Head to the East Bay for magical redwood groves
Looking to do your engagement photos in the redwoods? If you love the magic of Northern California, the redwoods are a great choice for dramatic and unique engagement photos. While Muir Woods in Marin County houses some of the largest and oldest trees that are easily accessible to the public, it’s very much a tourist destination with required reservations meaning that advanced planning is a must. If large crowds and flashing cameras aren’t your thing, consider going out to Oakland for the day instead where Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park is a magical hidden forest just minutes from downtown.
In Redwood Regional Park, miles of trails wind through the ethereal foggy forest lined with plentiful ferns and tall Coast Redwoods. The crowd level ranges from sparse to deserted, so there is plenty of peace and quiet as you walk through the tranquil landscape of this 1,830-acre park. And while there are many great trails to explore, this 5-mile moderate hike is one of our favorites.
Roberts is also a wonderland for play, with an archery range, a baseball field and a sand volleyball court. Wheelchair users can enjoy features such as a playground, picnic areas, and the Roberts Pool complex, open from mid-April through the end of September.
Four miles of trails are popular with hikers, dog walkers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. On a clear day, face east at the top of the 0.2-mile Manzanita Loop trail, and you’ll see Mount Diablo in all its glory. The West Ridge Trail extends into the 1,830-acre Redwood Regional Park, which features nearly 40 miles of trails through a canyon shaded by redwood forests, as well as chaparral and grasslands.
Home to the largest coast redwood forest in the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay, these two adjacent parks are more than worthy of a trip.
