Discover Wildcat Canyon EL SOBRANTE Sobrante Kennedy Grove Ridge Regional Regional A Recreation servoir PP Preserve San Pablo Re IA Area ALVARADO PARK is at the north end of Wildcat N DAM ROAD

W Wildcat Year opened: 1936 Acres: 2,789 A SAN PABLO Botanic Canyon Regional Park. This area began as a private park Y D Garden Highlights: Hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnicking, ROA Tilden in 1909 and was taken over by the City of Richmond Wildcat R. BL. Regional ARK D surviving structures from Works Progress Tilden S. P Canyon Park . in 1923. It remained a city park until 1985, when it was Nature YN PEAK Regional AT C Canyon C Administration work projects completed in the 1930s. Area ILD Claremont transferred to the East Bay Regional Park District to Park W Canyon

GRIZZLY Did you know? This park originally included today’s E Regional D Preserve become part of Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. The Y UE SPRUCE

R N TON AVE BERKELEY B ARLING Regional Park Tilden Regional Park, which was split off in 1937 c TELEGRAPH AV

original facilities at Alvarado Park included an open-air M AV. MARIN OXFORD

BL. SHATTUCK AV. and renamed in honor of Charles Lee Tilden, the pavilion and dance platform, later converted to a roller EL CERRITO Park District’s first general manager. Richmond, San Pablo, El Cerrito rink. These are now gone, but masonry work, retaining 80 BART .

SOLANO AV. walls, a stone bridge, and stone light standards remain. CUTTING580 Fees: there are no fees at Wildcat Canyon. 123 HARBOUR RICHMOND Alvarado Park is considered a unique variation on GERRARD BL. 80 Point Isabel SAN ASHBYPABLO AV. AV. WAY Regional 580 the National Park Service-style of “rustic park archi- Shoreline UNIVERSITY AV. HISTORY Today’s Wildcat Canyon Regional Park tecture.” Its stone masonry was constructed during 13 is likely located entirely within the homeland of the the City of Richmond’s ownership through various McLaughlin Miller/Knox Eastshore D Regional Huchiun, an Ohlone tribe whose members spoke the O Depression-era work programs. Because of these R Shoreline State Park N AN Brooks Island

