Urban Trails East Bay. Alexandra Kenin
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GETTING TO KNOW THE EAST BAY
Before venturing out on these routes, it’s helpful to learn a little more about this region and its hiking culture. The sections below will help you become a more informed hiker before you hit the trails.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
The East Bay has a pleasant Mediterranean climate, and while there is some slight variation from year to year, the area’s annual weather patterns impact hiking conditions in a predictable way. For certain hikes, I note the best times of year to hike—and also when not to hike.
Winter is the area’s rainy season, and trails can be very muddy. This mud can range from a mild, slippery annoyance to a thick, sticky muck that is hard to navigate. And while it may seem obvious, winter can be cool, and you may get chilly on some hikes, especially those at higher elevations, so come prepared with appropriate clothing and layers. It also gets dark very early in the depths of winter, which may make completing longer routes during daylight hours challenging. One hike that’s best in winter is Mount Diablo Falls (Hike 39) as its seasonal waterfalls are at their most impressive in winter (or early spring) after a good rain.
Spring is a great time to hike in the East Bay. The rain begins to taper off, but the grasslands you see in many of the area’s parks are still green from the moisture they received in winter (and may stay green until at least the beginning of May). At the same time, wildflowers burst out of the soil, painting the parks with a rainbow of color. Temperatures are ideal for hiking, neither too hot nor too cold. And daylight saving time brings longer days, which means it’s a good time to start hiking longer routes again.
Summer can be challenging for hiking in the East Bay. Visually, it can be argued that the hikes are less scenic because the grasslands have turned from green to brown. While there is little chance of rain affecting your plans, temperatures can be very hot, and shade and water on some routes can be limited. Make sure you and your hiking companions protect yourselves from the sun and that both your human and dog companions have enough water. This is a great time to head into the shade on trails like Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve (Hike 15), Redwood Regional Park (Hike 16), and Dimond Park (Hike 19).
Fall can have the same mild weather as spring, but without the blooming wildflowers and green grass. Early in the fall, hot summer temperatures can remain, so bring enough water and sun protection. Starting in October, rain often returns to the area, bringing back green grass and cooler temperatures. When daylight saving time ends in November, it gets dark early, so it’s a good time to do shorter routes that don’t leave you hiking in the dark.
GEOLOGY AND EARTHQUAKES
In many people’s minds, the Bay Area and earthquakes are inextricably linked. In the East Bay, the Hayward Fault (part of the larger San Andreas Fault system) runs 70-plus miles through densely populated cities such as: Richmond, El Cerrito, Berkeley (including directly through Cal’s football stadium), Oakland, San Leandro, Castro Valley, Hayward, Union City, Fremont, and San Jose. The last big earthquake along this fault was a magnitude 6.8 quake that hit in 1868, destroying the city of Hayward, killing five people and injuring thirty. Scientists studying the fault found that the past five major earthquakes affecting it occurred every 140 years or so. Using this data in a model, a large earthquake should have struck this fault around 2008. Many scientists still believe this fault will get a major quake in the next 30 years.
There are also several minor faults in this area. If geology is your thing, check out Las Trampas Regional Wilderness (Hike 33), as the park lies on the Las Trampas and Bollinger Faults.
WILDFIRES
Unfortunately, wildfires are part of life in California, and the East Bay is far from immune to these disasters. In 1991, a catastrophic fire raged through the Oakland Hills, destroying nearly 3500 homes and killing twenty-five people. In recent years, the impact of wildfires has become more severe due to winter rains driving more plant growth in spring. When these plants dry out in the summer and fall due to lack of rainfall, they serve as kindling when a wildfire does break out. Increased temperatures mean that plants are drying out faster, and rainy seasons are starting later than before—both due to climate change. While natural causes (like lightning strikes) can cause wildfires, most wildfires are caused by humans. That’s why it’s more important than ever to leave no trace (see Outdoor Ethics later in this introduction for more information).
FLORA AND FAUNA
The Bay Area’s Mediterranean climate provides an ideal environment for plant life to thrive, including many varieties of native oak trees and redwoods, the tallest trees in the world. An unfortunate side effect of having a near-perfect growing environment, however, is that non-native and invasive plants flourish here too. On the trails in this book, you’ll see non-native eucalyptus reaching into the skies and non-native broom intermingling with the native lupine and California poppies at your feet. This section will help you identify the common trees and plants you’re likely to encounter on your hikes.
Numerous animals also call the Bay Area home. While there are too many species to mention in this short section, I share some information on animals you may see on the trail, from coyotes to cows to ticks to rattlesnakes. The general rule with animals on the trail is to leave them alone. Even a seemingly tranquil cow can charge you and your hiking companions if it feels threatened; be sure to keep dogs on leash near cattle.
COMMON TREES OF THE BAY AREA
The East Bay is filled with such a wide variety of trees—both native and non-native—that it can be hard to feel like an expert. However, if you can identify the three types of trees listed below, you’ll enjoy seeing them again and again as you hike throughout the region.
Oak. There are more than twenty species of oaks native to California, many of which thrive across the East Bay. One of the most common varieties is the coast live oak—the one that Oakland is named for. Oaks were an important part of life for the Native population, the Ohlone, who used the acorns to make flour for bread, soup, and more. In addition to the oaks you'll see throughout the parks I describe, you can see what remains of Oakland’s oldest oak (cut down due to disease in 2005) in Dimond Park (Hike 19), and you can see the tall Jack London Oak in front of Oakland’s City Hall on the Oakland Ale Trail route (Hike 24).
Green grass and oak trees