Roberts Pool

Yay, I finally made it here after wanting to come for years. Unfortunately it was the last day of the season and a hot day so it was kid central but luckily they have a section roped off just for adults (deep end, you need to take a swim test to have access). The temperature was just right and not too much chlorine.
When we first arrived the sign said it was full but the guy at the gate was nice enough to let us in and get a number (I think they were supposed to call us if there were any openings but they never did). After a nice drive and a quick visit to the nearby space center gift store we came back to a still busy pool but they let us in.
So cool being under the redwoods. Will definitely come back next year!

As public pools go this one is great. It’s in a somewhat hidden area, that is primarily accessible via car, and the adjacent parking lot is a pay lot, but all in all that’s pretty good. The setting is amoungst the redwoods (hence the name) but that doesn’t mean that its shady. The recreational swim hours during the summer months make this a destination for many. Needless to say it gets packed in the pm, which makes ‘swimming’ hard. But its a public pool, so don’t expect an empty pool anytime the thermometer gets above 80 degrees.
That said, heavy on the chlorine, but again this is a public pool. You should have expected that by now. The grassy knoll next to the pool makes for an excellent picnic spot, and the bathrooms are clean, if a bit worn down. I’ve been many times and it’s work the price of admission every time.

Roberts Pool is a perfect spot if you have a child that loves to swim and you want a nice relaxing place to lounge and read. They do have vending machines, bathrooms, lifeguards, and the pool is heated. The lifeguards here are pretty strict, I just wish they were more strict at the few ratchet people that come and like to yell curse words across the pool (that happens rarely but I have seen it). It is only a couple bucks to get in but you will have to pay a $ 5 parking fee which kinda sucks because they have no street parking (but you do get access to a playground, hiking trails & your car is pretty safe.) Anyway the staff is excellent, the last time I was there I had a missing teenager in our group and the entire staff was all over that park, they found her within 5 minutes. I do adore this place and will be a regular during the summer.

I’m 13. I went to this pool with my 10 year old brother. We went in after passing the swim test. 5 minutes in we decided to play a game where my brother hangs on to my back and I try to buck him off. This happened in the shallow end. Almost immediately, a lifeguard shouted, «Hey buddy!!» addressing my brother, «you can’t hang on to the back of someone under 16!» What the heck? 5 minutes later, very bored, we got our goggles to swim underwater. The same lifeguard yelled at us again. «Hey buddy! You can’t wear those goggles because they have a nosepiece!» Are you serious? Very frustrated, we left.

I came down here on a Tuesday thinking it wouldn’t be so pack, but it was. Summer is just one of those things where it gets everybody crazy about finding pool to jump in. The park itself is nicely tucked away in the Oakland hills. Even if you decided not to swim, you have the option to explore its surrounding area. The trails behind the park can lead you to one of two destination. The first is Chabot Observatory and the second is Redwood park. Going back to the Robert’s pool, the pool itself is nice in that there aren’t too many swimmers on the swimmers end of the pool. Unlike the swimmers end of the pool, the non-​swimmers end tends to gather a large crowd even on the weekdays. Unlike those local concrete pools that I am used to going to; its nice to see the trees and grass at the park. You can definitely come here and bath in the sun or stick it out under the trees while your kids swim or etc. Overall, the pool is recommended for those that can swim. They even have a 15 minute break where its adults only. Can’t ask for more than that! Definitely drop by here and see it for yourself. THE REASON FOR THE 1 STAR IS BECAUSE ONE OF THE LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY (tall thin 5’5″ white female w/​somewhat of a curly hair). NOT ON ONE OCCASION BUT THREE OCCASIONS DID SHE FAILED TO NOTICE NON-​SWIMMERS ON THE SWIMMERS END. THERE WAS A SAD MOMENT WHEN I APPROACHED ONE OF THE LIFEGUARD AT THE LIFE VEST AREA, INFORMING HIM ABOUT WHAT I HAD NOTICED. IT WAS EVEN WORSE AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THERE WAS AN ACTUAL NON-​SWIMMER WHO JUMPED INTO THE SWIMMERS END THINKING HE COULD MAKE IT TO THE NON-​SWIMMER END WITHOUT PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY HE DIDN’T MAKE IT QUITE THERE… A BYSTANDER HAPPENED TO BE IN THE WATER AT THE TIME WENT TO HIS RESCUE. THE LIFEGUARD THAT I WAS INFORMING WENT TO CHECK ON THE GUY STATUS. WHILE ALL OF THIS WAS HAPPENING. THE FEMALE LIFEGUARD WAS JUST DUBIOUS TO HER SURROUNDING. AT THE END OF THE DAY, BEFORE I LEFT. I MADE A COMMENT TO THE LIFEGUARD THAT I WAS TALKING TO. I TOLD HIM, «STAY ALERT» AND HE REPLIED, «SERIOUSLY» (IMPLYING THAT THE OTHER LIFEGUARD NEEDED TO DO THEIR JOB). AGAIN IF YOU CAN’T SWIM, STAY AWAY FROM THE SWIMMERS END, BUT IT DOESN’T JUSTIFY THE LACK OF SUPERVISION FROM THE LIFEGUARDS END! WHAT IF I WAS DROWNING??? WOULD SHE HAVE NOTICED UNLESS SOMEONE POINTED IT OUT TO HER?

My friend brought me here when she was giving me swimming lessons. This is definitely one of the better public pools that I’ve been to. It’s clean, well-​maintained, and pretty secluded because the pool is kind of located at the base of a hill. You share the space with other chill swimmers and the occasional water aerobics class. It’s cheap and with the added bonus of swimming laps while being surrounded by big, beautiful redwoods. If that’s not peaceful, then I don’t know what is…

I used to come here for field trips. It was fun.
But like didnt a kid drown here or somthing last summer?
Who knows I know I liked to just chillax in the Pool

What a great place to spend a nice summer day swimming. The price is right and the water fine.
Enjoy!

This is truly a hidden gem. It’s a public outdoor pool smack dab in a Redwood grove! The only downside is that it’s not open year round. The operating hours are May through September with varying days and hours. You should call (510) 482‑0971 for current hours of operation. The access fee for adults is $ 3. What better way to swim but inside a forest??! And, you can have a picnic afterwards too.