About Lake Merritt - Wildlife Refuge:
Lake Merritt is almost a bird watcher's cheat. The proximity to birds of many species is unparalleled. It's a great place to learn about birds -- and an educational excursion for children as well.
The Lake Merritt refuge -- established in 1870 by Dr. Samuel Merritt (Oakland Mayor) -- is the oldest wildlife refuge in the United States. You'll see domestic ducks and geese at the Rotary Nature Center, as well as large numbers of wild birds and migrating ducks in the winter.
Rotary Nature Center Address
600 Bellevue Avenue (inside Lakeside Park)
Oakland, CA 94610
Phone (510) 238-3739
Rotary Nature Center Website
Visiting Lake Merritt:
Because Lake Merritt is an urban lake near downtown Oakland, access to the park is available on all sides of the three-mile perimeter.
First-time visitors should start at the Rotary Nature Center. The nature center has various wildlife exhibits as well as naturalists on staff during operating hours.
Just outside the Rotary Nature Center you'll find a large duck pond area with resident ducks and geese, herons, egrets, and an American White Pelican.
From the Rotary Nature Center, you can walk the lake in either direction, taking in the city views and many birds (and squirrels) along the way.
Getting to Lake Merritt:
From San Francisco:
- Get on the Oakland Bay Bridge (I-80 east)
- Once across the bridge, follow signs for I-580 east toward Downtown Oakland/Hayward-Stockton/CA-24
- Take the Grand Avenue exit
- Turn right at Grand Ave - go half a mile
- Turn left at Bellevue Ave
- Follow Bellevue Avenue past the boat house and to the Rotary Nature Center
Lake Merritt is also accessible by BART. Get off at the Lake Merritt BART station in Oakland and walk northeast on Oak Street until you get to the lake. You can also disembark at 19th Street in Oakland and walk five (long) blocks east along 19th or 20th.
Lake Merritt Trail:
A 3.5 mile walking and jogging trail runs the perimeter of Lake Merritt. In most places, the dirt trail skirts the edges of the lake, but there are points where the path will lead you onto the city sidewalk for a short span. You can also walk much of the lake on the sidewalk instead of venturing closer on the trail.
Rules & Regulations:
Lake Merritt is a wildlife sanctuary. As such the birds at the sanctuary are protected by law. Any harassment of birds (including chasing and yelling) can be punished by fines or even jail time. So when visiting, especially with young children, be respectful of the animals' space and approach carefully. The lake provides a unique opportunity to interact closely with birds that would otherwise be inaccessible. The interaction implies restraint on the part of humans.
Lake Merritt Sports & Activities:
Lake Merritt has an active boating center offering lessons in boating and sailing.
See also:
Lake Merritt Rowing Club
Open to all community members who wish to learn the sport of rowing or refine their skills
Lake Merritt Institute:
Click here for more information about Lake Merritt Institute -- an organization working for the preservation and restoration of the Lake Merritt wildlife refuge
The Lake Merritt Institute has more information on the lake environment, the animals, and the various efforts to protect the lake. You'll also find a with images of local wildlife as well as some of the work projects of the Institute.
Lake Merritt Restaurants & Shopping:
Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue at the east end of the lake both offer a variety of amenities from restaurants and coffee shops, to clothing stores and bakeries.
Leaving the Rotary Nature Center, take a right on Grand Avenue. Continue on Grand Avenue past the Grand Lake Theater to find the main commercial district.
For Lakeshore Avenue, take a right when you reach the Grand Lake Theater, then a left at the next traffic light. You'll be in the main commercial section of Lakeshore Avenue.
