Our first East Bay watershed park visit of the year is to
Redwood Regional Park, situated in the hills between Oakland and Moraga. My
friend, colleague, and swimming buddy, Leslie, joined me for a hike and chance
to explore this emerald gem. We hoped we wouldn’t be rained out, but were
fortunate to visit the park during a brief lull in the heavy February rains. We
entered through the Redwood Main Entrance.
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| Redwood Main Entrance |
The park is over 1800 acres of lush evergreen forest,
chaparral, and grasslands. Redwood Creek passes through the forest, close to walking
and bridle trails. Because of the heavy rains, the stream was full of water. The
trees of the redwood forest are descendants of a coastal redwood stand that
once stretched from Rancho de San Antonio
to El Rancho de Los Palos Colorados
land grants (Alameda, Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro, and Lafayette). Imagine!
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| Stand of redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) |
In the 1800s, the original, old growth trees served as a landmark that helped
ship captains navigate the treacherous waters of the San Francisco Bay. Several lumber mills operated in the area throughout the 1800s and the wood used to build the homes of San Francisco and Oakland. Later
the area was used for homesteading, ranching and grazing, and growing orchards
or crops.
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| Redwood Creek full of water |
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| Picnic area and amenities |
Leslie and I enjoyed our time walking the accessible paths
and trails of the second growth redwood forest. We didn’t see any blossoms, but
the moss and ferns were lush and beautiful. We encountered families, hikers, and joggers out enjoying the break in the rain. One group was
exploring for mushrooms in nearly perfect conditions.
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| Photo op |
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| Signage |
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| Riparian restoration |
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| Fern lined path |
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The areas along the creek are being restored to safeguard
habitat for native newt and trout, so sections of the creek and various trails
are closed. Still, we found plenty to see. Afterward we enjoyed lunch
and conversation at nearby Hunan Yuan Restaurant.
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