A sunset is a natural phenomenon that occurs every evening. When the sun descends into the horizon and vanishes from view, vibrant colors paint the sky an orange-pink mosaic. Although this astonishing moment only lasts around 20 minutes, it happens everywhere on Earth. The Bay Area is an especially beautiful place for watching the sunset. All across the East Bay there are viewpoints where you can see the Golden Gate Bridge along with the beautiful city of San Francisco. Likewise, from San Francisco you can gaze out at the Pacific or back towards the East Bay.
Berkeley Marina
Although sunsets are beautiful from wherever you are, the Berkeley High School community has favorites. Olivia Smit, a Berkeley High School sophomore, recommended the Berkeley Marina for a gorgeous view of the entire Bay. Kirby Duncan, a BHS junior, recommended Ceasar Chavez park. These two viewpoints intersect on the shore, providing a clear view of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. Conveniently, both of these viewpoints are a 12 minute drive from BHS.
Indian Rock
Although these shoreline views are breathtaking, students also recommended many elevated views, especially in the Berkeley hills. In particular, students recommend Indian Rock Park, a vista near Marin Avenue and Arlington Avenue. From Indian Rock, you can see Berkeley and across the bay to San Francisco. The only drawback of this viewpoint is its popularity. It tends to get busy on weekends, making it difficult to find parking and seating. For a more secluded Berkeley Hills view, Ery Uno-Keefe, a BHS sophomore, recommends Cragmont Rock Park which is near Indian Rock Park but tends to be less crowded.
Grizzly Peak
Uno-Keefe also recommends Grizzly Peak Vista Point, often abbreviated to Grizzly Peak, which is located on the southern end of Grizzly Peak Boulevard. Commenting on Grizzly Peak and Cragmont Rock Park, Uno-Keefe said, “They’re very high up, and you can see a bunch of places, especially San Francisco, which I think is really pretty, even at night.” Lois Lee, a BHS junior, explained that generally the fire trials on Grizzly Peak have especially good sunset views.
San Fransisco
Matthew Carton, an English teacher and co-teacher lead in Academic Choice, loves returning to the city of his alma mater, San Francisco State University. “In Aquatic Park in San Francisco, across the street from Ghirardelli Square, there used to be a bench … I could see the little beach that they have there. You can see Alcatraz and there are nights when I was going to San Francisco State (University) where I’d just go out and sit on the bench … That was just a spot that I always loved. It was a nice, quiet spot,” he said. While the Aquatic Park bench will always be Carton’s favorite, he also loves Lands End Lookout. “Right there at the corner of where the bay meets the Pacific, there were days when I lived out in the Sunset District, where I’d go hiking out there, and the sun at particular moments got this color that you never see in the Bay Area, almost like a painting,” Carton said.
While we are able to enjoy beautiful sunsets most days, Sofia Frost, a BHS sophomore, explained she believes we overlook this privilege. “I think that a lot of people in the Bay have always lived in the Bay, so they don’t really know to appreciate the views that are there,” Frost said. “I think that you can see views anywhere you go, like going on a walk, basically just around your house, or to a park,” she added. Lee shares a similar perspective, “I know I don’t take advantage of it as much as I should… I think people should definitely, if you haven’t tried hiking up anywhere, take a day to hike, and it’ll be worth it.”
Although what can be considered a “good view” is very subjective, Lee describes her idea of a good view by saying, “If you have to take a pause to look at it ... then I think that is a good view.” Carton provided his thoughts on the matter, saying, “A good view means that you’re quiet, and quiet is good, and that you could just sort of be, because being is good … the important thing is just enjoying being present.”