Sunday, September 14 was a gorgeous fall day and we loved meeting so many of you at our Solano Stroll booth! Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat about the paths, buy some merch, and sign up for the newsletter or volunteer opportunities. |
SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR BERKELEY’S PATHS! |
|  | Berkeley’s paths are a treasured local resource and, thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, Berkeley Path Wanderers Association is going strong. To date, we’ve built 38 new paths and improved another 14. |
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Among the ways we use your donations to directly improve paths is by purchasing and installing handrails—we’ve done this on 12 paths so far. Our 2025 Paths Report identified 47 paths requiring the installation of new handrails—which cost $15,000 to $25,000 per path—and we hope to install 4 or 5 of these in 2026. Fully 100% of your tax-deductible donation will be used to maintain and improve Berkeley’s paths. If you’ve donated in the past few years, you’ll receive a letter in the mail, or you can always donate online at www.berkeleypaths.org/donate. |
Building and improving paths is one of the most important services BPWA provides to the community, and we’re always looking for new path-builders! Check out this four-minute video, produced by our own Tamara Gurin, that features our talented team and shows how the paths are built. |
PATH MAINTENANCE WORK PARTIES |
| Join us for a path maintenance work party!Friday, October 10, 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, October 12, 10 a.m. to noon Do you enjoy working with your hands and seeing tangible results of your efforts? Join us to clean up Berkeley’s paths, work that’s mostly weeding, sweeping, raking, and clipping. We will have gloves and tools available, but feel free to bring your own. Please also bring your own water, as we won't be offering water or refreshments. Please RSVP to receive an email confirming the meeting place by writing to our path maintenance team at path.mai...@berkeleypaths.org. |
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Note: Heavy rain cancels. If rain is in the forecast, check the www.berkeleypaths.org website the day before to see if the walk is cancelled. |
| When: Friday, October 3 from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.
Start/end: 111 Washington Ave., Richmond
Leader: Alina Constantinescu
Distance/elevation gain: 3 miles, 400 feet
Accessibility: Steep streets and stairways. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome. No restrooms. We’ll be exploring whimsical Point Richmond—a fun, hilly, bay-front neighborhood just south of the Richmond Bridge. The golden hour is the best time to check out the Point's wonderful Wave Garden, a magical space with beautiful sculptures, landscaping, and views. We'll also wander on hidden stairs and paths to Keller Beach and to “Little Point Richmond,” the Bay Area's absolute BEST collection of fairy houses. Read More |
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| When: (NOTE: This walk has been cancelled and will be rescheduled soon)
Leader: Lynn Deregowski
Start/end: Cedar-Rose Park, 1300 Rose Street. Meet on the southern/Cedar Street side near the Ohlone Greenway crosswalk.
Distance/elevation gain: 2 miles, flat
Accessibility: Flat, paved terrain, mostly sidewalks and walking paths. Well-behaved dogs on leash welcome. As part of our All-the-Parks-in-Berkeley series, this route packs in nine distinctive parks. We’ll stroll streets named for literary greats, admire some Victorian homes and 19th-century landmarks, and see how these neighborhoods have evolved over the decades. Dogs are more than welcome; they might just add a few new favorite spots to their sniff list as we explore green spaces and history together. Read More |
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| When: Saturday, October 25 from 9 a.m. to noon
Leader: Sandy Friedland
Start/end: 2701 Eighth Street, Berkeley, in front of Standard Fare Restaurant
Distance: 4.75 miles, flat
Accessibility: One crossing of railroad tracks and a short section of an uneven dirt path. Restrooms at the start and in Emeryville about a mile later. No dogs, please. From the largest mural in Berkeley to a tiny handprint in Emeryville, this walk is full of surprises! In addition to lots of public art, we’ll pass chic new architecture, whimsical utility boxes, artist co-ops, and some fascinating light industry. We’ll walk the length of Aquatic Park and check out the enormous new Berkeley Commons. Read More |
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| When: Saturday November 1 from 6:15 to 9 a.m.
Leader: Alina Constantinescu
Start/end: Inspiration Point in Tilden Park, at the start of the Nimitz Way trail
Distance/elevation gain: 4.4 miles, 700 feet
Accessibility: Steep trails. Sorry, no dogs allowed on this route. Parking and restrooms are available at the trailhead. Bring warm layers and a headlamp or flashlight. Calling all early risers! Starting off in the dark, we’ll walk along the paved trail for two miles and then head up a short but steep fire road to Wildcat Peak. We’ll reach our sunrise spot about an hour into the hike and have a coffee break while we wait to greet the day. Read More |
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| When: Sunday, November 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Leader: Tamara Gurin
Start/end: Berkeley Rose Garden, 1200 Euclid Ave, Berkeley
Distance/elevation gain: 10 miles, 2,000 feet
Accessibility: Dogs and children are welcome if they’re up to the fast pace. A well-above-average fitness level is required! Restrooms and water fountains available along the way. On this strenuous hike, we’ll take stairways to reach Selby Trail and then past Jewel Lake to the top of Wildcat Peak for sweeping views of the Bay and East Bay hills. After a brief stop at Lake Anza, we’ll return to the Rose Garden. Allow ample time to park, as we’ll be leaving promptly at 8:35 a.m. Read More |
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Berkeley Path Wanderers Association |
| Berkeley Path Wanderers Association is a community organization of people who treasure the public pathways that crisscross our city. Learn More
The BPWA board generally meets monthly. Please contact in...@berkeleypaths.org for more information. We always welcome new volunteers to lead walks on Berkeley’s paths. If interested, please contact Walks Coordinator Tamara Gurin or Jen English at wa...@berkeleypaths.org. To support Berkeley's paths, you can donate online. All donations are tax-deductible and go toward building new paths, repairing and clearing existing paths, purchasing handrails, and advocating for paths and walkers. |
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