against creating a new tax-and-spend agency with broad powers. So voters in the remaining seven cities—all in Alameda County—would have to support the initiative on their own. (It was not until 1964 that most of Contra Costa County was annexed to the East Bay Regional Park District, and it was in 1981 that the remaining part of the county joined.)
Although it was approved by a more than two-to-one majority, the East Bay Regional Park District still had no land, and it took more than a year and a half of negotiating with EBMUD to make the first purchase. But on October 18, 1936, opening ceremonies were held to dedicate three new regional parks: Wildcat Canyon (now Tilden Regional Park), Roundtop (now Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve), and Lake Temescal. New Deal agencies—the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the Works Progress Administration (WPA), and the Public Works Administration (PWA)—contributed money and workers to the District for projects that included the construction of parts of Skyline Blvd. and the administration building at Lake Temescal.
Next came the acquisition of Redwood Regional Park in 1939, and after World War II, Grass Valley (now Anthony Chabot Regional Park) in 1952. The 1960s brought a tremendous increase in EBRPD land acquisition under the leadership of William Penn Mott, Jr., including Briones and Coyote Hills regional parks, and Las Trampas and Sunol wildernesses. Mott, a former Oakland Superintendent of Parks, was the District’s general manager from 1962 to 1967, and later went on to become director of California’s Department of Parks and Recreation and then head of the National Park Service. Mott Peak in Briones Regional Park is named in his honor.
Attention turned in the 1970s to the shores of San Francisco Bay, which were losing open space and salt-marsh habitat at an alarming rate. The District responded by acquiring land for Point Pinole, Miller/Knox, Hayward, San Leandro Bay (now Martin Luther King, Jr.), and other regional shorelines. At the same time, inland parks such as Mission Peak, Morgan Territory, and Black Diamond Mines regional preserves were being developed. A system of regional inter-park trails, including the East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, was conceived at this time; many of the trails are in place now, with more to be developed in the years to come.
The twenty-first century will undoubtedly see a steady increase in the East Bay’s population, along with an increased demand for accessible outdoor recreation. Future District plans call for continued parkland acquisition and the improvement of existing park facilities. Other priorities include working to complete the planning of Eastshore State Park, creation of an environmental education camp for students at Arroyo Del Valle, and the continued development of programs to increase public awareness of the regional parks system.
Comfort, Safety, and Etiquette
Most of the trips in this book can be enjoyed with a minimum of preparation and equipment, calling for nothing more than sturdy footwear and plenty of water. Probably the biggest safety concern is driving around the Bay Area. And trail etiquette means simply being considerate of others and picking up after yourself (and your pet). However, the more detailed information that follows may enhance your outdoor experience.
Preparation and Equipment
A little common sense goes a long way when preparing for the outdoors. Be realistic about your level of physical conditioning—there are trips in this book to suit all abilities. None of the routes require anything more complicated than putting one foot in front of the other. Some, however, require you to do this for several hours or more, uphill and down. In addition to terrain, weather conditions such as heat, cold, and wind, can affect individual performance.
Although hiking is a “low-tech” sport, requiring little in the way of equipment, a pair of sturdy, well-fitting boots will increase your enjoyment and help prevent sore feet and mishaps like a fall or a twisted ankle. Today’s boots, many of them made of a combination of leather and synthetic materials, are designed more like running shoes—lightweight, flexible, yet supportive. Some models are lined with Gore-Tex, making them waterproof and breathable. Second only to boots in importance, socks are your next line of defense against sore feet and blisters. Use socks made only of synthetics or wool. Cotton socks retain moisture and will almost certainly give you blisters.
The East Bay climate is, for the most part, benign, so hiking here requires little in the way of specialized clothing. Whatever you wear should be comfortable and offer protection from the sun and hazards such as ticks and poison oak. Lightweight long pants and a long-sleeved shirt, combined with a hat, give the best protection. Avoid cotton: it retains moisture next to your skin and is slow to dry. The biggest challenge is coping with changing conditions. By carrying several layers—a lightweight pile vest and a waterproof/breathable jacket, for example—you can be prepared for sudden changes in the weather, such as wind, fog, and rain. Stashing a pair of lightweight gloves and an insulating headband in your pack is a good idea too.
Other items to take along include plenty of water, snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, map and compass, flashlight, knife, and basic first-aid supplies. Many hikers use a walking stick, or trekking pole, for stability and comfort. Binoculars, a hand-lens for plant study, and a pad and pencil are also useful. Try leaving your heavy field guides at home and instead make notes and sketches of birds or flowers you wish to identify. Please do not collect plant or flower specimens.
Maps
The East Bay Regional Park District has maps available at its trailheads, by mail, and from its website. A trail map of Mt. Diablo State Park is available at the park’s visitor centers and from the Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association. EBMUD has downloadable maps on its website. A map of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is available at the refuge visitor center. Walnut Creek Open Space & Trails Division has a downloadable map of Lime Ridge Open Space on its website.
There are two Olmsted maps for the East Bay, available at REI stores. The Northern Section map covers Tilden, Wildcat Canyon, and Briones regional parks, and EBMUD lands around San Pablo, Briones, and Lafayette reservoirs. The Central Section map covers Redwood and Anthony Chabot regional parks, Las Trampas Wilderness, Sibley and Huckleberry regional preserves, and EBMUD lands in the Upper San Leandro reservoir watershed.
Getting to the trailhead requires some navigation too. The California State Automobile Association (CSAA) gives its members free road maps. Most useful for the routes in this book is San Francisco Bay in the California Regional Series. The Thomas Guide’s Metropolitan Bay Area Street Guide and Directory is helpful for driving around the East Bay.
Transit Outdoors is a project of the Bay Area Open Space Council. The following address takes you to a web page devoted to accessing Bay Area parklands by public transit: http://maps.openspacecouncil.org/Outdoors.
Special Hazards
Most of the trails in the East Bay are clearly marked, and anyone with a map and basic map-reading skills will probably not get lost. Still, there are times when you get confused, make a wrong turn, or head off the beaten track to explore and lose your way. If this happens, don’t panic. Backtrack to the last point where you are sure of your position. Use map and compass, if you have them, to establish your position by sighting on identifiable landmarks. Altimeters are very useful if you have a map with elevation lines. A GPS (Global Positioning System) device may also be useful, but only if you have programmed the route in advance. Also, GPS devices vary in their ability to record an accurate position if the view skyward is obstructed.
Poison oak is a common Bay Area plant that comes in three forms—herb, shrub, and vine. Contact with any part of the plant produces an itchy rash in allergic individuals. “Leaflets three, let it be,” is the rule. In fall the shrub’s leaves turn yellow and red, adding color to the woods. In winter, upward-reaching clusters of bare branches identify the plant. Avoid contact with poison oak by staying on the trail and wearing protective clothing. Wash anything that touches poison
