Tilden Nature Area & Little Farm
About
Free Working Farm Plus 740-Acre Nature Reserve
Tilden Nature Area is a 740-acre East Bay Regional Parks reserve in Tilden Regional Park's north end. The Little Farm is a free working farm where kids feed celery and lettuce to cows, sheep, goats, ducks, and chickens. The Environmental Education Center has live-animal displays.
What Kids Can Do
Little Farm is the marquee draw - bring celery or lettuce (cabbage, fruits, and bread are NOT allowed) and feed the cows, sheep, pigs, and goats. Environmental Education Center has live snake, lizard, and amphibian displays plus hands-on Pollinator Garden exhibits. Trails (Jewel Lake Loop is the family starter) loop through woods past Jewel Lake where kids watch turtles and herons. Naturalist-led programs weekends [marked: feed only celery/lettuce - signs at the farm explain the diet rule].
What's Included
Free day-use of farm, Environmental Education Center, and all trails. Some programs and group bookings free or low-cost through East Bay Parks.
Experience
Plan 2-3 hours. Almost entirely outdoor with indoor Education Center option. Bring water, sun protection, sturdy shoes (Berkeley hills cool/foggy mornings). Stroller-friendly main farm and Jewel Lake loop. Free on-site parking. EEC open Tues-Sun 10am-4:30pm.