Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in Oakland

Sibley is my current East Bay Regional Parks destination. I especially like finding the less traveled trails, and single track routes. Today I interacted with very few people, and found new trails.I am attaching a photo of domesticated canine feces because on my rounds today I watched two people, with two dogs, one cleaned up, the other did not. I saw several bags of dog waste Neatly tied and left along the way. I saw one bag stuck in debris along a creek, well off the trail. I think it was thrown by the dog owner. There was more, especially within the first half mile from the parking area.Just pick it up and carry it out. It does not belong here. Dog waste spreads disease!!!This

Great area to walk the dog. You are out in nature but really it’s just the space between Oakland and the suburbs.

East Bay preserves/parks are underrated. Came with the dogs on a medium-warm summer day with (cruciallya consistent gentle breeze. Dogs are older so the hike wasnt very strenuous, but pleasant to go up to the more arid volcano-side trails and down through and back up a gulch that reminded me of Tilden. Lovely views. Kind of a trek to actually get to the park entrance, windy and narrow in places like the Berkeley Hills so just be careful.

Very nice trails with great views

This preserve provides a great natural area for all kinds of recreation and respite. There are loops small and large enough for running. There are plenty of people walking their dogs. I witnessed several cyclists riding their bikes.The most unique aspect of this preserve was the educational aspect. At the trailhead there was a descriptive pictorial explaining the geological.history to the volcanoes throughout the area. As you walk through the park one will find several markers detailing the specific rock outcroppings and their origin story. This was great for those enthusiastic about the geological history of the Bay Area. I also think this may be a great idea for building interest in science for children as a family outing.Overall the hike was easy to moderate in difficulty. I circumnavigated the Preserve and my mileage was under 7 miles. The parking lot was medium sized, but I had no problem finding a spot at 9:30 on a Saturday morning. I noticed a lot of turnover since most were there to take their dogs on a quick walk.As usual enjoy the space and dont forget to say hello to your fellow hikers and riders.

Excellent location for easy hikes and wide open views. However there is a trail loop with a lot more vertical climb.Most trails dont have much shade, so be aware on very hot days.

Nice and easy hike with kids. Sibley volcanic regional preserve. We made detours into pond trail and quarry trail along with the main volcanic loop trail. It was cold and foggy on Saturday. Couldnt spot any labyrinths because of limited views. But still a beautiful hike. Saw bunnies along the way and gorgeous wildflowers. Look out for hemlock and poison oak on the sides.

Beautiful views of ancient volcanic features and pretty sunset.The bike/hike camp was slightly difficult to find in the dark. The water fountain is not en route when on bike and I had to hike down 0.3 miles from the camp site.

Peaceful inland bored and awesome rocks make miles of trails a fun choose your own adventure! Clean restrooms and good maps available. Parking on street if lot is full.

Beautiful hiking trails that even a non-hiker can enjoy. Make sure to find your way to the maze!

This place is pretty unique little Hidden Gem that I didnt even know about until one of my friends pointed it out to me. It doesnt have a lot of parking at the bottom parking lot but up at the top is seems to have more space for parking. The trails are wide and easy to walk there are some that are kind of steep but its a very nice, canopy over your head, its a enjoyable place to go and enjoy a nice outing and a good hike.

Love to go here to hike. The pics of scenery always come out amazing as if you were somewhere more exotic

My experience of this place was amazing I didnt expect one of the views to be a full 360 all around beautiful view of east Bay with the San Francisco city.

I work in Oakland and live in the Antioch area. When the traffic is so bad I take this route home no freeways.. One of the most beautifulest scenic routes . Plus you can stop and take in some sites and maybe even take your dog for a walk beautiful parks and regional area

Beautiful park with eucalyptus groves. I loved the signs explaining the geology and animals. The trails were easy to walk and well marked.

Beautiful trails, slower inclines, and plenty of benches!

Pretty paths! Lots of nice hills, wish there was more shade and trees and less grassy fields, but its still nice!Bring sun screen!

