Here are three easy loop hikes around water – listed here from shortest to longest. The kids like these because they can really see how far we’ve come, and how far we have to go!
Lake Temescal is a recreation area that is part of the East Bay Regional Park District, and includes an area for picnics, a trail for hiking, a small beach, and a lake for swimming and fishing. (Note: The lake is closed to swimming at this time.) It is an easy, approximately 1 mile, walk around the lake. Park in the North Entrance lot at 6500 Broadway, Oakland. There is a small fee here when the Kiosk is managed. We usually start by taking one of the trails to the right: either the Oak Bay Trail or the West Shore Trail. Both are dirt trails, mostly shaded, less than half a mile, and take you to the same spot at their end. Turn left when you reach the end of the trail to reach the East Shore Trail, which is wide and paved, with less shade. You’ll likely see at least a few young kids riding bikes on this side of the lake. Follow the path around the lake back to the parking lot.
Lafayette: Lafayette Reservoir
If you’re looking for another recreation area that has a slightly longer walk than Lake Temescal, head over to the Lafayette Reservoir (okay – not really a lake!), which is managed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). Located at 3849 Mt. Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette, there is a small fee for parking (choice of metered parking or $7 daily entry fee through the kiosk). The Lakeside Nature Trail is an easy 2.7 mile walk that takes you around the reservoir on a wide, paved trail, with lots of mini-hills. It is partially shaded. On-leash dogs are welcomed. (There is also a more difficult, unpaved 4.7 mile hike along the Rim Trail – the subject of a future post!) Fishing with a permit is open right now, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, most of the other activities at the Lafayette Reservoir are currently prohibited. For future reference, however, the reservoir has a playground for children, wide open spaces and tables for picnics, and various forms of boating for families available.
San Francisco: Lake Merced
For an easy, but long walk, head to Lake Merced in San Francisco. The paved-trail loop around is approximately 4.5 miles. You can find street parking around the lake, and go from there. There are also parking lots at the intersection of Lake Merced Blvd and Sunset Boulevard, and on Harding Road near the intersection of Harding and Sunset Boulevard. We had a picnic lunch at Stern Grove first, and walked over to Lake Merced, which added about a mile to our adventure. Most of this trial parallels busy streets, so it might not be the best place for really young kids, but it is stroller friendly. You can catch a glimpse of the three golf courses that surround the lake on your walk: Olympic Club, Harding Park and San Francisco Golf Club. There are also benches and picnic tables along the way. No shade, but you don’t really need shade out here – it’s often foggy.
Measureless Days 