Karkin language. The Huchiun thrived for generations unique features, Alvarado is included in the National D Regional Preserve R North in a region that extended from today’s Temescal Creek, Registry of Historic Places. . north to at least the lower San Pablo and Wildcat Creek 0 1 2 3 45 Miles 80 GEOLOGY AND WILDLIFE The hills and valleys drainages. They used land management techniques that in Wildcat Canyon are marked by squatters’ struggles caused the plant materials and the shellfish they harvest- and water wars. Old and fresh landslides and slumps 5755 McBryde Ave., Richmond, CA. ed, and the other animals they netted, trapped, snared, are numerous. Springs and ponds are common. Small To reach Alvarado Park and the Wildcat Canyon and variously hunted, to occur in larger and healthier earthquake faults have left their traces. Large coast Staging Area: From El Cerrito, take I-80 east to Rich- populations than if they never used them. The 1772 and live oaks, bay laurels, and a scattering of bigleaf maples mond and exit at Solano Avenue. Turn left at the bottom of 1776 arrival of Spanish expeditions signaled a time of se- and madrones grow on east-facing slopes. North- the off ramp onto Amador St. Continue on Amador, turn vere disruption, dislocation, and upheaval. Despite these facing hillsides support nearly pure stands of bay laurel right at McBryde Ave., and continue to the first stop sign. changes, today’s Ohlones are bringing ancestral cultural fringed with coast live oak. Moist chaparral of coyote The entrance to Alvarado Park is on the left. Park on the traditions forward into the future. street and walk across and into Alvarado Park. To reach brush, poison oak, elderberry, snowberry, bracken the staging area and trail access, continue straight, through By 1840 most East Bay land had been parceled out fern, and blackberry grow high on north-facing slopes. in land grants, and Juan Jose and Victor Castro were the stop sign, onto Park Ave. Wildcat Canyon Staging Area A riparian forest of alder, willow, creek dogwood, is approximately .25 miles ahead. From North Richmond awarded all vacant lands between the already established and bay laurel grows in the gorge of bedrock-cutting ranchos. The Castros kept a small portion, and specu- and Pinole, take I-80 west to the McBryde Ave. exit. At Wildcat Creek. The west- and south-facing canyon the bottom of the ramp, turn left and follow McBryde Ave. lators shared the rest with a water company and the slopes are covered with introduced annual grasses to the second stop sign. The entrance to Alvarado Park is township of Orinda. At this time the streams and springs (oat, rye, barley, etc.). A few stands of native bunch ahead on the left. Follow the directions above to reach the of Wildcat Canyon became the focus of a struggle over grasses persist. The re are many native wildflower Wildcat Canyon staging area and trail access. water rights. In the mid 1920s, when the East Bay Mu- species competing with introduced plants as poison Public Transit: AC Transit #70 and #74 stop at San Pablo nicipal Utility District brought Mokelumne River water hemlock, mustard, radish, and cardoon thistle. Dam Road and Clark Road weekdays with an approx. to the East Bay, the “water wars” came to an end. Foxes, raccoons, skunks, and opossums range 1-mile walk to the Clark-Boas Trail. Line #67 goes to Griz- In 1936 the East Bay Regional Park District acquired nightly through the canyon. Deer, ground squirrels, zly Peak Blvd. and Spruce St. daily and into Tilden Nature 1,910 acres to create Wildcat Canyon as one of its three and voles forage by day. Gopher snakes, king snakes, Area on weekends. Bus service is subject to change: AC original parklands. Additional acquisitions since then Transit: 511 or 817-1717; TDD/TTY: (800) 448-9790; Para- and western racers inhabit the fields and meadows; Transit: (510) 287-5000. have brought the parkland to its current 2,789 acres. garter snakes hunt the ponds and stream verges. Rubber boas and ringneck snakes inhabit the forest. Redtail hawks, American kestrels, sharpshinned and Cooper’s hawks, and turkey vultures soar aloft. Great POLICE, FIRE, MEDICAL EMERGENCY...... 9-1-1 East Bay Regional Park District horned owls inhabit the night. There are also many EBRPD HEADQUARTERS...... 1-888-327-2757 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, PICNIC RESERVATIONS...... 1-888-327-2757, option 2 varieties of songbirds. Remember: please do not take Oakland, CA 94605-0381 PARK OFFICE...... 1-888-327-2757, option 3, ext. 4567 animal or plant life, as all such resources are protected 1-888-327-2757 (1-888-EBPARKS) (TRS 711) for the enjoyment of everyone. www.ebparks.org Rev. 12/19 WELCOME! N WILDCAT CANYON TO NG Alvarado Area Please enjoy the Regional Parks safely, and help us protect and preserve your parklands RLI Hikers, Horses & Bicycles, Paved by complying with park rules and regulations. N. A Hikers, Horses & Bicycles, Unpaved 300 C Bay SAFETY and ETIQUETTE A RULES Hikers & Horses Only Approximately 2 miles S T • Stay on trails. Takingto shortcuts Sobrante can Ridge be R Dogs must be leashed 200KENNEDY feet from any trailGROVE or 200 Hikers & Bikes Only O

Regional Botanic Preserve park entrance, and at all times in developed areas

dangerous and causes erosion.

REG. RECREATION Hikers Only R and in posted areas of the park. Dog walkers are

• Wading and/or swimming in undesignated A .12 Mileage Between Points N required to clean up afterAREA their dogs and remove Wildcat Creek

areas may be dangerous and may harm the C Alvarado To I-80 North H dog waste bags from the trails.Separate Dogs must map beavailable. Paved Road watershed.

