It’s the new year and the time of resolutions, fresh starts, and shiny new gym memberships. But hear us out: What if instead of the gym, you took advantage of the 24-hour fitness location known as nature? What if you sought out a crunch of another kind?
Trail challenges, mushroom viewing, birding, and more are all on offer this year. The wet weather and cool temperatures bring out a different side of the natural environment, and local groups, the state and local parks, and others are hosting a variety of events and activities to kick off the new year. Here’s a quick guide.
Checking out the park district
Each year the East Bay Regional Park District challenges residents across the area to trek and track up to 20 local trails. EBRPD Trails Challenge 2025 calls on East Bay residents to take on a handful of trails by foot, bike, or even horse. The challenge has been done annually over the past 32 years and provides residents with 20 trails to choose from, ranging from easy to moderate to “challenging.” In order to finish the challenge, residents must complete five trails, or a total of 26.2 miles. Finishers are awarded a commemorative pin. There are additional challenges and prizes for those who complete all 20 trails.
If you don’t want to travel all the way to Muir Woods to see some of California’s great redwood trees, head over to Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland, where a new footbridge was recently completed. The bridge, made primarily out of material sourced from the parks, was built across a fallen redwood tree that is still living. A new tree is forming out of the root ball of the fallen tree, and the bridge has been built around the new growth that has already reached 10 feet in height…