In the beginning of 2013, I signed up for the Trails Challenge through Regional Parks Foundation, East Bay Regional Park District, (EBRPD) and Kaiser Permanente. Its a program to promote "Healthy Parks, Healthy People" for Bay Area Residents to explore the parks as well as promoting healthy living! Each year the program comes out with a list of specific trails in parks that must be completed: Five of the listed trails or 26.2 miles (marathon) of trails. We completed the challenge by hiking but the challenge can also be completed by biking the trails.
Last year I was unable to complete the challenge due to travel and illness but this year not only did I complete the five trails but we did it as a family, hiked over 26.2 miles in East Bay Parks! We also had a lot of fun exploring my local East Bay parks. Here's a little overview of all the parks we visited this year!
Last year I was unable to complete the challenge due to travel and illness but this year not only did I complete the five trails but we did it as a family, hiked over 26.2 miles in East Bay Parks! We also had a lot of fun exploring my local East Bay parks. Here's a little overview of all the parks we visited this year!
Mileage: 2.5 Miles
Memorable Fact: This was my FIRST time hiking solo with my two toddlers.
Memorable Fact: This was my FIRST time hiking solo with my two toddlers.
Mileage: 5.2 miles
Memorable Fact: Never seen the hills so green.
Mileage: 3.4 miles
Memorable Fact: We hiked very close to cows!
Mileage: 7.1 miles
Memorable Fact: Accidentally hiked in the dark, heard coyotes and it's the HARDEST hike I've done in the East Bay hills.
Mileage: 3.1 miles
Memorable Fact: The Four "Famous" Trails Intersection are on this hike.
Miles: 2.6 miles
Memorable Fact: The longest 2.6 miles we hiked with our toddlers, great views of the SF Bay.
Miles: 2.5 Miles
Memorable Fact: First time hiking along the quarry.
The Trails Challenge is a great way to explore East Bay parks, stay healthy, a great way to get motivated to get outdoors. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area is a very urban environment but we definitely get outdoors in our surroundings. National and State Parks are great but local parks are my go to places almost on a daily basis. Can't wait for 2014 Trails Challenge!
Do you have a favorite local East Bay Regional Park? For those not in the East Bay, what is your favorite local park?
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