Parkathon East Bay Parks Virtual Challenge

Get outside, explore new places, and enjoy nature while supporting our wonderful East Bay Parks and Open Spaces!  

A “virtual challenge” is something that anyone can do, any way they want (e.g. run. hike, bike, ride), any place they want (lots of choices!), and any time they want – between the start and end dates of the challenge.  You can do it by yourself, or you can FORM A TEAM virtually with your family, friends, coworkers, and others outside of your household.  Please help keep others safe and make sure to carry/wear a mask or face covering when visiting the parks and follow all COVID-19 and social distancing protocols.

The Parkathon East Bay Parks Virtual Challenge was created to encourage everyone to get outside and to visit and support more of our many East Bay parks and open spaces. We have so many parks and open spaces to choose from - so get outside and go someplace new!  YOU decide where you want to go, and how many parks you want to visit.  However, we do ask that you try to complete your challenge by doing the following minimum:

THE CHALLENGE

For this particular challenge, we ask that you VISIT AS MANY EAST BAY PARKS & OPEN SPACES AS YOU CAN before the end date of the challenge, currently March 31, 2021.  Try to meet some of these challenge milestones!

• Coyote Challenge: Visit at least 3 parks or open spaces during the challenge period

• Bobcat Challenge: Visit at least 10 parks or open spaces during the challenge period

• Peregrine Falcon Challenge: Visit at least 20 parks or open spaces during the challenge period

• Wildcat Challenge: Visit 30 or more parks or open spaces during the challenge period

WHERE TO GO! Visit as many of these local parks or open spaces as you can!

• One or more segments of the Bay Area Ridge Trail that are located in the East Bay. Suggestions: Pinole Valley Watershed; Anthony Chabot Regional Park to Lake Chabot;  Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail; Vargas Plateau Regional Park and more! For more info go to https://ridgetrail.org/trail-maps

• One or more of the parks in the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD).  There are 73 parks and over 1250 miles of trails in the EBRPD system!  Some of the oldest and best known are Tilden Park and Redwood Regional Park.  Try to pick at least one park that you have never visited before!  Suggestions: Garin/Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Parks,  Briones Regional Park;  Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve and more!  For more info go to https://www.ebparks.org/parks/default.htm

• One or more of the parks and opens space acquired or managed by the John Muir Land Trust.  Suggestions: Fernandez Ranch; Almond Ranch; Acalanes Ridge; Carr Ranch and more! For more info go to https://jmlt.org/get-involved/get-outside/

• One or more parks or open spaces managed by East Bay cities or municipalities such as Walnut Creek Open Space District, Cities of Berkeley, Oakland, Livermore, Concord, Pleasanton, Martinez, Danville, Pleasant Hill, Fremont, San Leandro, any other cities in the East Bay!  They all have parks!

• One of the California State Parks located in the East Bay, such as Mount Diablo State Park or McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.

• One of the National Park Service properties in the East Bay, such as the John Muir National Historic Site (Martinez) or Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park Monument (Richmond).

REPORT YOUR RESULTS!

Tell us which parks and open spaces you visited, and/or your total number of parks, in the Results section of this virtual challenge!  Earn additional badges for visiting more parks!  Since your results are self-reported, there will be no *winners," but you will be able see how you compare to others!

WHAT DO YOU GET FOR SIGNING UP?

• A Parkathon Hand-made Finisher Medal with your name and number of parks visited* (*based on whatever results you posted and self-reported here) to be sent out after the challenge ends.
• A downloadable printable Parkathon Race Bib that you can cut out and wear or take sefles with!
• A downloadable printable Certificate of Completion.
• An Online Results Page where you can submit your results and tell us which parks you visited on what dates!
• An Online Photos Page where you can upload the photos and selfies you take on trail!
• An invitation to join the Facebook Group for the Parkathon East Bay Parks Virtual Challenge, where you can also post photos and show others where you've been!
• You will have an opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation to one of our very worthy park charities.  (Registration fees are not considered a donation.)

OUR CHARITIES

The Parkathon East Bay Parks Virtual Challenge benefits the following very worthy park charities:

• Bay Area Ridge Trail Council
• East Bay Regional Parks Foundation

DONATIONS:  When you register/sign up for the Parkathon East Bay, you will be given the opportunity to make a donation that goes directly to whichever charity you choose.   Your donations keep our parks going strong, both now and for future generations.  Please use this opportunity to show your support!  

Let the Parkathon East Bay Parks Virtual Challenge begin!