Vollmer Victory

Hike to Vollmer Peak in Tilden Regional Park

Inspiration's just the start of this 6.8-mile (round-trip) hike up the highest peak in the Berkeley Hills. Located at the southern end of Tilden Regional Park, Vollmer Peak rises 1,905 feet. The diverse trail to the summit begins at popular Inspiration Point and travels through pine trees and golden grassland. From Inspiration Point, follow the singletrack Curran Trail to Seaview Trail, a fire road passing through tall eucalyptus groves before opening up onto the ridgeline of Tilden Park's eastern edge. Climbing the ridgeline the rest of the way, you’ll see the sunnier side of the bay and get nice views of the Briones and San Pablo Reservoirs, along with Mount Diablo . There are plenty of spots for stopping to enjoy the view. Take a seat at the unique bench carved into the trunk of a dying tree found just to the left of the trail at exactly 2 miles. Its westward-facing location shows downtown Berkeley and—when the fog isn’t blanketing the coast—across the bay to the Marin Headlands and San Francisco. The final push to the peak is on a paved road; it's a short, steep ascent. Vollmer Peak is marked by a giant radio tower, but make your way to a large Douglas fir tree on the east side and enjoy an unobstructed (and shaded!) view of Mount Diablo, clocking in at a hefty 3,849 feet.

Start this hike from the Inspiration Point parking lot (map) along Wildcat Canyon Rd. on the east side of Tilden Regional Park. From the start, take Curran Trail for 0.13 mile before making a left on Seaview Trail (shown on the map as East Bay Skyline Trail/Bay Area Ridge Trail). At 3.15 miles, cross the paved Seaview Rd. and turn right slightly downhill for the shortest route to the summit. This road actually curves around and up a short and steep hill before topping out at 3.4 miles. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  3. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. Two women on e-bikes at Cass Vineyard and Winery near Paso Robles

    Eat, Drink, E-bike!

    No offense to charcuterie but sometimes you want a full meal while tasting world-class wine. And Paso Robles knows this better than perhaps any other wine region in California. Case in point: Cass Vineyard and Winery, where you can eat, drink, and e-bike!

    View
  3. Diamond in the Rough

    March Madness may be over, but the wildflower rush has just begun! This spring, in the Southern California regional bracket, Hemet’s Diamond Valley Lake is our surprise pick for the Fab Flowers Finals. Take a 2-mile round-trip hike in botanical bliss.

    View
  4. Jurupa Jamboree

    If you like a short hike with a side of adventure, try the Jurupa Hills North Trail in Martin Tudor Jurupa Hills Regional Park.

    View