach, and lagoon. The Nicholl Knob summit at 322 feet provides panoramic views of the Richmond–San Rafael Bridge, Angel Island, and Mount Tamalpais. Historic railroad tunnels and remnants of the Santa Fe Railroad are found along the trails.
Berkeley, CA
Tilden Regional Park - Inspiration Point
A popular viewpoint within Tilden Regional Park offering views of the San Pablo Reservoir and the rolling East Bay hills. The Nimitz Way trail begins here, providing a paved path along the ridgeline. Wildflowers bloom along the hillsides in spring.
Santa Cruz, CA
Castle Rock State Park
This 5,242-acre park features dramatic sandstone formations shaped by tafoni weathering, creating honeycomb-like erosion patterns. Castle Rock Falls drops 80 feet into a forested canyon and flows most strongly during winter and spring. The ridgeline trails offer views extending to Monterey Bay on clear days.
Mill Valley, CA
Muir Woods National Monument
A 554-acre park protecting one of the last remaining old-growth coast redwood forests in the Bay Area, with trees reaching over 250 feet tall and some exceeding 1,000 years in age. Redwood Creek runs through the canyon floor beneath a dense canopy. Cathedral and Bohemian Groves contain the tallest and most impressive specimens.
Point Reyes Station, CA
Tomales Point Trail
A 9.4-mile round-trip trail along a narrow peninsula between Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean, passing through the Tule Elk Reserve. The herd of over 400 tule elk can frequently be seen grazing on the open grasslands. The trail ends at the remote Tomales Point with views of Bodega Head and the open ocean.
Santa Rosa, CA
Spring Lake Regional Park
Spring Lake Regional Park encompasses 320 acres with a scenic reservoir surrounded by oak-studded hills in eastern Santa Rosa. The lake provides calm water for reflections of surrounding trees and hills, especially in early morning. A 2.3-mile paved path circles the lake with multiple vantage points.
Point Reyes Station, CA
Chimney Rock Trail
A 1.8-mile trail along a narrow headland at the southeastern tip of Point Reyes, passing through coastal wildflower meadows that explode with color in spring. The trail offers views of Drakes Bay to the north and the open Pacific to the south. Elephant seals can be observed from the overlook at the trail's midpoint during breeding season.
Oakland, CA
Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
A 928-acre preserve in the Oakland Hills featuring exposed volcanic rock formations from a 10-million-year-old volcano. Trails wind through eucalyptus groves and grasslands to labyrinths and geological formations. The Round Top peak at 1,763 feet provides ridge-top views of the surrounding hills.
Berkeley, CA
Berkeley Rose Garden
A terraced amphitheater-style garden built by the WPA in 1937 containing over 3,000 rose bushes of 250 varieties. The semi-circular terraces frame views of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. A redwood pergola crowns the upper level of the garden.
Half Moon Bay, CA
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
This 4,711-acre preserve contains towering old-growth and second-growth redwood groves along Purisima Creek. Ferns, sorrel, and moss blanket the forest floor creating rich green compositions. The creek provides foreground elements and reflections beneath the dense canopy.
San Jose, CA
Alum Rock Park
California's oldest municipal park, established in 1872, features Penitencia Creek running through a steep canyon with natural mineral springs. Historic stone grottos built in the early 1900s mark several of the 27 mineral springs along the creek. The sycamore-lined canyon provides dramatic light and shadow during the afternoon.
Santa Rosa, CA
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens preserves the home and experimental gardens of the famed horticulturist who developed over 800 plant varieties in Santa Rosa. The gardens feature a modified Greek Revival cottage surrounded by diverse plantings including Burbank's original Shasta daisies and experimental hybrid plants. A large greenhouse and heritage gardens provide year-round botanical subjects.