Joaquin Miller Park

Joaquin Miller Park, named after the local poet and stretching out to the east of the Warren Freeway just to the south of Piedmont Pines, is a magnificent urban park. Its trails sprawl out over the hillside offering great views of the bay and a good dose of wildlife as well. Though local teens often use it for their impromptu nature parties at night time it is still well worth the visit. In the early morning, its jogging trails get quite a bit of use, and after a good rainfall the cascades drench the park in watery beauty. Lizards scramble across trails, deer stop to stare, and hawks float above. Just go and listen to the wind bending the trees, or watch the foggy curling in for the night.

Unfortunately, as with any urban park, garbage is a bit of a problem and you will find some spots where beer bottles and other signs of urban detritus have been left behind.

At the eastern edge of the park is the Chabot Science center with its exhibitions, planetarium, giant telescope and great science films. In the summer, Chabot is a great place to take that little scientist in the household to help support her fascinations or to try to spark some scientific interests in those little guys and gals who have not yet caught the science bug.