Tilden Regional Park
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South Park Drive in Tilden Regional Park is closed November 1, 2009, through March 31, 2010, to protect migrating newts.
About The Park
One of the District's three oldest parks, Tilden has been called the jewel of the system, and its recreational activities have become a happy tradition for generations of East Bay youngsters. From a carousel ride and a picnic to a swim at Lake Anza and a stroll through the Botanic Garden, Tilden has variety to delight everyone. Yet there are plenty of quiet places in Tilden's 2,079 acres to shelter the wildlife and preserve natural beauty. Tilden was named for Charles Lee Tilden, first president of the Park District Board of Directors. The park is reached via Canon Drive, Shasta Road, or South Park Drive, all off Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley.
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Tilden Attractions: Hours and Fees
For more information or for lost & found,
please call the Tilden Park office at 510-843-2137.
Park Features
Click HERE for a listing of direct GPS Coordinates to all primary locations.
Steam Train
The Steam Train offers rides along the scenic ridge on a scaled-down steam train. Parking, drinking water, and restroom facilities are wheelchair accessible. For information, including hours and ticket prices, call (510) 548-6100 or see www.redwoodvalleyrailway.com.
The Botanic Garden
The Regional Parks Botanic Garden contains the world's most complete collection of California native plants, including rare and endangered species. Its visitor center (wheelchair accessible) offers tours and lectures throughout the year. The Botanic Garden offers accessible drinking and restroom facilities. Call (510) 544-3169 for information, or visit the Botanic Garden page. See also the Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden website (http://www.nativeplants.org/) for more information on the Regional Parks Botanic Garden.
The Brazil Building
This historic indoor/outdoor facility is popular for weddings, parties, corporate events, etc. The setting is upscale to elegant with a breathtaking view of Tilden Park and beautifully landscaped gardens. It accommodates 150 seated or 225 standing guests. It features a commercial kitchen, a large main room with windows and doors opening up to the flagstone patio. Catering is available. For more information call 1-888-EBPARKS OR 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 2, or see www.brazilianroom.org.
This facility is wheelchair accessible.
The Merry-Go-Round
Tilden's Herschell-Spillman merry-go-round is a splendid antique carousel with hand-carved and beautifully painted wooden carousel animals to ride. The calliope plays music to make any child's heart sing. The facility offers a wheelchair accessible snack stand, drinking water, restroom, and parking. For information call (510) 524-6773.
Tilden Nature Area and The Little Farm
Learn all about Tilden's surprising variety of plants and animals through the nature programs at the Little Farm and the Environmental Education Center (EEC) in Tilden Nature Area, both accessible to disabled persons. For more information about the Tilden Nature Area, visit the Tilden Nature Area page.
Park Activities
Click HERE for a listing of direct GPS Coordinates to all primary locations.
Picnicking
Picnic areas are plentiful in Tilden. Reservable picnic areas include Carousel (35), Quarry (35), Big Leaf (50), Buckeye (50), Fern (50), Lakeview (50), Meadows (50), Orchard (50), Island (75), Willows (100), Laurel (150), Padre (150) and Mineral Springs (200). There are barbecues at most picnic areas. To reserve a site, or for more information, call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1.
Weddings and Receptions
Weddings and receptions may be held at Lakeview (50), Laurel (150), Padre (150), and Mineral Springs (200) reservable picnic areas, in addition to the Botanic Garden (50) and the Brazil Building (150). To reserve a site, or for more information, call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757. For Brazil Building information or reservations, call 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757), press option 2, then 2; or visit their website at www.brazilianroom.org. If you are interested in becoming an Approved Caterer with the Brazilian Room or other Regional Parks rental facilities, please e-mail the Brazilian Room at brazil@ebparks.org.
Swimming and Fishing
Just over the hill from Berkeley, Tilden Park's Lake Anza is a favorite getaway. Its sandy beach is open to the sun and sheltered from the wind, with lifeguards posted during the swim season. Wheelchair accessible features include drinking water, ample parking, and trail access (restrooms are not wheelchair accessible). Picnic grounds are located nearby. There is a beach access fee to the swim area, which has changing rooms.
For fee information and lifeguard service schedule, visit the Swim Facilities page. Swim season is normally May through September and closed November through March for swimming. Trails and picnic areas remain open. The new refreshment stand, The Lake Anza Beach Cafe, is open during the swim season. For more information, go to http://www.lakeanzabeachclub.com/. The lake is open for fishing throughout the year. A state fishing license is required for persons age 16 or older. The lake is not stocked, but has naturally occurring largemouth bass, bluegill, sunfish, and channel catfish.
Group Camping
Group camping facilities for organized groups include Gillespie Youth Camp (75). Phone 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1 to make a reservation.
Equestrian Camping
Equestrian camping is accommodated at the Es Anderson Equestrian Camp (50 max). Call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1 to reserve. Water for horses may be arranged upon reservation; there is no potable water for human consumption at the site.
Golfing
The Tilden Park Golf Course is an 18-hole public golf course with a driving range, pro shop, practice green, and the Tee Club restaurant. Phone (510) 848-7373 for fee information and reservations. See their website at www.tildenparkgc.americangolf.com.
Hiking and Biking
A walk along Nimitz Way, paved and wheelchair accessible, is popular with hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians, and affords spectacular views from the crest of the East Bay hills. The best trail staging is at Inspiration Point on Wildcat Canyon Road, but there is no drinking water at this staging area. The East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail follows Nimitz Way and other Tilden trails during part of its 31-mile route. Dogs must be on leash on Nimitz Way.