Beautiful park!! This is a gem within Oakland. The trails range from paved to dirt to little side trails a foot wide. The views eastward and westward are both stunning

Wonderful place to spend the day, You can take a short walk or long hike the regional preserve is right in the middle of two major parks so theres plenty of places explorer ,

First time I saw a photograph of the stunning Labyrinth in Sibley Volcanic Park I imagined I must be looking at an image of neolithic earthworks…But an inscription on the back of of the photo said “Sibley Regional Park Oakland, CA” I was flabbergasted. It took me about 2 years to figure out exactly where this was (in 1998, before Google had taken over the map world)…The location of the Labyrinth was not on any park map, because it was “not officially sanctioned or a historically old enough feature”. Now it is on a few park signs.Once found I’ve taken many people there. When we visit in the SPRING it’s particularly awe-inspiring ~ there’s a shallow VERNAL POOL, which covers half the bottom of the old quarry. This time of year it’s teaming with LIFE. Redwing blackbirds and other marshy birds fill the air with their mating songs, Spring peepers fill the cool night air with their amphibious chorus… Newts and Salamanders have gathering under water, breeding and protecting their eggs ! It’s the beauty of biodiversity embodied !! And THEN there is the beautiful Labyrinth ~Bring a small offering to leave in the Center ~ but LEAVE the DOGS at HOME ~This pool is so FRAGILE and dogs just wreak havoc on the new & delicate life there !But DO bring a human friend to share the beauty !

Great place to visit if youre trying to avoid crowds.

Off-leash dog trails, sunrises, labyrinths, cattle, jackrabbits, sunsets…. these are a few of my favorites things!

The trail we took was a bit extreme with a lot of steep hills, and the ground was very moist and muddy. Overall, the area was nice, and I would go back to try the other trails.

HOW HAVE I NEVER BEEN HERE?!?!?!?! I loved it. There are lots of trails at different levels. There are paved trails and then trails off the path that are marked! So you get the nice city view OR you get to walk what feels like youre in a tiny forest. You choose. The easy trail had really short inclines and then flat spots and then downhill. They have a long off leash trail which for me was great because it meant I didnt have to keep clipping her on and off every 10minutes. We came across at least 6 off leash dogs under voice command which was really great to see! There were people who had their dogs on leash who werent so great off leash, so great job to yall for doing your part! There was this muddy area which got slippery because it was in the downhill area but my dog had a field day in there with this other dog. There are different mushrooms so make sure you look out for that. Also, there seemed to be poison oak around so also, make sure you are paying attention to that! There are lots of benches and little areas to have a snack at. Theres also a campground! Ill definitely be coming back here.

Sibley regional park is one of my favorite local hikes. The terrain isnt too challenging which makes it great for when you want to bring visitors and family. The views can be impressive along the top ridge, and the volcanic history of the area is an interesting natural feature to explore.

Convientiently located off the highway near East Bay, this park offers dog-friendly trails with pleasant views of the surrounding volcanic hills. A trip around the park can be a pleasant 3-4 mile walk, and if you tackle the inclines you can add up to 600ft in elevation.Its a great place to wind down after work, sunlight permitting.

Is really nice please to go for a walk or take your dog for a walk is alot of hills so make sure you bring water bus is very beutiful views .

Mornings can be foggy but not for long. It is a nice hike. It’s better to come before 10 am for parking. The parking is limited. There are only 6 parking spots in one area and 24-26 parking spots in two areas. Goats can be seen eating grass for fire prevention on the hike.

Nice trails up at the Montclair hills in Oakland. Its also near Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve. The area is great for cycling as well. Very scenic roads around.

Very easy trails, you even can come with a stroller. I’ve found amazing views, volcanic rocks. There are many points that tell you the history of this place. Don’t forget a hat and sunscreen because it absolutely boiling🥵

This is a great little park with some nice walks with wonderful views. Be sure to see the maze at the quarry pit. There is some nice redwood reforestation going in. Some trails have nice shade. This is a hot place on a warm day.

Great natural area to hike in. Range of trails for all ability levels. Parking lot fills up by 10 am on weekends, plan to park on the street after that.

It was a beautiful day today with so many poppies and wild flowers! I didnt see a bathroom. We parked at the Old Tunnel Road Staging Area and luckily found parking easily enough though its a good idea to meet outside somewhere and arrive in one car. A lot of dog doodoo out (in bags and otherwiseso be careful when walking. There are a lot of trails and a couple semi-steep ones that are well worth the views. The wildflowers were were a bonus but the park is huge with different terrain thats pretty child and elderly friendly.

Huge open space for dogs to run off leash and not crowded at all, even on the weekend. We took the quarry road trail. Theres a 10ish min paved walk uphill before you get to the grassy fields. Not a lot of shade, so bring water for you and your pup!

Beautiful hike with views of the entire San Francisco skyline and both the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate. Lots of wildflowers along well-maintained trails, with generally easy slopes. Its a great walk on a sunny day and Id definitely recommend it.