D under voice control at all times. Dogs are not • Carry and drink plenty of water. ROA R O SAN PABLO Acacia Seasonal Stream DA permitted at the Botanic Garden and the Little Dehydration is a leading cause ofLI Ninjuries on A Seasonal Pond O D Farm/Environmental Education Center in Tilden VALLEY VIEW ROAD HILLS the trail. IDE Regional Park. Parking To Castro D CASINO • Be prepared for sudden changes in weather R Play- Horse Water • State law requires thatI all bicyclists under age AV. Elderberry Equestrian Ranch Road V ground conditions. 18 wear an approved helmetE while riding on Staging Picnic SAN • Trails can be slippery, rocky and steep. trails and roadways. PA All bicyclists and BLO Restroom Reservable Picnic Proceed carefully at your own risk. equestrians are strongly D encouraged to wear AM O MARIN AV. Alvarado Information Horseshoes BL helmets at all times. ROA MARTINS LN. A • Wildlife may be present on the trails at any D P AD Staging Area N RO • Drones areTo Orinda prohibited. and Hwy 24 Telephone Peak SA time. Feeding or approaching wildlife is 56 parking spots AM • Smoking is prohibited. Drinking Water Gate D dangerous and illegal. Park Of ce Rev. 12/19 Rev. BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL 5755 McBryde Ave. EASTSan Pablo RICHMOND Reservoir • Bicycles may be ridden on designated trails North Visitors are responsible for knowing and Richmond, CA 94805 HEIGHTS and fire roads. Please observe trail etiquette, 0 1/4 1/2 3/4 Mi. complying with park rules (Ordinance 38). Scale with horses, then hikers, having the right-of- PARK AV. See www.ebparks.org/rules. 0 330 660 Ft. LO DAM way. Equestrians should let other trail users PAB ROA Contour Interval 20 feet E AV SAN D know how to safely pass horses. BRYD . Mc ARLINGTON BL. • Keep the parks beautiful. Pack out what you Dogs must be on leash along pack in. AD CLARK Cark-Boas Trail from the L A O E B M U D N D R parking area at the end of M Clark Road to the Wildcat No dogs on this trail. 1 A D Canyon park entry gate. EBMUD Hiking Permit required: 510-287-0459. ROAD 1.15 APPIAN O 0.75 miles to San Pablo Dam Road L 1.38 WAY B AY and San Pablo Reservoir. A Z W P To I-80 IT OLD N IM AIL 1010 BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL / EAGLE’S NEST TR. N 1057 TR SA PABLO RIDGE .07 G SAN Y RE A C EN R .45 W RICHMONDLA .28 IDG 1.21 900 WAY 900 1000 RK E Z TR T - B . 900 Z I LA LA COLINA RD. O 800 .68 T C AS I IM AD R T .56 RAI IM N RO E L .15 TRAIL N S L 800 895 .28 .14 LA C I 2 .11 LL TRA U E WE 1030 1.50 N R N E 1000

WILDCAT O

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RD. R O 600 DS REGIONAL 600 Wildcat Peak N TRAIL 700 IL To San Pablo 800 TRA 1211 No Dogs NLON Dam Road 1152 LAUREL

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L O 04 D I . W .16 700 H M .18 AREA .10 400 Separate map available. L BONITA BO .34 TRAI LOOP MONTE N .21 1.00 N RD. IT TRA WILDCAT CREEK TRAIL A MEADOWS CRESTA A IL Wildcat LV 400 W Y LAKE TR. 1.57 .58 Creek I S Little 600 ROAD LDCA E T Farm 400 G CREEK JEWEL WILDCAT .23 N IL TRAIL 4 A A 500 GORGE R R TR. Alvarado Staging Area E T .68 300 FL D MEMORY See inset above RI A Jewel UPPER RO Lake PACKRAT TR. Pony Ride 600 N AV. LOWER (closed) O 200 DE RIF T M RY LE AV. cB RA PACKRAT TRAIL G N NHAR GHT G . N BER D EI S R I R AV. A H OAD E L VIST D

Environmental SELBY R ARK R CYN RD. P NTE O N A O R A Education T M D A O C . E M D Y PLY O N L N ARL U Center I ALPINE RD. IN A

GT T W A H C AV. O E M N V. AV. ID AR L. . ARLINGTON BL. WOODMONT AV. S IN AV. BL N B L 5 R AV. . O B E E T PEA V ARLING KENSINGTON K

I D O Alvarado Area G B

R RALSTON SPRUCE GRIZZLY L. AMADOR ST. N N

Y SO See inset above I M N A G R YUBA OST. T CRA O M L ST. B T A T A ET V. N c O 80 AV. R U EL CERRITO AV. T ST. S AR M B C A B C D E F G H I J K L M N PO A MOESER LANE TR E RO V.