Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business 
Castro Valley is an unincorporated community in Alameda County, set in a green valley among the East Bay hills just east of Hayward and San Leandro. It is named for Don Guillermo Castro, who held the large Rancho San Lorenzo here in the 1840s. After the Gold Rush the valley was farmed for grain, orchards and poultry, and it grew into a busy suburb after World War II, though it has never become a city.
Castro Valley Boulevard is the heart of the community, with local shops, the long-running Lucca Deli and the Castro Valley Marketplace, a public market with food stalls and local vendors. Murals and public art add color to the boulevard, and BART links the valley with the rest of the Bay Area.
The surrounding hills offer plenty of outdoor space. Lake Chabot Regional Park lies just to the north with a lake and wooded trails, Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park hosts a rodeo and events, and the Cull Canyon and Five Canyons areas offer hikes with valley views.
Anthony Chabot Regional Park covers about 3,000 acres of eucalyptus forest and grassy ridges in the hills above Castro Valley, with long hiking, biking and horse trails, a campground and a shooting range. It links with Lake Chabot. Trails are hilly, so bring water and pick up a trail map at the entrance.
Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a small East Bay park in a wooded canyon north of central Castro Valley, with a reservoir for fishing, lawns, picnic sites and short trails. It is a quiet spot for a family picnic. Check the park district site for current swim and fishing rules, as they change.
Don Castro Regional Recreation Area sits on the Castro Valley and Hayward border, with a lake trail, fishing spots, picnic areas and a swim lagoon with lifeguards in summer. It is a favorite family swimming place on hot days. The lagoon has a fee and limited season, so check opening dates before going.
Five Canyons Open Space is a network of trails through grassy hills and oak canyons in the Five Canyons neighborhood of Castro Valley. Paths link toward Don Castro and Garin parks and offer views over the valley and the bay. Trails are steep in places and exposed, so go in the morning and bring water.
Willow Park Golf Course is a public 18-hole course in a canyon setting along Redwood Road beside Anthony Chabot Regional Park. Tree-lined fairways and creek crossings make it a scenic round, and it has a restaurant. Book tee times online, and expect cool morning fog in the canyon in summer.
Rowell Ranch Rodeo Park hosts the Rowell Ranch Rodeo, a professional rodeo held each May since the 1920s, with bull riding, roping, barrel racing, a parade and country music. It sits on Dublin Canyon Road at the edge of Castro Valley. Buy tickets ahead, and bring sun protection for the open stands.
The Chabot Theater is a classic movie theater on Castro Valley Boulevard that opened in 1950, keeping its vintage marquee and neon. It shows new films at friendly prices and hosts special screenings. Tickets are cheaper than at large chains, and the old-style lobby is part of the charm.
The Adobe Art Center in Castro Valley is a community art gallery and studio run by the local park district, with rotating shows of work by local artists plus classes in ceramics, painting and drawing. Exhibits change regularly and are free to view. Check the open hours, as the gallery keeps limited days.
Castro Valley Boulevard is the main street of Castro Valley, lined with family restaurants, bakeries, coffee shops and local stores, many of them long-running independents. Recent streetscape work added wider sidewalks and trees. It is easiest to explore on foot after parking once along the boulevard.
Castro Valley Marketplace is an indoor market hall on Castro Valley Boulevard with a grocery, butcher, bakery, coffee, wine and beer bar and several food vendors under one roof. It is a popular local meeting spot. Come hungry at lunch or for an early evening drink, and use the parking lot behind the building.
No reviews yet. Been to Castro Valley? Be the first to share your experience.
Share what you loved, what to skip and tips for other travelers.
Log in to write a reviewBeen to Castro Valley? Add your best shots to the gallery.
Log in to add photos
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
California, United States
Photo: Lights and freedom, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mercurywoodrose, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Pi.1415926535, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Lights and freedom, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lights and freedom, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Mercurywoodrose, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Clyde Charles Brown, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: (WT-de) Mistoffeles, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Pi.1415926535, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Naddruf, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lights and freedom, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Photo: Pi.1415926535, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Pi.1415926535, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mike Linksvayer, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Photo: Yougen Zhu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Yougen Zhu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Yougen Zhu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Yougen Zhu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Lights and freedom, Wikimedia Commons, CC0