Beautiful park with a vast trail network. Love bringing the dogs here, they have a blast. Do take care after a rain, as sections may be muddy.

Had a great time hiking and exploring with the family and the dogs. Hiked up from the old tunnel rd staging area to Mazzariello Labrynth. There are usually a fair amount of people and dogs. Most are well behaved, and their dogs are usually under command. Its a fun hike and the road us paved about half the way. It is rather steep going up and is approx 1.2 mile each way. The only downside is parking is extremely limited and occasionally they have car break ins. Nice views of Mt Diablo and the bay.

Very interesting trails and labyrinths, with great vistas in all directions. Dogs allowed off leash most of the trail.

Nice trail, with lots of options, both in the sun and under the shade of trees. Dog friendly, and some places you can let your dog off leash. The only thing bad is the parking lot is small. Most people end up parking on the street and just walk to the trail head.

we started with clear day and by 4 fog rolled and got windy.. so be prepared.Lovely park in East Bay hills hike with views and well marked trails. Nice hike around round top. A bit rocky. People of all ages enjoying some fresh air and exercise.Not flat but not steep. Good views along the way. Not too many people which is always a plus!Cool geolgical features and rocks. Parking can be hard and it can get pretty windy, so come prepared.Careful of rattlesnakes... we also saw poison Oak so be carefulBeautiful labyrinths..

It was my first time visiting, I was born and raised in Oakland but never seem to make it here. I now live in Dallas, TX. I am visiting this week and I am so glad and grateful that I was able to experience this beautiful Place!

Lovely park in East Bay hills. Great views of Mt Diablo and you can also see Mt Tam in some spots. Nice short hike around round top. A bit rocky. Saw people of all ages enjoying some fresh air and exercise.

Fantastic hiking paths in a volcanic reserve with history of the land and intriguing vortex mazes to stumble across along the way! Excellent weekend life contemplating location

Beautiful park with interesting trails, gorgeous views, and a neat labyrinth. Gets cold + windy very quickly in the evening. Nice bathroom at staging area with some informational signs.

Wonderful hiking trails, fairly easy with some options for elevation if you are so inclined... (*pun very much intended*bring your dog, or your baby, or your horse -- youll see it all, and enjoy a beautiful assortment of urban and wilderness views!

One of my favorite places to visit year-round because of the diverse geography, views, tons of little trails, and the nature. Great place to take your dog off leash, but I almost always see a snake on the trail, so be careful of that.

Awesome area to come for a hike. The drive up is a little scary- tight turns through residential areas, but the park and trails are beautiful. Took our dog here while visiting family and she had a blast. There are clearly marked on and off leash areas. Wide open with lots of visibility of surrounding mountains. Feels like youre far away from the city.

It’s a really cool park, just the right size, various places to start, and a good amount of parking. It’s big enough that I didn’t hike everything in a visit, but I hiked most of one end, weaving along between the different parallel trails. It’s cool that they have cows graze down the vegetation. There are lots of dogs off leash but they were all well behaved. The views of the city are spectacular. The bathrooms are clean and have soap and toilet paper. Some of the trails are pretty shady, so they were still muddy days after some rain ended. I didn’t see any services other than bathrooms, so bring any food or water you may need. There are some nice descriptive signs, not a ton but enough to teach one a bit about the landscape and fauna, which is a nice touch.

This place is magical. Whether you are looking for an easy afternoon stroll, a more vigorous hike or run or a beautiful picnic spot, Sibley can provide. Breathtaking views of the Bay, rolling hills surrounding deep valleys carved by volcanic activity. Natural and man-made surprises at every clearing and crest: mysterious labyrinths, bush bunnies, owls, red-tailed hawks, rock Cairns, boulder outcroppings, groves of twisted trees and volcanic stones, gentle slopes of windswept grasses, and a multitude of shrub dwelling Jays and chubby wrens.Dogs allowed off-leash. So bring your best friend and explore the Preserve together. Come early enough to see the land in daylight, stay long enough to watch the sunset over the Bay.Choose the longer windy Grizzly Peak route to the Staging Area and stop at one of the many lookout points. The view will take your breath away. You will want to take in the massive view of the entire San Francisco Bay (including both sections of the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, Berkeley, Oakland, Alameda and The San Francisco skylineshimmering in the sunlight and glittering by night.

Amazing views over the bay and east to Mt Diablo. A very popular park for dog walkers. A great newt migration in the winter and a variety of trails through different vegetation gives a good introduction to the east bay hills flora and fauna