A Family Guide to Tilden Park

Hi neighbor!

The kids and I went to the Tilden Botanic Garden last week, and it’s such a beautiful (and underrated) local gem. We spent about an hour wandering the trails, crossing little bridges, and walking under towering sequoias. It was incredibly peaceful, and the kids loved it just as much as I did.

There are benches when little legs need a rest, grassy fields that are perfect for a picnic, and gorgeous scenery around every corner. Best of all, it's totally free and only about 20 minutes from Pleasant Hill.

And, of course, there are other Tilden family favorites nearby, like the steam train, carousel, and Little Farm. We’ve spent a lot of time in Tilden over the years and I’m excited to share our favorite places with you today.

See you around town,

Jen

A small working farm with cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and geese to visit up close. Great for toddlers through early elementary.

Be sure to stop by for some of their weekly programming, including:

There’s also a little playground that shares a parking lot with Little Farm so you can extend your outing just a little bit longer.

A garden full of California native plants with stone bridges, a creek, a pond, and gentle paths that are easy for little legs.

They offer free docent tours on Saturdays at 2pm, Sundays at 11am and 2pm, and holidays at 2pm, which last about an hour.

Tilden has nearly 40 miles of trails, and these are some of our favorites with kids:

Jewel Lake Trail: About a mile round trip loop from Little Farm, with a boardwalk through the woods to a small lake where kids can look for turtles and ducks.

Nimitz Way: A paved, wheelchair accessible trail with amazing views, great for strollers and bikes. Start at Inspiration Point off Wildcat Canyon Road and turn around about 1–1.5 miles in after taking in the views.

Wildcat Gorge Trail: A shady creekside trail that pairs well with a picnic at the Meadows Picnic Area. Older kids can extend it into the Lake Anza Trail, a 0.7 mile loop with some rough sections.

A 12–15 minute ride through the redwoods, over bridges, and through a tunnel on a miniature steam train.

Cost: $5 per ride or $20 for five rides; under 2 ride free

Walk down the hill past the Tilden Steam Train to ride on this miniature railway, Sundays from 12–3pm.

Cost: Free, with a suggested donation

A hand carved 1911 carousel with horses, cats, frogs, giraffes, and sea monsters, plus a grill and ice cream bar for lunch.

Cost: $4 per ride or $24 for seven rides

Tilden's swimming spot is a sandy, wind sheltered beach with lifeguards, changing rooms, and a snack bar. Swim season runs roughly mid May through late September, so save this one for next summer, but the lakeside trail and picnic areas are open year round.

Cost: $5 ages 18–61, $3 ages 2–17 and 62+, free under 2

Tilden only has group campsites (no individual family sites), which makes it a fun pick for a scout troop, a few families together, or a birthday campout close to home. Sites include picnic tables, barbecues, fire rings, and chemical toilets.

Cost: $75–100 per night

All programs are free and meet at the Tilden Nature Area unless noted. Get more details on Tilden’s October program flyer.

An activity, an animal visit, and a story for the little kids.

An easy wander to find spiders and their webs.

Nature exploration and a themed storytime.

Help dress the garden's scarecrow and stuff it full of straw just in time for Halloween.

A beginner friendly bird walk through the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. Meet near the Botanic Garden Visitor Center.

Explore the strange growths on forest plants, then make a costume accessory and walk the green carpet.

Have a favorite spot in Tilden that I missed? Let me know! I’d love to add it.

Jen