Skateboarding
Skateboarding
10 top skateparks in the Bay Area
Whether you prefer a historic skatepark or something new and shiny, the Bay Area has something for everyone who wants to pick up a skateboard.
The Bay Area of Northern California holds a special place in skateboarding history. With its unique landscape of steep hills and gorgeous coastal views, skaters have been perfecting their craft in the Bay Area for decades.
It’s where hometown skateboarding legends such as Mike Carroll created and refined new skating techniques that are still used today. Part of the beauty of skateboarding is that creativity is encouraged, as Red Bull skateboarder Jamie Foy explains.
© Mahmut Cinci / Red Bull Content Pool
“Every day I’m thinking of something new to try or something that hasn’t been done before,” he says. “That’s what gets me excited to go skate. There are no rules. It’s just me and my board, having fun.”
Whether you’re looking to push skateboarding boundaries or simply learn to master the basics, Northern California is teeming with great skateparks. Read ahead to find the best skateparks in the Bay Area, from record-setting courses to stunning city views.
01
Potrero Del Sol Skatepark (San Francisco)
Located in San Francisco’s Mission District, this colossal 16,000-square-foot facility is the city’s largest skatepark. Head to 1361 Potrero Avenue and you’ll find tons of bowls, quarter pipes, and a street course, where you can practice from dawn until dusk. This Bay Area skatepark is also adorned with graffiti and colorful murals, which makes for great skating scenery.
02
Town Park Skatepark (Oakland)
The Town Park Skatepark is just a 15-minute drive from Potrero Del Sol, across the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge. The skatepark is located at 1651 Adeline Street in Oakland, within DeFremery Park, just off 18th Street. Open from sunrise to sunset, this East Bay course is full of bright-colored wooden ramps for all levels. You’ll also find rails, ledges, and a vert wall if you feel like defying gravity.
03
Lake Cunningham Regional Skatepark (San Jose)
Venture about an hour south of San Francisco on U.S. Route 101, and you’ll find San Jose’s record-setting Lake Cunningham skatepark, located at 2305 S. White Road. During the week, the park is open from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Friday. On weekends, it’s open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Note that the park requires an admission fee of $10, and you have to sign a waiver before skating.
Standing at a massive 68,000 square feet, Lake Cunningham is the largest skatepark in California. In addition to rails, boxes, and full and mini-sized bowls, it’s home to the world’s largest full pipe, largest cradle, and tallest vert wall.
04
Milpitas Skatepark (Milpitas)
Just outside of the East Bay, the Santa Clara County city of Milpitas, in the South Bay, is home to this 20,000-square-foot skatepark. The Milpitas Skatepark opened in October 2020 to a course full of rails, ramps, and walls. You’ll also find two bowls — one deep and one shallow for beginners and advanced skaters alike. The skatepark can be found within the Milpitas Sports Center Complex, at 1325 East Calaveras Boulevard. You can enjoy the park’s mix of transitions and its street-style course from 7 a.m. to 9.pm. every day.
05
SoMa West Skatepark (San Francisco)
Shaded underneath the Central Freeway, SoMa West Skatepark has become one of San Francisco’s favorite local skate spots since it opened in 2015. The 1712 Duboce Avenue skate plaza was inspired by famous skate spots from back in the day, such as Justin Herman Plaza. The park was built with the help of a donation from legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and is decked out with plenty of graffiti. Skaters can enjoy a range of bowls, ledges, banks, stairs, and transitions from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
06
Berkeley Skatepark (Berkeley)
Across the Bay, you’ll find this skatepark in Northwest Berkeley, just a few blocks from iconic Northern California punk venue 924 Gilman. This 711 Harrison Street skatepark is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with 18,000 square feet to enjoy. The course is great for street skaters, and features plenty of boxes, ramps, and bowls for practicing your next big trick.
07
City View Skate Park (Alameda)
Alameda is a short drive from Oakland, and near its former Navy base, you’ll find City View Skate Park. Sometimes referred to as Alameda Skatepark, the 1177 W Red Line Avenue course offers a blend of vert and street skating. The park is open during daylight hours and includes a range of ledges and hips. If you make it to this skating spot, you’ll understand how the park got its City View name. It offers a stunning view of the waterfront and the San Francisco skyline.
08
Fremont Skatepark (Fremont)
This skatepark is open from sunrise to sunset or 8 p.m. at 40500 Paseo Padre Parkway in Fremont. Here, skaters can enjoy a full acre of obstacles, making the park great for skaters of all levels. With a solid street course, along with plenty of bowls and rails, the park and its flow have proven a hit among locals.
09
Balboa Skatepark (San Francisco)
This San Francisco skatepark, located at 2096 San Jose Avenue at the corner of Ocean Avenue, features a great course for beginners. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is full of wooden equipment. This means you don’t have to worry about any impacts with concrete as you enjoy the park's rails, ledges, bowls, hips, and quarter pipes.
10
Hilltop Skatepark (San Francisco)
The Hilltop, also known as “The Dish,” has been a San Francisco fixture since the late 1970s. The 61 Whitney Young Circle park features banks, quarter pipes, and a bowl shaped like a guitar body that were renovated in 2016. You can skate from sunrise to sunset in this 16,000-square-foot course.
Leave your heart in a San Francisco Skatepark
California’s Bay Area is brimming with high-quality skateparks. From San Francisco to San Jose, skaters of all levels can relish in a range of courses. Whether you prefer a historic skatepark or something new and shiny, the Bay Area has something for everyone who wants to pick up a skateboard.
