Claremont Hills, Berkeley, CA

Claremont Hills climbs sharply from Tunnel Road up to Grizzly Peak, with winding lanes that trace the ridgelines above Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve. Homes are mostly large 1980s–2000s contemporaries and modern rebuilds, many on stilts or terraced lots to capture sweeping Bay, canyon, or Mt. Diablo views. Streets are narrow, leafy, and quiet, with long driveways, minimal sidewalks, and very little through-traffic. Outdoor access is exceptional. Residents can slip onto the Stonewall-Panoramic or Claremont Canyon trailheads in minutes, and Grizzly Peak Boulevard’s overlook pullouts start right at the neighborhood’s crest. There are no shops within the boundary, but a five-minute drive drops you at the Claremont Club & Spa, Elmwood’s café row, or Montclair Village grocery options. Tunnel Road and Highway 24/I-13 ramps make the area surprisingly commuter-friendly for a hill district, though the final climb is steep and winding. Life here feels secluded and upscale. Evenings mean deer on the roadway, neighbors gathering for canyon hikes, and clear-sky stargazing free of city glare. Buyers are drawn to privacy, trail-at-your-door convenience, and dramatic views, offset by limited walkability to retail and the usual hillside concerns of narrow roads and wildfire preparedness.