Writer’s Pick:

Big Red

Roberts Regional Recreation Area 

There is no shortage of parks in the East Bay, but few have as many amenities as Roberts Regional Recreation Area. 

In addition to sweeping views of San Francisco and the bay, the 82-acre park has numerous picnic and BBQ spots, a baseball field, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor heated swimming pool, an archery range, hiking trails that connect to trails at the neighboring Redwood Regional Park, and a sprawling, wheelchair-accessible playground. The park opened in 1953, but the area, known for its grove of redwood trees, has played a vital role in East Bay history since the early 1800s.

Many pre-1900s structures were built using redwoods from the park, and two giant redwoods, known as the “landmark trees,” were used as navigational aids by sailors in order to avoid hitting a treacherous, submerged rock that was once in the bay. Today the park is lush with redwood groves yet again (even the parking lot is chock full of them)—though hugging them remains optional. 

Visit ebparks.org/parks/roberts 

—East Bay Magazine Staff

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