Jewel Lake Nature Trail

After hitching a ride on the nearby steam train and spinning once or twice on the carousel, it may be time to unwind on solid ground. Tilden’s Nature Area has 740 acres of ground to cover, but with kids in tow, hiking just a mile can be a challenge. If you’d rather not trek too far to reach the sights and sounds of nature, there’s Jewel Lake.

Jewel Lake Nature Trail offers an easy loop around a pond filled with ducks and turtles. You’ll walk the forest side, stepping over tree roots and jumping over puddles from recent rains. You’ll cross an adorable wooden boardwalk leading you deeper into the green or toward a paved gravel path, depending on whether you’re coming or going. And all the while, the surrounding plant life and calming presence of water will shift your wristwatch to a slower time.

Smaller than Tilden’s Lake Anza, Jewel Lake also feels much more hidden, and the parking lot won’t seem anywhere near the dragonflies bouncing across the water. Yet, larger crowds will be huddled just over yonder, feeding the goats and petting the rabbits at adjacent Little Farm.

It may not be in your best interest to hit up all of Tilden Park’s hot spots in a day. Bouncing around from one attraction to the next, even amidst the beauty of the woods, can feel overwhelming fast.

Jewel Lake is right by the farm, a hilly stretch of lawn for picnics, and the Environmental Education Center, where you can learn about the Wildcat Creek Watershed and pick up a booklet for a self-guided tour of the lake. It's an easy-as-pie, carefree day trip for families, couples and nature enthusiasts alike.

- by Renee M. Rutledge, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Renee M. Rutledge

Renee M. Rutledge currently writes articles on local travel and culture for Red Tricycle, Parents' Press, Oakland Magazine, and Alameda Magazine.