Stonewall Panoramic Trail

From the trailhead at Stonewall Road, the 1.5-mile trail makes for an excellent before or after-work run. But the steep hills and loose ground aren’t for those looking to find an easy nature walk.

The incline starts well before the Stonewall-Panoramic trailhead, so you won’t even have time to warm up before your fight against gravity begins. With a little perseverance you’ll gain about 700 feet of elevation in three quarters of a mile.

Two-thirds of the way up, you’ll pass a sign that warns you of the steep trail ahead. At this point, you may start to ask yourself how it could possibly get any worse. But soon enough you’ll have your answer...

Your prize is the view from the bench at the top of Stonewall-Panoramic trail. Here, you’ll have a birds-eye view of Berkeley, and on a clear day you’ll enjoy panoramic views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, and Mount Tamalpais. The view of the sunset over this vista in the evening would be breathtaking, if you had any more breath to give.

Retrace your steps for the quickest route back. Otherwise, continue along and turn left onto Panoramic Way, where you’ll be able to hop on an extension of the trail shortly thereafter. If you choose this loop, it will drop you off at the Clark Kerr Track.

Haven’t had enough? There is a workout station with exercise bars if you’re in the mood for some pull-ups, rows, and push-ups. The trail continues on the other side of the track to bring you back to your starting point at Stonewall Road.