Leona Canyon Preserve

May is a great time to hike in the Leona Canyon preserve, which is located in the Oakland Hills. The canyon and hills are green from winter rains, and the wildflowers are blooming. The preserve is part of the East Bay Regional Park District’s network of parks and open space preserves. We took a short hike starting from the Merritt College trail head, but didn’t make it all the way down the canyon.

Lush vegetation on the Leona Canyon trail, near
the Merritt College trail head.

An interesting aspect of the trail is that to the East, the hillside resembles chaparral, and to the West, woodlands. This is typical of the San Francisco East Bay, where sunny facing slopes are dry with sparse vegetation, and shaded slopes, which are shrouded in coastal fog for longer periods, support lush vegetation.

Taking a breather to enjoy the canyon view. You can see
the difference in vegetation between the hill on
the left and the one on the right.

I am interested in seeing native plants in their environment, to learn more about what grows naturally in the area, and to consider what might be adapted to my shady garden. The brochure at the trail head is very informative about native plants, and their uses by the Ohlone people who lived in the area. The trail has corresponding markers for the information described.

To learn more about the East Bay Regional Park District: http://www.ebparks.org/. To learn more about the Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve, see the Teacher’s Trail Guide publication on Leona: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/leona.

To get to the Preserve:
There are two trail heads – one from the Merritt College campus, and one from Oaks Canyon Drive off Campus Drive.

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