Lake Anza: A Tilden Park Haven
The Bay is too cold and rough for swimming, but you won’t miss the ocean at all when you visit Lake Anza in the Berkeley Hills. Tucked away in the trees, Lake Anza is nestled in the 2,079 acres that make up Tilden Park. One of this park’s many draws is a swimming beach, open in the late spring and summer, with lifeguard service in the summer months. Here, you’ll enjoy lots of sun and protection from the wind, thanks to all the beautiful vegetation that thrives around the lake.
While entering the park is free, there’s a $3.50 fee for adults and $2.50 fee for kids and seniors to enter the swimming area during lifeguard season. There are bathrooms by the beach and a large free parking lot at the entrance. For eats, there’s the Lake Anza Beach Club, with a menu of sandwiches, hot dogs, smoothies, nachos, shakes, and of course, ice cream. There are bathrooms by the beach and ample free parking beside the lake.
Crowds can get pretty big at the swimming beach, especially on hot days. But Lake Anza feels like a relaxing getaway nonetheless, with hikers, dog walkers, picnickers, and nature lovers alike sharing the water’s soothing powers. The swimming beach and café are just one part of the lake’s perimeter, which includes off-leash areas for dogs, fishing spots, and a series of pathways that take you around the edge of the lake or lead deeper into the park via the Nook, Stream, Buckeye, and other trails.
Lake Anza also has a sprawling green lawn, one of the most popular picnic spots in Tilden, where small and large groups congregate on blankets, sharing food and wine, and perhaps some guitar music. Here, Frisbees are thrown and balls fetched, children dance and blow bubbles, and couples snuggle in the grass. Coming here feels like a local tradition, whether you’re swimming, hiking, or just lounging around.
HelloOakland tip: Coming to Tilden Park with kids? Look out for the Little Farm, carousel, and steam train. For a hiking trail with panoramic views, drive over to Tilden’s Inspiration Point and walk the Nimitz trail.
Posted by Renee Rutledge
