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Albany Hill Park
Categories: Active Life Hiking Active Life Parks Hiking, Parks [Edit]
700 Taft Ave(at Hillside Ave)
Albany, CA 94706
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
14 reviews for Albany Hill Park
14 reviews in English
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Review from Eric S.
It's not the greatest park in the world: it's small and not exceptionally beautiful. But, it's still nice to have. There are some good trails to climb that give you a good workout (especially if you are pushing an all-terrain stroller, which I wouldn't recommend, haha).
There are some pretty nice views of the bay and the Oakland hills from up top, it goes up higher than you would think.
I'm sure it's good for dog owners who live nearby, but as the new sign says:
Please pick up your dog's poop! -
Review from Anita W.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Albany Hill is a great find, especially if you live nearby. used this trail to walk with my furry friend (on leash) while trying to catch some views of monarch butterflies.
its a decent hike considering how its hilly there. you get a view of the bay, albany, and i-80 at the top of the hill. there are a couple benches for you to take it the view, some are covered by trees though. -
Review from Rachel D.
5/28/2011
Of course I discover the hiking trails on this hill right before I move. I've only been living in the area for nearly a decade.
I've been here many times before, going straight up to the top by walking 'round the residential street that almost circles the top. Lately, we've been taking the known and unknown trails. It's a bit slippery and steep on the east side. And the trails on the north side are so hidden that I'm just too old to explore with any regularity. I have always seen the area kids hike their way down from the north side into the creek going into the 99 Ranch parking lot.
The top is peaceful and offers a nice view of the Bay. Several benches here. Some weird cross. Never tried the swing.
I wish they would get rid of the eucalyptus trees. I realize many residents love the way these trees provide privacy and wind breaks and whatever. But they are highly flammable. On hot, windy days, I can't help but think about the '91 fire that hit Oakland and how they were spread by these trees. -
Review from Eric B.
12/27/2008
Albany Hill is the signature geological feature for Albany. Otherwise, if it wasn't for Albany Hill or Golden Gate Fields, Albany would be an unknown blip on I-80 between Richmond/El Cerrito and Berkeley. Even then, it's amazing how many of my Bay Area friends don't know where Albany is located. We are after all, only about 1.5 miles square in size. And when I'm some out-of-town trip, I just tell folks that I live in a place where Berkeley radicals come to die (and seek good schools).
The top of Albany Hill Park is a nice little place to hang out, relax, and sometimes more..... The view of SF and the Bay shore, combined with a gorgeous sunset can also be stunning.
There's a small parking area available and if you wander around enough, you'll discover Catherine's Walk on one side and a path down to the Pierce Street Condos on the other. There's also a nice little park (Greenway) down the hill on the El Cerrito side next to the creek.
I too like the smell of eucalyptus and in the right season the Monarch butterflies. -
Review from Bill B.
4/21/2008 5 photos
If you're in the mood to chase your partner around in a frisky manner, hoping to get some nature-nooky, this park is apparently a popular place to do it. At least if you're a butterfly. For the rest of us, it's not really ideal for that purpose--most of the park was either way too exposed or way too steep for playtime, unless you're really into that kind of thing.
At the very top is a good spot for a picnic, however, and that was a nice find. With benches, a rope swing (see picture), and wildflowers. you could create a date right out of a Picasso painting.
As a place to just take a little urban hike and enjoy the sun, the park is nice. Most of the access come from the 3 roads that wind up the hill and dead-end at different elevations, each with expensive, earthquake-taunting homes along the sides. As I climbed the hill from the base, I felt mocked for my efforts each time I crossed one--"All this work and I could have just DRIVEN up here!" Except for the very top, the trails are narrow, moderately steep, and not heavily maintained. As with most parks, alcohol and anything involving the word "fire" are prohibited. (ie. Campfires, fireworks, firearms, firewater...)
The base of the hill on the north side abuts the residential neighborhood and boasts a small family- and picnic-friendly park, complete with a play structure (see pictures). It's right along the creek and the city has posted interpretive nature signs along the path describing the riverine ecosystem and the history of stream management in the area.
TRIVIA: Dammit, I got scooped! Jessica M. stole my trivia about the city of El Cerrito being named for this hill. -
Review from jessica m.
Fort Collins, CO
3/24/2008
Moving to El Cerrito, I hoarded all sorts of fun-facts about the town to lessen the pain of the fact that I was moving to the burbs. One of these facts is that "El Cerrito" translates to "the little hill," which is Albany Hill. Fun!
And it took me almost a full year to climb up there and have a look around, because I'm lazy. But so are alla y'all because I'm the first to review it. How can this be? I know other people have been up here- I mean, there is a light-up cross! People go here, I'm telling you.
Officially, this park is neat. There are 2 rope swings from which you can risk life and limb (har har) if you are so inclined. There are several benches that face into eucalyptus groves. Better benches have a view of the bay or alternately of the jam packed residential valley that is Albany/El Cerrito. Looovely.
For such a small park, I was pretty well convinced that I was indeed out in nature. And the world needs more of that.
Poison Oak = 3 lobed leaves. Make sure you know that before you clamber around out here, because I saw some. And who needs that? -
Review from Anne K.
1/9/2009
In a sea of houses, apartment complexes, and freeways, one almost doesn't notice Albany Hill (although the prominent geological feature of Albany and the name-sake of El Cerrito). When I see it, I just think how odd the geography is (a hill in the middle of nowhere) and how precarious some people are to build their houses on this hill. Several roads and paths lead to the top of hill, which is covered in non-native eucalyptus trees and oak trees. The park has a few benches and a play area but most notably offers beautiful views of Berkeley and San Francisco (as well as poison oak). In a calm residential area, it was a pleasant place to take a walk with a friend.