Video Clip
You can also save this video to your computer in QuickTime format. If you don't have QuickTime, you may download QuickTime here.
Download Tilden Regional Park Movie Clip (5.4 MB QuickTime movie)
Park Accessibility
The following facilities are wheelchair accessible: Steam Train, the Merry-Go-Round, Little Farm and the Environmental Education Center (EEC) in Tilden Nature Area. Nimitz Way is paved and wheelchair accessible. There is trail staging at Inspiration Point on Wildcat Canyon Road that offers wheelchair accessible parking and restrooms, but there is no drinking water at this staging area.
Trail Accessibility Reports
- Meadows Canyon Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
- Nimitz Way: Download PDF format | Download Word format
- Wildcat Creek & Boardwalk Loop: Download PDF format | Download Word format
To Reach The Park
There are many entrances and facilities in Tilden Regional Park. See the map below for details. The Environmental Education Center, Little Farm, Carousel, and Lake Anza are closest to the Canon Drive entrance in Berkeley. The Steam Trains are closest to the Lomas Cantadas entrance off Grizzly Peak Blvd in Berkeley.
The park is located in the Berkeley hills just north of Highway 24--take the Fish Ranch Road exit east of the Caldecott Tunnel, drive uphill, and turn right at Grizzly Peak Blvd. From Grizzly Peak, you will pass:
- The Lomas Cantadas entrance (Steam Trains)
- The South Park Drive entrance--closed November 1 - April 1 to protect migrating newts-- (hiking, picnicking, the Botanic Garden, the Brazil Building)
- The Golf Course Road entrance (Native Here plant nursery, public golf course)
- The Shasta Road entrance (public golf course, Brazil Building, Botanic Garden, Lake Anza swimming, Inspiration Point for hiking and views, the Carousel, the Environmental Education Center and Little Farm)
Or enter the park from its west side in Berkeley from Canon Drive where Wildcat Canyon Road and Grizzly Peak Boulevard intersect. Canon Drive provides access to the Environmental Education Center and Little Farm, the Carousel, Lake Anza swimming, picnicking and hiking. You can also enter the park on its east side from Wildcat Canyon Road off San Pablo Dam Road just north of Orinda Village (take the Orinda exit off Highway 24 east of the Caldecott Tunnel). From there you can access hiking and views from Inspiration Point, visit the Botanic Garden and Brazil Building, or enjoy golfing and the park's other attractions.
Public Transportation
On weekends and holidays, take AC Transit #67 from the Berkeley BART station into the park at Canon Drive, along Central Park Drive and Wildcat Canyon Road, and exit the park at Shasta Road. The route provides access to the Environmental Education Center and the Little Farm in Tilden Nature Area, the Merry-Go-Round, Lake Anza (a short walk), the Brazil Building, the Botanic Garden, and several trailheads. Buses run every 30 minutes. On weekdays #67 operates only to the Canon Drive and Shasta Road entrances.
Please call 511 (TDD/TTY: 1-800-448-9790; website: www.transit.511.org) to confirm transit information.
Yahoo Map / GPS Coordinates and Google Maps
- Map (opens a new browser window) to the Canon Drive entrance to the park's north end, including access to the Environmental Education Center, the Tilden Nature Area, group and equestrian camping, various reservable picnic areas, and the Merry-Go-Round.
- Map (opens a new browser window) to the central portion of Tilden, at Central Park Drive, with access to Lake Anza, the Merry-Go-Round, and various reservable picnic areas.
- Map (opens a new browser window) to the central portion of Tilden, at Shasta Road, with access to the Brazilian Building, the Botanic Garden, the Tilden Golf Course, the "Native Here" plant nursery, various reservable picnic areas, and Inspiration Point. Turn right on South Park Drive to reach more reservable picnic areas and the Gillespie Youth Camp, then left on Grizzly Peak Blvd. to reach the Steam Trains.
- Map to the south end of Tilden, with access to the Steam Trains and Vollmer Peak via the entrance off Lomas Cantadas, and access to various reservable picnic areas, the Botanic Garden, and the Brazil Building via the South Park Drive entrance.
- Click HERE for a listing of direct GPS Coordinates and Google Map links to all primary locations.
Trail Map
Click the map image below to see an enlarged version.
When the enlarged version of the map opens click on the 'Full Expand' icon in the lower right hand corner of the map to see the 'Actual Size' map.
When the 'Actual Size' map is viewable, you can 'Click-Hold and Drag' the mouse button (left on a PC) to reposition the map, as desired.
'Single-Click' on the 'Enlarged' or 'Actual Size' map to return to the park page.
GPS Data
Click HERE for a listing of direct GPS Coordinates to all primary locations.
Park Info
- Address
- Entrances off Wildcat Canyon Road and Grizzly Peak Boulevard in Berkeley, CA
- Download Brochure
- GPS Coordinates
- Click HERE for a listing of
direct GPS Coordinates
to all primary park locations - Phone Numbers
- 510-843-2137
- Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4562
- Local Weather
View Movie Clip- Maps
- View Trail Map
- Download PDF Map
- Yahoo Map
- Park Hours
- Open between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted or permitted
- Park Activities
- Click HERE for upcoming events
- Park Events
- Click HERE for upcoming events
- Parking Fee
- No fee
- Dog Fee
- No fee
- Beach Access Fee
- See the Swim Facilities page or call 510-843-2137
- Camping Reservations
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
- Picnic Reservations
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
- Emergency Number
- 911
- EBRPD Headquarters
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757
Park UpdatE
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Reminder:
South Park Drive with be closed to motor vehicles from Nov. 1 through March 31. During this time it stays open to hikers, horses, and bicyclers.