Timeline
06:38
Drive or hike to Tilden Park early. The park opens at 5AM, giving you plenty of time to find a spot with a view of the eastern horizon before the sun breaks. The trails are free and open daily.
07:23
Watch the sunrise. In winter (January), the sun rises at 07:23. In spring (April), it is 06:33. In summer (July), it is 05:58. In autumn (October), it is 07:17. The park offers vistas of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge as the light hits the hills.
07:53
Stay for the golden light. In winter, this starts around 16:33 (if viewing from a different angle or later in the day, but for sunrise, the light builds quickly). In summer, the golden hour extends later. Enjoy the quiet of the hills as the rest of Berkeley wakes up.
Local tip
The park is large. If you want a specific view of the bridge, head to the higher trails. Remember, the park is open until 10PM, but sunrise is early. Bring a jacket; it is cooler on the hills before dawn.
Check before you go
- Tilden Park is open daily from 5AM to 10PM.
- Sunrise times vary significantly by season: Jan 07:23, Apr 06:33, Jul 05:58, Oct 07:17.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Berkeley (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).