Outdoor adventure beckons in Oakland

Visitors to the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt look at the trees on display at the garden in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 4, 2017. Admission to the garden is free although donations are welcomed. Visitors to the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt look at the trees on display at the garden in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, June 4, 2017. Admission to the garden is free although donations are welcomed. Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Outdoor adventure beckons in Oakland 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

Home to more than 426,000 residents, Oakland is a densely populated urban center. But in between the museums, local coffee roasters and tall apartment buildings, outdoor adventure beckons. Kayakers glide across the water on Lake Merritt, dog walkers and hikers explore the redwoods and bonsai enthusiasts from all over the Bay Area check in on century-old trees.

Welcome to the green side of Oakland.

Redwood Park

Tucked high in the Oakland hills about 20 minutes from the hustle and bustle of downtown, a redwood forest, home to a freshwater stream and towering trees, is an oasis for residents and nature lovers alike.

The 1,800-acre Redwood Regional Park is part of the East Bay Regional Park District and offers miles of trails perfect for activities including biking, walking and horseback riding.

Redwood Park was once home to an old growth redwood forest, but like many groves throughout the state, it was lost to logging, according to Isa Polt-Jones, public affairs representative for the East Bay Regional Park District. Still, visitors can enjoy towering “second growth” trees, some 150-plus years old and flourishing in the unique environment.

“[Redwood Park] is very beautiful and peaceful,” Polt-Jones said. “The redwoods here are our state tree and they only grow in niche ecological zones … because we live in the fog belt, these trees thrive in the weather and are a unique attraction for the area.”

East Bay Regional Park District

Other parks in the district offer a variety of options for visitors, including nearby Roberts Regional Recreation Area, which boasts hiking trails, a swimming pool and an accessible playground “for children of all abilities,” Polt-Jones said. Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline is a regional park located on the shores of the San Leandro Bay in Oakland and is home to The Tidewater Boating Center, which offers kayaking classes.

Anthony Chabot Regional Park offers family campgrounds perfect for a weekend getaway and park naturalists lead campfire programs at the amphitheater Saturday evenings from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Lake Merritt

Lake Merritt, Oakland’s heart-shaped tidal lagoon — the only one of its kind in the country and home to the nation’s first wildlife refuge — and Lakeside Park are chock full of activities for young and old.

At its heart is the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s garden. The volunteer-run Lake Merritt Bonsai Garden, which opened in 1999, is home to nearly 100 bonsai trees. One in particular, a Daimyo Oak from Japan, is more than 1,000 years old.

“We have a lot of interesting trees here and some with some great history behind them,” said George Shoptaw, a volunteer docent at the garden.

In addition to the bonsai garden, the park’s Japanese Garden, designed by Hisaichi Tsugawa has been a favorite of visitors since its inception in 1960. Visitors step through a traditional Japanese gate and are greeted by a flowers, plants and the peaceful sounds of a waterfall.

Need something a little more fast-paced?

Segway of Oakland offers a tour specifically tailored to those wanting to explore Lake Merritt. Participants start on International Boulevard in Oakland and ride to the lake along wide, smooth pathways. The tour heads past the lake to the Oakland Museum of California and Children’s Fairyland, making it the perfect for beginners.

For those who prefer the water, the Lake Merritt Boating Center offers rentals of everything from sailboats to kayaks daily from March to October and on weekends only from November to February.

Various youth and community programs are offered through the center and provide a way to gain skills and explore boating close to home. Sailboats are only rented to experienced sailors.

When dusk falls, the “Necklace of Lights” circling the lake reflect off the ripples in the water creating a charming ambience just steps away from some of Oakland’s soaring office buildings.

If you go

Redwood Park: Open from 5 a.m.-10 p.m., 7867 Redwood Road, Oakland.

East Bay Regional Park District Parks: www.ebparks.org.

Lake Merritt Bonsai Garden: Open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. www.gsbf-lakemerritt.org.

Segway of Oakland Lake Merritt Tour: Price is $59. segway@segwayofoakland.com, www.bayareasegway.com.

Lake Merritt Boating Center: Rentals are cash only and prices from $10 to $24 an hour. 568

Bellevue Ave., Oakland, www.sailoakland.com.

An investment in Oakland’s waterways

About 15 years ago, in November 2002, more than 80 percent of Oakland voters passed Measure DD, a $198 million bond measure designed to improve various waterways in Oakland and the region’s estuary. Funding was earmarked for projects including parks, trails, bridges, creek restoration and more.

With oversight by the Measure DD Community Coalition, proceeds from the DD bonds fund projects throughout Oakland, including many at Lake Merritt. Work funded by Measure DD has transformed the area around the lake and created new opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy Oakland’s ideal climate. Learn more about Measure DD projects at www.oaklandnet.com/measureDD