Bridgeview Trail — Oakland

A quiet little trail turned into a must-see once the Bridgeview troll builders made hidden (and some not so hidden) trolls through this lush Oakmore neighborhood trail.

There are two entrances to this path (it is not a loop... out and back from whichever side you choose to start on). One trailhead is on Bridgeview Drive but warning this is a residential street, very narrow and curvy, and hard to park. We went early had success (DONT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS). From this entry you will first pass the volunteer garden - super pretty, take some time to check it out before hitting the trails where you’ll find trolls both official and unofficial. I suggest getting the most updated map from their Facebook account, Bridgeview Trolls, to make sure you don’t miss any. Sadly many of the trolls on this side have been damaged (see last photo). This side begins very flat and wide then starts to narrow as you get closer to the other side. Look for the mosaic tiles on the ground to make sure you follow the correct trail.  

The other trailhead is on Monterey Blvd. Here you’ll find plenty of parking although some walkers warned of car break-ins though we were fine. This side starts out very differently than the other side. Narrow, hilly, uneven steps, cliff sides. There were two moms and four kids (ages 1,2,3,4) and we all made it but not without dirty bums from slips. There’s a little creek with a cement bridge at the bottom of the canyon and as you make your way up there’s a few switchbacks (and some really good fencing) and even more steps (look out for the tree trunk slide). In the middle of it all (okay we learned it’s not so middle but significantly closer to the Monterey side) there are some swings hanging from the trees. This areas is VERY dusty so be aware it’s probably not the best sitting spot for snacks.  Overall we had a great time finding the trolls, learning their names, making up names for those not on the map, and seeing all the cool nature!
No bathrooms. Dogs required to be on leash (but many aren’t).  Not stroller friendly.