Tucked away on the south slope of Claremont Canyon near the Berkeley-Oakland border, Garber Park is one of the area’s best kept secrets. This 13-acre City of Oakland wildland park is named for John Garber, a prominent 19th century attorney who built a huge mansion near the site of the present-day Claremont Hotel.

Garber’s heirs sold what was essentially the estate’s backyard to the City of Berkeley in 1920, before ownership of the park was transferred to the City of Oakland in 1952.

Park Activities

Garber Park features a family-friendly 1 mile loop trail that gently rises from the forest floor into the surrounding hills. An abundance of climbing trees, fun staircases and beautiful views off the upper Alvarado Road entrance make this a terrific novice hike for kids and adults alike. Garber Park is rarely crowded and packs an impressive amount of biodiversity for its size, earning plaudits from reviewers who call it “a pleasant way to spend about an hour” and “a great little park.” Be sure to stop for a rest to admire the 1920s era Fireplace Plaza.