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The lower half of Covert Path is one the most beautiful paths.
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Want a Pause from Politics? Take a Path Walk
In the months since the 2016 election, how often have you needed to escape from the headlines? Taking a path walk is a quick and easy way to do just that. And, luckily, most of us don’t have far to go to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits of exercising, being close to nature, and discovering breath-taking vistas.
Our website has many routes that you can follow. Or, with BPWA’s map in hand, plan your own route, including some of the paths our current and former board members rank as their favorites.
Read about the paths we love.
Please send us the name of your favorite path, and tell us why you picked it. info@berkeleypaths.org
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Our March walk in Claremont Canyon will include scenic new trails.
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Field Walk in Claremont Canyon
Date and time: Sunday, March 12 @ 9 a.m.
Leaders: Bob Strayer and Martin Holden
Start: Signpost 29 on south side of Claremont Ave.
1.5 miles uphill from the Claremont Hotel
Learn about efforts to prevent wildfires in Claremont Canyon and enjoy new paths built by the Claremont Canyon Conservancy. Two long-time members of that group will lead this 3.5-mile tour of both sides of the canyon. We will carpool a short distance from Signpost 29 to park at the Claremont Ave. entrance to Garber Park. We’ll cross Claremont Ave. and take Stonewall Road to the Stonewall-Panoramic Ridge Trail. That half-mile trail is extremely steep with difficult footing but offers breathtaking views of the canyon and the Bay. Walking sticks are helpful. Read more.
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Walk leader and artist Cathy McAliffe painted this watercolor of the Marin Circle Fountain.
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Pathway Sketch-about
Date and time: Saturday, March 25 @ 10:00 a.m.
Leader: Cathy McAuliffe
Start: Marin Circle at the top of Fountain Walk
Grab your sketchbook, and gather your pencils, pens, and favorite portable art supplies for this one-mile, three-hour stroll and drawing excursion along the pathways in the Berkeley Hills. Our leader, a member of the Urban Sketchers, will provide instruction and encouragement as we visit a number of sketch-worthy vantage points. The walk will begin with some warm-up drawings and end with a voluntary sharing of our work. Everyone should go home with an artistic record of the outing and, we hope, a new way to enjoy future walks. No experience is required, and Cathy will provide some art materials to those without their own. This is a paved route with a few steep streets and some stairs.
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Our walk will start at the top of the beautiful Berkeley Rose Garden.
Magic Gardens: From the Rose Garden to the Tilden Botanic Garden
Saturday, April 1 @ 9:30 a.m.
Leader: Mary Lynch
Start: Berkeley Rose Garden (1200 Euclid Ave.)
No fooling: This walk will show off two of our favorite public gardens in all their spring glory. Consider arriving early to stroll through the Berkeley Rose Garden before we set off. This Berkeley landmark was built in the late 1930s with federal and state funds, including from the WPA. The first half of Mary’s five-mile, moderately paced walk will be quite strenuous, including eight steep paths on the way to Tilden and the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. Founded in 1940, the ten-acre garden features the native plants of California. A docent will review the history of the garden, and you’ll have time to wander around the creek-side beds. We'll return via the Selby Trail in Tilden and then descend on more stair paths, including three-part Glendale Path. The whole excursion will take 3-3 1/2 hours. As a bonus, you’ll receive a playlist of songs about gardens.
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BPWA Helps City Plan for Emergencies
We’ve begun a collaboration with Berkeley’s CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) to raise public awareness how the paths can be escape routes in case of a fire, earthquake or other disaster. Join us at these two events this month:
Presentation to CERT Leaders
BPWA President Colleen Neff, and co-leader of path building,Steve Glaeser will present an illustrated talk to neighborhood CERT groups on Wednesday, March 8, 7-9 p.m. at the Fire Department Training Center at 997 Cedar St. She will discuss the history of the paths, how we build new paths, and the importance of maintaining these vital pedestrian corridors. Colleen will also cover how neighborhood groups can help keep their paths clear and safe and run escape drills for their neighbors.
Emergency Preparedness Fair
We're fired up about the 2017 Berkeley Prep Fair! It’s Saturday, March 18, at the LeConte Elementary School (2241 Russell Street) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by our booth to learn how the paths can serve as evacuation routes. We’ll also be selling our great city map, books on walking, and BPWA tee shirt, hats, and tote bags. This event for the whole family will feature food, music, kids’ activities, fire-truck tours, and concessions selling emergency supplies. We'd love to talk about walking with you!
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BAHA House Tour
Sunday, May 7, from 1-5 p.m.
Once again, we will have our booth at the annual house tour of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. This year, the tour will focus on homes designed by John HudsonThomas in the Claremont-Uplands neighborhood. Watch for more details in our April e-newsletter and on our Facebook page and website.
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Help us liberate the steps on Cedar Path!
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Calling all Weed Warriors
It’s been ten years since then-16-year old Shifra deBenedictis-Kessner led her classmates in a community-service project to build Cedar Path. Boy Scouts added more steps at the bottom in 2014. But thanks to all the rain, none of their handiwork is visible now. Help us save Cedar Path from being completely obscured by weeds, so once again it will be safe and lovely. Please join us in this fun and gratifying way for kids (with parents), teens, and grownups to help beautify Berkeley and make it a more walkable city.
Here are the details of our next work party:
Sunday, March 19th @ 10:00 a.m.
Cedar Path (Cedar Street and La Loma Ave.)
Meet us at the bottom of the path. We’ll supply gloves and tools, but feel free to bring your own. Refreshments will be served. Heavy rain cancels. Please RSVP to Mary Lynch.
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