Trivia: Explosives were manufactured on Albany Hill until 1905 when there was a massive accidental explosion of nitroglycerin. This is still evident today by a large dip in the tree line that highlights the crater carved into the north flank of the hill (according to Wikipedia). -
Review from Julia S.
El Cerrito, CA
7/13/2008
This mound of enchanted emerald forest has intrigued me for some time now, but only recently have I discovered the network of trails through its almost primeval-looking forests. A part of me halfway expected to discover an enclave of arboreal Elvin abodes tucked away in some corner forgotten to the modern world. (Legolas, where art thou?)
There is a lovely Greenway Park if you are at the base of the hill on the North side. It is clean, quiet (surprisingly no highway traffic noise) and the path on the North side of the creek is paved with colorful bits of recycled crushed glass set into cement. There is what appears to be something between a seasonal decorative pond and overflow flood control feature. Lined at the edges with rounded rocks embedded in cement with a smooth concrete bottom it was completely dry in July. Were it any larger, it would be a temptation for skate-boarders. A fun play structure for kids can be found here. (See Photos of both above)
Today I tried to explore the upper realms of this most enticing hill. I made it to the 3 main entry points and here is what I found:
PROS:
Lots of beautifully shaded areas, and no traffic noise from the highway if you are on the East side. Amazing panoramic views of the Bay, Downtown Oakland and the Hills of El Cerrito/ Albany/ Kensington/ Berkeley. Great diversity of plant and animal life in a small area. I even saw tiny fish in the small stream!
CONS:
Unless you live on the hill with your own driveway or car-port, PARKING at all but the lowest waterway walk and the official Park at the top of the hill is tricky.
Unkempt, treacherously STEEP trails, and the fallen Eucalyptus leaves and seeds on packed bare dirt and gnarled exposed roots make for a slippery slope in even the driest conditions. Unless you were born with cloven hooves, hard-core hiking boots with cleats and poles are strongly recommended if you don't want to end up on your booty, or worse!
POISON OAK GALORE in the upper trails. Though July most of it had prematurely turned the brilliant red of autumn and was very easy to spot - and it was EVERYWHERE in the mid- to upper parts of the hill. Huge swaths of nothing but Poison Oak lined entire sections of the narrow trails. Being in short sleeves and open-sided shoes, I dared not venture into it.
The Waterway Park at the base of the North end of the hill is well-maintained and relatively free of Poison Oak, but Park Services needs to tidy up the trails and keep this stuff in check on the rest of the Hill. It is truly out of control in places and has made large sections of the park inaccessible and unusable. A "roll in the hay" or anything else involving not paying 100% attention to your surroundings here is out of the question. It would be a roll into a body rash from hell.
High marks for an oasis of green, but loses a few points for the out-of-control Poison Oak and unkempt trails. Location is superb.
I have yet to actually check out the "official" Albany Hill Park at the very top. Just drove up there to have a peek, but could see only a sign and a trail through the trees. Rumor has it there are a couple of benches up there, but it was getting late and it was time to head back home. Another time... -
Review from Ken F.
Berkeley, CA
8/6/2009
If you've been in Albany, you've seen it: the giant hill with a forest grove on top. I've always imagined it suddenly standing up and walking away like a giant sea tortoise that has slumbered on the shoreline for centuries. I wonder if it's just a hill or something more exotic like Morro Bay's numerous volcanic plugs.
There are a few streets one can drive almost all the way to the top or a few short hiking trails instead. It's a fairly easy walk that I did in flip-flops, just watch where you step and keep an eye out for poison oak. The trail was picturesque, shady, and a delightful way to burn off a recent meal.
The trail levels off at the top and there is an open area with benches and a couple of dilapidated, makeshift swings. They're great for thrill seekers, but I would never let a kid on one. The view of the surrounding bay was priceless, but a little obscured by all the tree coverage.
Albany Hill Park was a great place for a short hike and could provide the ideal locale for a summer picnic. The giant electrical cross was a little strange, and there isn't much to do up there, but its comforting to know such a place still exists within the dense urban mass of the East Bay. -
Review from Paul D.
Albany, CA
8/10/2008
Albany Hill (Park) is basically just a place for a short walk/hike. Some good views when not hidden behind eucalyptus trees. Construction has been whittling away at the Hill for decades now... all those condos and apartments hanging on the eastern side of the hill really ruined a fine view.
Trivia: there are some native american acorn grinding holes in a flat rocky area on the east side of the hill. -
Review from Melanie R.
San Jose, CA
10/3/2010
On the very top of the hill is the only place I roamed. We suffered up the steep incline, though our calves were crying the whole damn way.
Not only is the view from here pretty spectacular, there's an awesome rope/wood swing that's pretty fun.
A little further our are about three single rope swings too, but I didn't mess with those.
Nice place. -
Review from Brandon H.
Bay Area
4/27/2011
I've just explored this hill in the past couple of days. At the very top is a tree enclosed park but if you make a left at the last intersection before getting there you'll be amazed to find patches of open views of the entire Bay including San Fran and the Golden Gate bridge. Nice place to visit if you haven't yet, not so much on the gas.
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Review from Ligaya T.
San Francisco, CA
12/20/2008
There's nothing much I like more than the sharp smell of eucalyptus on a crisp, sunny day. After a loaded game of destination roulette we ended up at this shady spot. Fantastic vistas of the housed hills on the east and the bay through the trees on the west. A sunset to die for! Not to be missed are the rope swings. A nice jump-off from a nearby bench is a good jolt of exhilaration. A must if you're in the 'hood.
Listed in: Beloved Outdoors
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Review from Bryan M.
Oakland, CA
5/17/2009
If that rope swing doesn't kill me, I don't know what will.
