Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park | |
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Contra Costa County | |
Coordinates | 37°56′05″N 122°17′09″W / 37.93472°N 122.28583°W |
Area | 2,429-acre (983 ha) |
Operated by | East Bay Regional Park District |
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is a 2,789-acre (1,129 ha)
History
The area was inhabited by Native Americans until 1772 when a group of "Catalan volunteers" led by
EBRPD announced on February 17, 2014 that it had acquired 362 acres (146 ha) of woodland on the east side of the park, which would be added to the park's existing 2,428 acres.[3] The addition will allow easier access for visitors from El Sobrante and Richmond (via a planned trailhead and staging area on San Pablo Dam Road) and connects the park to the Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area and San Pablo Reservoir.[1][4]
Flora
Wildcat has an abundance of wildlife both flora and fauna. There are
There are some native grasses, but non-native species like rye, barley, and oat dominate, however many kinds of native flowers are present.[2]
Fauna
With regards to animal life there are coyotes, foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, deer, California ground squirrels often thought to be gophers in addition to voles present.
Reptilian life includes gopher snakes, king snakes, western racers, garter snakes, rubber boas, ringneck snakes. In the skies red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, sharp shinned hawks, cooper's hawks, ravens, and turkey vultures fly and also great horned owls and many songbirds.[2]
Major trails
Wildcat Creek Trail - Runs along Wildcat Creek from the Alvarado Park staging area in Richmond into
Nimitz Way - Starting at Tilden Park's Inspiration Point, Nimitz Way (named after
Belgum Trail - Accessed from Wildcat Creek Trail about 0.5 miles from the Alvarado Park staging area, it climbs quickly over a relatively short 0.85 miles to Wildcat Canyon's meadows and provides excellent views of San Francisco Bay. The ruins of the Belgum Sanitarium and the palm trees planted by its founder, Hendrick Belgum, are visible from the trail.[2]
San Pablo Ridge Trail - Accessed from Belgum Trail or Clark-Boas Trail, which runs from the Clark Road park entrance in Richmond, the San Pablo Ridge Trail is a short 1.43 miles but climbs over three peaks. The trail connects at its southern terminus with Nimitz Way.[2]
Other features
Alvarado Park, a National Historic Place is the northernmost portion of Wildcat Canyon.
The two-mile (3.2 km) section in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park was a
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park hosts cattle who graze the hills of the park under a grazing program managed by the East Bay Regional Parks District.[2]
Accessing the Park
The park can be accessed via the following entry points:
- The main entrance and park office is the Alvarado Park area on Park Avenue in Richmond reached from McBryde Avenue.
- The Clark Road entrance in the northernmost area of the park is accessed off of San Pablo Dam Road.
- Rifle Range Road in El Cerrito
- Leisure Lane off of San Pablo Dam Road[2]
References
- ^ a b Jones, Carolyn (2014-02-16). "Contra Costa County getting a big chunk of new parkland". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g East Bay Regional Park District (May 2011). "Discover Wildcat Canyon" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
- ^ Downing, Bob (June 29, 2002). "East Bay Brilliance". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2022-05-07.
- ^ Jones, Carolyn. San Francisco Chronicle. "Big Tract of pristine acreage being added to East Bay hills parklands." February 17, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
External links
- Wildcat Canyon Regional Park at the East Bay Regional Parks District website
- Park Information and Trail Map from East Bay Regional Parks District website