Roberts is a small park (just 82 acres) but contains a lot of beauty and variety. It's also one of the cleanest, most accessible parks I've visited. It's a great place to introduce young children in to hiking and nature, because if they get tired of the trees there is a big and new looking playground. But, nothing can compete with the natural beauty just steps from the parking area.
These Redwoods are next to the parking area.Wide and tranquil trails surround the park.Starting out, I accessed the Graham Trail on the east side of the park, and headed south. The trail is wide enough for people to walk and have a conversation side by side. It's a great place for walking with friends.
Views of the hills as you hike along Graham TrailI hiked until I reached the intersection of Graham and Dunn Trails (.61 miles), and then I turned around and headed back towards the park. There was a light amount of trail traffic, especially people with dogs.
This park abuts Redwood Regional Park, and if you stay on Graham Trail on your return and walk past the park, you'll reach West Ridge Trail. Taking a right on West Ridge will take you in to Redwood Park, but I took a left for a short walk on the West Ridge Trail and then a quick left on to Roberts Ridge Trail. Redwood Bowl is right in this area, and the trail is quite beautiful here.
Wander around here, but don't forget your map. Get the Roberts and Redwood maps in case you want to venture in to Redwood Park.
I took this hike in the late afternoon, and as the light started to fade, I went back in to the Roberts Grove.
There are several monuments in this park. There is a marker for a fallen Redwood whose planks and timber lined the walls of unknown numbers of Bay Area buildings. This tree was so massive that sailors in the bay used to use it as a navigation point. Also in this spot is a bench and marker honoring the all volunteer "E Company" unit of WW2. This unit was composed of Japanese Americans that had been interned in US prison camps, but volunteered to fight and become the most decorated unit in WW2.
As the light was fading, I visited the short Manzanita Loop Trail, which has a nice bench and views of the hills and Mt. Diablo.
Roberts
Roberts Regional Recreation Area