Diablo Fit: Four Wildflower Hikes to Bring in the Spring

The four best places in the East Bay to stop and smell the flowers—while they last.

Spring is here. And you know what that means. It’s finally time for Johnny-jump-up and the Horehound, the Blue Witch and the Winter Vetch, Butter-and-Eggs and the ever illusive Ithuriel’s Spear. Confused? Well don’t fret. These are just a few of the many indigenous wildflowers here in the East Bay.

Last Saturday the Sunol Regional Wilderness held its seventh annual Spring Wildflower Festival, and among the myriad eco-activities and topics, wild flower hikes were on the top of the pile. Visitors wanted to know where to find them, how long the season would last, and what types of flowers they could see.

Standing in her white booth, Gail Broesder, a naturalist for the East Bay Regional Park Districts Southeast Interpretive Sector, was eager to answer her visitors’ questions and direct them to tours.

“You’ve got multiple places, and a wide variety of places to hike in the East Bay. From a mile, to three miles, to backpackers hiking more than 20 miles,” Broesder said with a smile and emphasized that there are many options within the East Bay Regional Park District’s 65 Parks and its more than 98,000 acres of wilderness.

Narrowing the scope, she and fellow Sunol naturalist Anthony Fisher highlighted a few areas—such as EBRPD’s Briones, Redwoods, Las Trampas, and Sunol Regional Parks—where hikers might be able to see some quality concentrations of wild flowers.

Yet, while there are many trails to choose from, the window of opportunity is closing fast. Broesder estimates that the wildflowers will be gone by early to mid-May, depending on heat conditions. Check below for more details on these great hiking locations.

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1. Redwoods Regional Park

This hidden redwood forest tucked a few miles behind the ridge of Oakland’s downtown area used to be San Francisco’s primary logging supply source for building materials during the mid-1800’s. Today it boasts 1,829 acres and is covered by a healthy collection of Sequoias, evergreens, chaparral and grassland. Broesder says that it is one of the Bay Area’s few spots where you can hike under the shaded shelter of the tall trees. This is also one of her favorite spots to go.

Trailhead: Skyline Gate Staging Area
Recommended Route: Skyline Gate to Ridge Trail to Tres Sendas to Stream Trail back to the parking lot.
Distance: About 3 miles
Web site: ebparks.org/parks/redwood
 

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2. Sunol Regional Park

It could be said that this expansive 6,859-acre park is one of the best for wildflower hikes. With rich soils and vast stretches of meadows that are interwoven between standing hillsides and meandering creek beds, the park offers an incredible environment for wildflower growth. Originally, and even today, this land has been used for cattle grazing and multi-use recreation.
Other benefits include guided nature hikes and special events hosted by the Sunol naturalist staff.

Trailhead: Indian Joe Trail near parking lot off of Geary Road
Recommended Route: Indian Joe Trail to Canyon View Trail and back to parking lot on Ohlone Road.
Distance: About 3 miles
Web site: ebparks.org/parks/sunol
 

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3. Las Trampas Regional Park

Las Trampas Regional Wilderness is located on two major Bay Area faults: the Las Trampas, for which it share its name, and the Bollinger faults. Hidden within the 5,342 acre park is an expanded trail system that passes through clusters of black sage, buck brush and fossil-bearing rock. The name Trampas is Spanish for traps, which were used to capture game in the early 1800’s. The park still has quite a few wild animals that roam through it, such as raccoons, foxes, opossums, and the occasional bobcat.

Trailhead: Parking lot at the end of Hemme Ave
Recommended Route: Hemme trail then left on Madrone Trail then to Corduroy Hills Trail to Ridge Trail to Sulfur Springs Trail to Williams Trail back onto Madrone Trail to Hemme and finishing at the parking lot.
Distance: About 8 miles, steep
Web site: ebparks.org/parks/las_trampas
 

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4. Briones Regional Park

Topographically, Briones is known for its steep undulating hillsides and a wealth of trails that cut over and around many its rounded peaks. There are also a variety of scenic vistas within the 6,117-acre wilderness, and visitors can see panoramic views of the Diablo Valley, the Delta, Mt. Diablo, and Mt. Tamalpais. Like Sunol, this regional park is also know for some of its lush wild flower displays.

Trailhead: Parking lot near Park office off of Alhambra Valley Road
Recommended Route: Pine Tree Trail to Toyon Canyon Trail to Lagoon Trail loop then back to Toyon Canyon and Pine Tree Trails to parking lot.
Distance: About 3.5 miles
Web site: ebparks.org/parks/briones

 

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