Berkeley’s West Campus Pool on Browning Street is one of the city’s two heated pools. Credit: Julie Herson

For the hot days of summer, here are a few of our favorite Berkeley spots to cool off in the water, each paired with a recommendation for a spot nearby to get a sweet treat. 

City-run pools

King Pool is a heated outdoor pool that offers year-round swimming. The location is convenient to the Hopkins Street shops.

Where: 1700 Hopkins St., inside King School Park
Price: $7 for residents or $58 for a 10-swim pass, must be purchased online in advance.
When: Check the schedule.
Post-swim treat: You’ll find cool drinks at many of the shops on Hopkins. We love the patio at Hopkins Cafe (formerly Espresso Roma).

West Campus Pool is the city’s other heated outdoor pool. The same online admissions system applies. Use your swim passes at either city pool, but you cannot share a 10-swim pass between swimmers.

Where: 2100 Browning St.
Price: $7 for residents or $58 for a 10-swim pass
When: Check the schedule. 
Post-swim treat: Kids love to pop over to Foster’s Freeze on University Avenue.

UC Berkeley pools

The Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area and Golden Bear Pool serve the UC Berkeley community, but allow others to purchase day passes (in advance, online). 

Those affiliated with UC Berkeley also have access to the on-campus Spieker Aquatics Complex; students, faculty, staff, and alumni may enroll in the RecWell program to pursue use of that pool.

Strawberry Canyon Recreation Area offers a large lap pool with a big grassy area for swimmers to take in the sun. This seasonal pool is open on weekends only.

Where: Centennial Drive just East of Stadium Rim Way
Price: Day pass fees are $15 for adults, $5 for kids under 12, kids under 3 are free. You must buy admission online through a system that requires registration. 
When: The hours are limited, so you’ll want to check the schedule.
Post-swim treat: Head straight to Menchie’s on Euclid Street for frozen yogurt.

Golden Bear Pool, a year-round heated pool, is dedicated to lap swimming.

Where: Sports Lane at the top of Dwight Way
Price: Day pass fees are $15 for adults, $5 for kids under 12, kids under 3 are free.
When: You must buy admission online through a system that requires registration. The hours are limited, so check here.
Post-swim treat: After a workout, go to The Station in the Claremont neighborhood to refuel.

A dip in the lake

Lake Anza sits inside Tilden Park —  a real beach experience in Berkeley, run by the East Bay Regional Park District. Enter through the gates after paying admission and spread out your towel for sun, sand and swimming. 

Where: Lake Anza Road off Central Park Drive
Price: $5 general admission; $3 for kids 2-17, seniors, and disabled persons
When: Open daily, June 1-Aug. 14, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Open weekends and holidays, May 16-Sept. 27. Note: There are occasional E. coli and blue-green algae flareups. Keep an eye on water conditions.
Post-swim treat: You don’t need to leave the lake for your treat. An onsite concessions stand opens around noon each day and sells deluxe milkshakes!

Members-only pools in Berkeley

Berkeley City Club Pool, designed by Julia Morgan (along with Hearst North and the famous Hearst Castle pools), is only open to members and hotel guests, but is worth going in and gawking at even if you can’t take a dip.

Claremont Resort & Club Pool, where the “Mrs. Doubtfire” pool scene was filmed, is also only available to members and hotel guests. You don’t have to be a member to book a swim lesson ($50 for 30 minutes), which gets you into the facility for the day; book one for your toddler and the whole family can get in. 

Berkeley YMCA, a no-frills indoor pool, is members-only but ask for a free guest pass and show your photo ID and you might get lucky. 

Worth a drive from Berkeley

Piedmont Community Pool is pricey ($22 per visit for non-resident adults; $18 for seniors; $14 for youth) but offers a new sparkling facility that welcomes drop-in swimmers. 

Roberts Pool Complex in Oakland is a recently renovated facility located in a park at the top of the hills, with real grass to lounge on and adjacent to a large playground, picnic facilities and redwood-studded hiking trails.  

Larkey Park Swim Center in Walnut Creek is a favorite for little ones as the attached splash pad offers squirting, spraying and sliding fun.

Crown Beach in Alameda is 2.5 miles of shoreline, including a protected cove, creating a wave-free ocean experience with a view of San Francisco’s skyline.

El Cerrito Swim Center includes a large lap pool, a recreation pool with zero-depth entry and a splash pad for children with exciting water spray features, open during select hours.

510 Families keeps track of all the family-friendly fun in the East Bay. See their full list of kid-safe swim spots in the greater East Bay.

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