Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
4.9(95)google
5.0(1)yelp
HikingOutdoorSecluded & UncrowdedWildlife Watching
Overview
A spectacular hidden sanctuary tucked away within the hills of Oakland, preserving a magnificent canyon completely filled with a thriving, second-growth coast redwood forest. The park boasts nearly 40 miles of scenic, interconnected hiking and equestrian trails, including the famous Stream Trail, which wanders along a cool, shaded creek bed. It provides a crucial habitat for rare native wildlife, including rainbow trout and migrating ladybugs, offering city dwellers a deeply refreshing, cool escape from urban noise.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 3-5 hours
Best TimeA clear morning in summer or autumn is highly recommended. As early mists burn off and sunbeams slice through the towering second-growth coastal redwoods, hiking the canyon's Stream Trail reveals dramatic lighting while escaping urban noise.
Getting ThereThe main entrance (Redwood Gate) sits at 7867 Redwood Road. Drive from CA-13 onto Redwood Rd and wind up the ridge for about 15 minutes to reach the massive free parking lots at the valley canyon floor. AC Transit Bus Route 39 serves the ridge trailheads on weekends.
Travel Tips
- Deep canyon topography creates absolute wireless cellular blindspots; ensure all topographic tracking profiles are fully buffered before exiting Highway 13.
- The main Redwood Road automated gates lock promptly at 8 PM in summer and 5 PM in winter; stranded vehicles are subject to overnight lockdown and heavy towing fines.
- Red Flag fire warnings trigger an absolute ban on wood and charcoal fires across all staging camps; park rangers issue criminal citations for any violations.
Reviews
Positive
- This is an absolute sanctuary to escape the buzz; the massive coastal redwood forest scenery is magnificent and the trails are serene, a true natural wonder.
- The trail system is perfectly planned with clear directional signs, clean accessible restrooms, and shaded rest areas equipped with trash bins along the way.
- Apart from a reasonable parking fee at the main gate or during certain free times, general park entry is free, offering high value and preserving a beautifully pristine atmosphere.
- The park is vast, and even on weekends, deep trail sections like the Stream Trail have very low crowd density, allowing for deep peace and quiet.
Heads up
- Deep in the canyon valleys, cell service drops completely on some trails, causing inconvenience for GPS navigation or safety communication in emergencies.
- Some steep dirt paths dropping into the canyon lack well-maintained steps, becoming very slippery in winter and unfriendly for wheelchairs or elders.
- While public transit buses stop near the mountain base, it requires a long uphill hike to reach the main entry, limiting convenience for non-drivers.
- The main parking lots closest to the stream exhibits fill up before 10 AM on spring and summer weekends, with lacking overflow guidance from staff.