I do not usually wake up before the sunrise, however the mornings I do find myself awake before the sun have often been the most peaceful and wonderful moments during my time at Berkeley. Everything is so quiet and calm except for the sounds of birds chirping and squirrels running around. If you happen to find yourself awake at that early hour and not sure what to do you have come to the right place. This is a guide to how to have a peaceful and calm sunrise morning in Berkeley while the rest of the city is still sleeping.
The first thing I require when I wake up, especially when it is this early, is a big cup of coffee. Caffe Strada is a well-known coffee spot right next to campus and it opens at 6am. It is a great place to stop for an early coffee and a pastry before going to catch the sunrise. The best place to go see the sunrise is the Big C on the Fire Trails behind campus. A steep, but quick hike up to the Big C will give you a gorgeous view of the Bay while the sun comes up behind you. If you walk a little further beyond the turn off to the Big C you will reach the Fire Trails swing that has been there for a long time. Last year I actually met one of the people who built the swing during an adventure through the Fire trails. It is at a great spot on the side of the hill, so you can get both a view of the sunrise behind the mountains and its light reflecting off the Bay below.
The Fire Trails and Tilden Regional Park are also a great place to go for a morning trail run while it is still cool and quiet out. Grizzly Peak is a fun trail with views of the Bay and it is only about a 25 minute run to reach Lake Anza. You can reach Grizzly Peak and several other trails in Tilden by hopping on the Bear Transit Hillside Line. The early morning is also a great time to get a workout in at the campus gym. With most students still asleep, the early morning is arguably the best to go for a workout. If you are looking for a workout, but do not necessarily want to run or go to the gym that early, the Golden Bear Swimming Pool opens at 7am and is a nice pool to get a swim in.
After your workout, there are a bunch of yummy breakfast places to fill up at before a day of classes. If you’re looking for something cheap to quickly grab before running to class, then Sheng Kee bakery is the place to go. It is a Taiwanese-inspired bakery with a bunch of to-go pastries, snacks, and sweets. They also have coffee and tea if you need another caffeine boost. If you’re looking for something still cheap, but a little nicer, La Crepe a Moi has an amazing lemon crepe. Then cross the street and you can get some amazing coffee at Delah Coffee (highly recommend the Yemeni Latte). So, if you find yourself awake unusually early, then take the chance to explore the area while everything is quiet and still. Watch the sunrise, appreciate the peacefulness, and enjoy everything Berkeley has to offer in the early morning.