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WILDCAT PEAK & |
DISTANCE: 3.5 miles round-trip
HIKING TIME: 1.5 hours
SEASON: year-round
DIFFICULTY: moderate
Wildcat Peak tops out at a mere 1,211 feet, but its view is inspiring. Start behind the Environmental Education Center at the trailhead near Little Farm. Laurel Canyon Trail ascends gently through a eucalyptus grove. After several junctions, you’ll enter a dense grove of canyon oaks and bay laurels. Where the trees open up, look up to your left and you’ll spot Wildcat Peak.
A mile in, follow signs to Nimitz Way. Where Laurel Canyon Trail ends, turn right and continue uphill to Nimitz Way. This bicycle trail runs the ridgetop from Inspiration Point in Tilden to Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Turn left and follow Nimitz Way, then continue straight on Wildcat Peak Trail. The dirt trail makes a half-mile climb to the summit of Wildcat Peak. From its overlook, you can see San Pablo Reservoir, Briones Reservoir, and Mt. Diablo to the east; San Pablo Bay to the north; and Mt. Tamalpais, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and San Francisco to the west.
Loop back downhill on Wildcat Peak Trail. At Sylvan Trail, turn left. Follow Sylvan Trail back to the education center.
From I-80 east in Berkeley, take the University Ave. exit east. Turn left onto Oxford St., right onto Rose St., and left onto Spruce St. Drive 1.7 miles and turn left onto Cañon Dr. Drive 0.5 mile and turn left onto Central Park Dr. for 0.25 mile to the Tilden Nature Area and Environmental Education Center.
