The Sobrante Ridge Botanic Regional Preserve’s 277-acre oak/bay parkland preserves the habitat of the extremely rare Alameda manzanita as well as other indigenous plant and animal species. It is part of the East Bay Regional Park District.
A staging area at the end of Coach Drive serves as the trailhead for a two-and-one-half mile trail system that leads to ridgetop vistas of San Pablo and Richmond Bays, Mt. Diablo, and Mt. Tamalpais.
Wildlife abounds in the Preserve’s varied habitats of oak/bay woodland, coyote brush scrub, miniature “forest” of Alameda Manzanita, and open grassland. Coyotes stalk gophers in the tall grass; deer bed down by day in the tall thickets; salamanders sleep all summer buried in the woods; and golden eagles soar high above the ridge, scanning the ground for prey.
The wildlife refuge pond at the southeastern end of the Sobrante Ridge Trail, near the intersection of Conestoga Way and Castro Ranch Road, is home to a variety of birdlife, including many red-winged blackbirds. There are also benches and picnic tables overlooking the hillsides.
Park activities include hiking, dog walking, hillside picnics, bird watching, bicycling on approved trails and naturalist programs. Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve has three entrances; Conestoga Way, Heavenly Ridge Lane, and Coach Drive. The trails in this park consist of dirt fire roads and multi-use single-track trails, all of which have elevation gain and loss.
Dogs are welcome off leash on the fire road trails as long as they are under complete voice control and ok with wildlife.
