Geologist's Walk Around Lake Merritt

Take this popular 3.6-mile walk around Lake Merritt to see the Ice Age landscape that surrounds our lake and learn its million-year history.

Back again for 2025! Led by Andrew Alden, author of Deep Oakland: How Geology Shaped a City. Limited to 25 people.

I'm passionate about geology and find a lot of it at Lake Merritt, from plate tectonics to ice-age landforms, all in plain sight but unseen by most people. We'll meet at the podium at the gateway to Children's Fairyland, under the stainless steel signage and next to the entrance to Lakeside Park. Be ready for a brisk walking pace on paved surfaces. We will stop about ten times, including several places with restrooms and water fountains. Park inside Lakeside Park or along or near Grand Avenue. The 12 bus line stops here, at Grand and Bellevue. The NL bus stops farther east at Perkins; walk west from there.

I'll send ticket holders my cell number before the event.