Adventures: Hiking Wildcat Peak by Ann Marie Brown Tilden Regional Park Most people think of Tilden Park as a place to take the kids. The park has pony rides, a carousel, a miniature train, a swimming beach, and lots of other diversions to keep children occupied. But over on the northwest edge of the park lies the Tilden Nature Area, a very different part of Tilden Park. Here the only amenities are trail signs, and the only diversions are the natural beauty and the views. Start your trip at the Tilden Environmental Education Center. Check out this marvelous learning center, then walk out its back door to access Laurel Canyon Trail, hiking gently uphill first through eucalyptus, then through California bay laurel. Leaves crunch underfoot as you tunnel your way through the forest. The narrow trail dips and rolls, gaining elevation very slowly. In the rainy season, Laurel Creek runs nearby, making pretty water music. Where the trees open up, look up to your left and you’ll spot your destination: Wildcat Peak, elevation 1,250 feet. At the top, the summit vista is surprising. From its stone overlook, you can see all of San Pablo Reservoir, the edge of Briones Reservoir, and mighty Mount Diablo to the east. San Pablo Bay appears to the north. To the west, you gain a wide view of famous landmarks: San Francisco Bay sparkles in the sunlight, and Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island, Golden Gate Bridge, Richmond Bridge, Bay Bridge, and downtown San Francisco are easily recognizable. To finish the trip, loop back downhill on Wildcat Peak Trail and Sylvan Trail. The Details Length: 3.5 miles round-trip Difficulty: Easy Best Season: Best in the cooler weather of fall, winter, or spring Highlights: Summit vista, good trail for families Map: A free park map is available at the Environmental Education Center. Trail Guide: 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area (Foghorn Outdoors) Park Information: Tilden Regional Park, (510) 544-2711. Or East Bay Regional Parks, (510) 635-0135 or (510) 562-7275 Website: www.ebparks.org Getting There: From Berkeley BART, take AC bus #67 into the park on Caņon Drive. Disembark at the environmental education center and Little Farm. The trail begins behind the education center. (On weekdays, the bus does not run through the park. Disembark at the junction of Spruce Street, Grizzly Peak Boulevard, and Caņon Drive, then walk northeast on Caņon Drive a quarter mile to enter the park.)