Garber Park

It’s amazing that no one has reviewed this park yet. It’s a 13-​acre park hidden behind the elegant, white Claremont Hotel in south Berkeley, Elmwood /​Rockridge area. Although it’s part of the Claremont Regional Preserve (
), it seems kinda neglected and few hikers come here.
Perhaps few people know about this park. Or, perhaps, for those who know about it, or for residents who live right next to the park, it is not significant enough to be reviewed. I think it’s a pity because for me at least, it’s such a beautiful little gem. It reminds me of the Huckleberry Botanical Regional Preserve in Orinda /​Oakland hills. Few visitors, no dogs, green, cool and shaded, an ecological and botanical jewel indeed.
We walked on a narrow dirt path that was rather ill-​maintained compared to the hiking trails of, say, the Tilden Regional Park. At times, the dirt path was partially covered up by weed or overgrown grass, making it hard for us to know whether it was indeed the trail to be tread on. Nonetheless, we had a great time hiking in the park. We went in a hot day in early summer but as soon as we entered the park, we were under the shade most of the time. This place was green, lush, mostly shaded, and the hiking trail was narrow and winding, bringing us to be among various tall grass, wild flowers, trees (I don’t know enough to name them here, but I guess if you’re a bontanist, you’d love it here — there’re so many different types of plants to see!).
Time taken: About one hour. Level of difficulty: Rather easy, except for the downhill part. Be careful if you go after a rainy day, because the muddy trail would dirty your shoes and make your downhill trip difficult. Watch out, don’t slip and fall!
IMPORTANT NOTE: To find the TRAILHEAD of the park, go to Evergreen Lane. The entrance is at the end of the street. You will see the sign «End» at the end of the Evergreen Lane. Park your car somewhere near (street parking), and climb across the sign. The path is behind. You will see a small, winding dirt trail behind the «End» sign. Follow it and it would take you around.
You may come back to the same spot (Evergreen Lane), or exit at Claremont Ave (if you go downhill). Or you may end up at the trailhead at Rispin.
Directions to Garber Park can also be found at HYPERLINK «
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You may also find this video useful:
(I didn’t participate in it — just found it on google and thought that I’d share with you here.)