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Park Update
North Entrance
6500 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94618
South Entrance
6502 Broadway Terrace
Oakland, CA 94618
Phone Numbers
510-652-1155
Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4561
Local Weather
Movie ClipMaps
View Trail Map
Download PDF Map
Google Map
Transit & Trails
PanoramaPark Hours
Open between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted or permitted
Gate Hours
8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Park Events
Click HERE for upcoming events
Parking Fee
Apply April through October. $5 per vehicle (when kiosk is attended); $4 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25/per bus.
Dog Fee
$2 per dog. Guide/service dogs free
Grazing Information
Grazing in the Parks
Beach Access Fee
Apply April through October, see the Swim Facilities page
Camping Reservations
No reservable campgrounds
Picnic Reservations
1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2
Emergency Number
911
EBRPD Headquarters
1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757
Temescal Regional Recreation Area
- About The Park
- History
- Park Features
- Park Activities
- Park Video
- Park Accessibility
- To Reach The Park
- Trail Map
- Park Map
Notice
As of June 30, 2015, Lake Temescal is closed for swimming, due to toxic blue-green algae, until further notice.
About The Park
Located next to the junction of highways 24 and 13 in Oakland, Temescal is a convenient urban oasis, popular for swimming, fishing, sunbathing, and picnicking. Watch a movie clip.
Wildflower Photo Guide
> Temescal (1.8 Mb, 11 x 8.5, 14 pages 
)
| Submit Your Photos to the EBRPD Photo Pool |
History
Originally constructed as a storage lake for drinking water, Temescal opened to the public in 1936 as one of the District's first three parks. The handsome stone building overlooking its lake was constructed in 1940 by Works Progress Administration crews.
Park Features
Beach House
This historic indoor/outdoor facility is popular for weddings, parties, corporate events, etc. The setting is casual to elegant with a panoramic view of Lake Temescal. It accommodates 80 seated or 130 standing guests. It features a small food preparation room, two rooms connected into an L shape, a bridal changing room, and a patio surrounded by gardens. Catering is available. For more information call 1-888-EBPARKS OR 1-888-327-2757, press option 2. This facility is wheelchair accessible.
Park Activities
Swimming
The swim area is open spring through fall, with lifeguards on duty during posted periods. Swimming is permitted only in the designated swim area. Dogs are not allowed in the lake and the beach. Swimming is also allowed at your own risk when lifeguards are not on duty when the park is open from April through October. There is a beach access fee. Call the park office (510) 652-1155 for details or visit the Swim Facilities page.
> Current Water Test Results 
> Swim Beach Information
Hiking
A paved trail running the length of the park is wheelchair accessible. STAY ON TRAILS to help control erosion and to minimize contact with poison oak, which is abundant.
Fishing
The lake is stocked periodically with rainbow trout through the winter months and catfish in the summer. Other fish in residence include largemouth bass, red-eared sunfish, bluegill. Fishing is not allowed from the dam, in the swimming area, or in the stream.
Picnicking
There are picnic areas at both ends of the lake, several of them reservable for groups, and eight acres of lawn.
Biking
Bicycle restrictions apply within the park. Please observe posted restrictions. Bicycles must stay on the paved East Shore Trail or on the paved bike path along the park's eastern boundary, and riders must observe the 5 mph speed limit. During the summer swim season (April-September) bicycles must be walked through the swim beach area.
Park Video
You can save this movie to your computer in QuickTime format. If you don't have QuickTime, you may download QuickTime here.
Download Temescal Movie Clip (8.3 MB QuickTime movie)
Park Accessibility
Reservable Picnic Areas
North Temescal, Stream Side, Park View and Big Rock have accessible drinking fountains and barbeques. Stream Side and Big Rock are accessible by compacted gravel pathway. North Temescal and Park View are not wheelchair accessible.
Trails
Landvale Station Trail and East Shore Trail are wheelchair accessible. East Shore Trail has an accessible drinking fountain. West Shore Trail and Oak Bay Trail are not wheelchair accessible.
Dam Trail Accessibility Report: Download PDF format | Download Word format
Restrooms
All restrooms are wheelchair accessible.
Swim Area
Beach wheelchairs, intended to provide a means for wheelchair users to travel across the beach, are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis. They require an assistant to push and are not intended to enter the water. To arrange for use of a chair, call the park office at (510) 652-1155. Arrangements will be made to bring the chair out to the beach. It takes approximately 15 minutes to prepare the chair. Staff will give a brief orientation to the chair and arrange a time for the chair to be returned.
Beach House
This facility is wheelchair accessible.
Fishing Dock
The wheelchair accessible fishing dock and picnic table are located on East Shore Trail.
Playgrounds
The south playground and drinking fountain are wheelchair accessible. The north playground has no wheelchair access.
To Reach The Park
Temescal is located next to the Highway 24/Highway 13 interchange in Oakland. Ample parking is available at the north end of the park, accessible from Broadway. Limited parking is available at the south end, accessible from Broadway Terrace. To reach the larger north end lot from the south end, drive east on Broadway Terr., go under Highway 13 and turn left onto the Highway 13 on ramp. Transition onto Highway 24 east (Walnut Creek), exit at Old Tunnel Road, and turn right at the exit onto Broadway and proceed west to the north end parking lot entrance on the left. The north end entrance is the closest entry point to access the Beach House.
Public Transit
AC Transit: 511 or 817-1717; TDD (hearing impaired line)/TTY: 800-448-9790; website: www.transit.511.org; ParaTransit: 510-287-5000.
Transit & Trails: Temescal Regional Recreation Area (transit, biking, and walking directions)
Trail Map
Click the map image below to see an enlarged version.
When the 'Actual Size' map is viewable, you can 'Click-Hold and Drag' the mouse button (left on a PC) to reposition the map, as desired.
'Single-Click' on the 'Enlarged' or 'Actual Size' map to return to the park page.
