Urban Trails East Bay. Alexandra Kenin
WILDFLOWERS
In the East Bay, wildflower season comes in spring, usually peaking in April. The flowers—natives and non-natives alike—arrive seemingly overnight, bringing splashes of vibrant color to the already verdant hills. Here are some popular varieties to look for, though there are so many more to see!
Lupine. There are many types of native lupine; one striking variety is the arroyo lupine, which is deep blue-purple with patches of white. This plant can be found throughout the entire state of California and can grow to more than two feet tall with columns of densely packed flowers toward the top. Look for the arroyo lupine along low-elevation hillsides with full sun. And look for other varieties of lupine along the trail, including the golden lupine, bush lupine, and more. These plants bloom predominantly between the months of February and May.
California Poppy. The native orange California poppy has been the state flower since 1903. The state celebrates poppy day on April 6 and poppy week May 13–18. At one to two inches across with four fan-shaped petals, these cheery blooms can generally be spotted between February and September.
Yarrow. Yarrow thrives in many places, but the varieties that grow natively in California produce lacy-looking clusters of white and pink flowers atop green one- to four-foot-tall stalks. They most frequently bloom in May and June. Native Americans used these plants as medicine, and they’re also a great addition to butterfly gardens.
Yellow Oxalis. Native to South Africa, this plant with cloverlike leaves and bell-shaped, almost neon yellow flowers was brought to California in the early 1900s. It blooms across grasslands from November to April, but seems to come out in full force in January and February just as spring arrives in the area. While beautiful, oxalis plants take light and space away from native wildflowers and are considered a nuisance.
A cluster of cheery California poppies brightens a trail at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline (Hike 4).
Wild Mustard. Hailing from Europe and Asia, wild mustard is thought to have been brought to California by Spanish missionaries who scattered seeds along El Camino Real to make the road easier to find. Now you can find these tall plants with small yellow blooms all over the Bay Area (and the state). Wild mustard crowds the habitat of native plants and is considered a nuisance.
Broom. Brought from Europe in the mid-1800s as a garden accent and soil stabilizer, broom grows as a dense shrub with fragrant yellow flowers and seedpods that look like peapods. While innocent looking, the plant is an aggressive invader that threatens native plants and is also a fire hazard.
Fragrant, but invasive broom flowers on a trail in Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve in spring (Hike 9).
Poison Oak. An unfortunate but common plant along East Bay hiking trails, poison oak contains urushiol, an oil that can cause a skin rash or blisters. Remembering the old adage “leaves of three, let it be” can help you avoid it.
To distinguish poison oak from other plants with clusters of three leaves, remember that poison oak leaves have smooth edges, rather than jagged ones, and can be green or red, depending on the season. The leaves somewhat resemble those of oak trees and are often shiny. In winter, when there may not be leaves to help you identify poison oak, stay away from smooth branches; if the plant you’re looking at has thorns, it may be blackberry. On official trails, you are unlikely to come into direct contact with poison oak. If you think you or your pet has been exposed, wash your clothes and your pet; the oil can linger on both. Several products on the market can remove poison oak oil from your skin in case of exposure.
WILDLIFE
The Bay Area is a thriving habitat for animals—those that are native to the area and those that have been brought in for grazing. One native animal you may see roaming throughout these parks is the coyote. Generally nocturnal, coyotes are most active early in the morning and at sunset. You are less likely to see one in the middle of the day. If you do encounter one, do not feed it (or any wildlife), don’t let your dog off leash, and don’t turn your back on it or run. Coyote attacks on people are very rare, but if a coyote approaches you, shout at it or throw small rocks near it (not at it).
More than coyotes, however, you will likely see cows in parks across the East Bay Regional Park District. The EBRPD currently uses 6000 cows, 1600 goats, and 1500 sheep to graze park grasslands, a process in place for more than fifty years. Grazing is used to reduce fire risk and encourage native plants and wildlife to thrive. Cows are rarely aggressive. If you encounter one, speak calmly and give it space. Don't walk through a herd or between a cow and its calf.
Ticks are also common in Bay Area parks. It’s a good practice to do a full-body tick check after each hike. If you find a tick on yourself, remove it with tweezers (be sure to get its head) and put it in a jar or plastic bag that you can keep in the freezer for later analysis if necessary. Wash the area with warm water and soap. While tick-borne illnesses are rare in the Bay Area, monitor bites for any suspicious changes in appearance.
Seeing a rattlesnake is also rare but still possible—especially in warmer months when snakes are more active. People have been bitten by rattlesnakes in East Bay parks, so pay close attention to your surroundings. Try to look at the ground ahead of you as you walk, look carefully around logs and rocks before sitting down, and avoid putting your hands or feet in places where you can’t see clearly. If you encounter a rattlesnake, keep your distance, and if you can’t go around it, turn around and walk the other way. Stay on marked trails and avoid brush where snakes may be hiding during the day. If you do get bitten, stay calm and call 911 as soon as possible.
Cows are a common sight on East Bay Regional Park District trails.
PERMITS, REGULATIONS, AND PARK FEES
Most of the hikes in this book are operated and maintained by the East Bay Regional Park District, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, and various cities. Most city parks do not charge an entrance fee. The same goes for EBRPD trails; however, some parks charge parking fees and fees for dogs that are not service animals. Most EBMUD trails require permits, available at www.ebmud.com/recreation/buy-trail-permit. You can choose from permits that are valid for one day, one year, three years, or five years.
Many people (myself included!) enjoy bringing their dogs with them on a hike. Some EBRPD parks allow dogs off leash and under voice control, while others require dogs to be on leash (six foot maximum length). A few parks don't allow dogs. For EBRPD parks that allow dogs, they must always be on leash in areas such as parking lots or staging areas, picnic areas, and areas signed accordingly. To learn more about the EBPRD’s dog rules, visit www.ebparks.org/activities/dogs/default.htm.
Dogs are prohibited in many EBMUD parks, but are allowed on the two EBMUD routes featured in this book, Lafayette Reservoir Rim Trail (Hike 26) and King’s Canyon Loop Trail (Hike 27).
Dogs are prohibited in most California state parks, including Mount Diablo State Park (Hikes 39 and 40)