In 2024, the East Bay Regional Parks District celebrated its 90th anniversary. A Hacienda tenant since 2012, the nation's largest park district is responsible for 122,000 square miles of open space and comprises 73 regional parks. Most of those parks are easy to access from Hacienda.

At the beginning of the year, the park district launched its 2025 Trails Challenge, an annual program that invites the public to explore trails handpicked by park district staff to show off the region's stunning natural beauty. The 2025 Trails Challenge includes 20 trails of varying difficulty levels located throughout the East Bay. The list includes a number of fully accessible trails that have been evaluated and identified as usable by persons with mobility limitations. To finish the challenge, participants need to walk, ride, or roll five trails, or 26.2 total miles, by December 31, 2025. Walking, biking, and horseback riding are all ways visitors can participate.

"The East Bay Regional Parks Trails Challenge is a great way to explore Regional Parks and get to know new parks," according to Regional Interpretive and Recreation Services Manager Mike Moran. "The selected trails highlight magnificent views, landscapes, and wildlife in the East Bay. The Trails Challenge offers an opportunity to get away from the buzz of everyday life and connect with nature and each other in parks."

All finishers will receive a commemorative 2025 Trails Challenge pin while supplies last. There are also new awards, prizes, and giveaways for 2025 that all participants can earn. Individuals interested in the 2025 Trails Challenge can pick up a free guidebook and T-shirt at any East Bay Regional Parks visitor center. The guidebook can also be downloaded at https://www.ebparks.org/trails-challenge.

"We want as many people as possible to take the challenge and benefit from time in nature," Moran adds. "In 2025, there are even more rewards for finishers of the challenge, including monthly drawings of finishers, special categories based on age, a reward for those who complete all 20 trails, and a 2025 Challenge Champion award for the person who completes all 20 trails first."

Visiting the park district may be easier this year, thanks to changes approved at the end of 2024. The new fee schedule includes a flat $5 parking fee at East Bay Regional Parks, where kiosks are present. "The flat fee makes it simpler and easier for the public to visit East Bay Regional Parks," officials say.

Previously, parking fees ranged from $3 to $6 depending on the specific park. The new fee does not apply to Del Valle Regional Park on weekends and holidays April through Labor Day, which has a flat $10 entrance fee on those peak days that covers parking and other fees. The updated fee schedule for 2025 also includes changes to swimming fees, day camp fees, special event fees, concessionaire fees, parking citation penalties, and vehicle release fees.

Dog fees, which were formerly $2, have been eliminated for 2025. Dogs are required to be on leash in designated areas, including trailheads, parking lots, paved trails, and picnic areas. Dogs must also be on leash around horses and in parks where cattle are present. A dog permit is still required to walk more than three dogs at a time. Professional dog walkers are required to obtain a permit regardless of how many dogs they walk at one time.

For more information about the East Bay Regional Parks District, please visit www.ebparks.org.

For more information about the East Bay Regional Parks Trails Challenge, please visit www.ebparks.org/trails-challenge.

For more information about visitor permits for the park district, please visit www.ebparks.org/permits.