I just came here for 15 mins and it looks worthwhile to explore more. Lots of green everywhere. You start right from the parking lot and traverse downward heading east. Parking: may 8 spaces; you can park rightout the lot. Bathroom: clean. I would come back. Tip: bring water, snacks and sun protectant. read more

What a Beautiful Park!!! Picnic table right next to the Parking Lot. Fresh Water and a Drinking Fountain 15 feet away from the Picnic Bench!! Cute little Restroom right off the Parking Lot. It Has Handicapped Access and Grab Bars!!! Plenty of Toilet Paper and Hand Sanitizer!!! Nice Paved Parking Lot!! Short 1.7 Mile Trail !! Even has a Handicap Parking Space !!! Watch out for the Poison Oak lol This is a Baller On A Budget Approved Park!!! I keep my Pimp Hands Strong !!! Number 34 out of the Top 50 Most Prolific Yelp Elites of 2025 !!! read more

Way back when I was visiting the area regularly, I visited Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve. It's a nice hiking venue that's often overlooked because of the popularity of neighboring Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. For my money, this place is one of the "hidden gems" of the East Bay Regional Park system. Tip: The park brochure offers numbered stops with information about the rare flora, Take your time on the hike -- it's easy to miss some of the rarer plants like the Western leatherwood. When you hike here, there's a variety of trails with different degrees of difficulty. There's also a nice variety of uphills, downhills, inclines, lovely foliage and some really exceptional views. We did the Lower Huckleberry trail loop (which ends with the Upper Huckleberry Trail). It was challenging enough for us to work up a pretty good appetite by the end, but I found myself wishing the trail signs were less confusing, and that what was there also contained distance info. We ran into a few groups of other hikers, and everyone was pretty friendly. All in all, we had a hike that was both satisfying and challenging. This is a great place to hike year-round -- the preserve also offers a nice respite during warmer months since most of the trail is shaded by a canopy of oak trees. read more

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Amazing walk, perfect hike & workout. Great for careful curious children. Highly recommend

A beautiful place to walk in the springtime. Well maintained trails. Various trail for different hiking levels. You can also grab a guide for a self-guided Huckleberry Interpretive Loop trail (1.7 miles) Lots of Manzanita s, Bay trees, Oaks ferns as well as huckleberry bushes, Douglas iris and flower plants. Spectacular views of green rolling hills. read more

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Garden Footprint 241-acre preserve run by the East Bay Regional Parks District that features some of the most unique native plant communities in The Bay. The park is essentially one 2.5-mile** loop trail that has some offshoots to longer trails that connect to other nearby preserves. The Good: *Free limited parking and entrance fee *Restrooms at the parking lot *Most of the trails are mostly shaded, so it's a good place to go on summer hikes. *I love the informational signage along the trail that provides knowledge on the trees and other flora and fauna. *Trail is moderate to easy with some gradual climbs and descents. The Meh: *The drive up to the preserve along the aptly-named Snake Rd is a bit of an adventure, but you'll survive. *No dogs allowed (which could also be a good thing depending...) The Ugly: *While the trails are in relatively good shape, they're awfully, awfully narrow--esp for morbidly obese such as myself, who can't fit thru a door without having to turn my body. :8/ TLDR: Great place for a moderate loop hike with some gorgeous scenery and views--just watch your step. **The park website states that the loop is 1.75 miles, but my GPS watch and other reviewers have confirmed that it is indeed longer. read more

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I spent a morning exploring both Huckleberry and Sibley volcanic preserve, and the Huckleberry botanic preserve was my favorite of the two. Although the pathway is more narrow, the trails are shaded, you still get some panoramic views of the hills, there were fewer folks, and best of all fewer flies. Sibley was ruined by hordes of flies buzzing around and disrupting the tranquility of a walk in nature. I'd go back to Huckleberry but not Sibley. It took about 1 hour to do the full loop and although some parts can be more moderate/steep, there are plenty of spots to rest. read more

We went for a short hike on a Sunday morning and enjoyed exploring the trails at Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve. A wide variety of trees and tons of greenery throughout, bay leaves, wild rose, and seemingly endless species of ferns... and don't forget the poison oak (beware). The huckleberry loop trails connect to the skyline national trail and a couple others (sibley/pinehurst) the lower you go. There are signs along the trails to help identify plants, but not all are in season (early April). We ventured toward the creek, enjoyed the fresh air, and views of the landscape, the clusters of trees touching the sky. There were plenty of benches to sit and observe nature, and several sets of stairs at different points of the dirt trail. We personally felt the upper huckleberry loop trail was easier, but neither was really challenging, just enough to appreciate our time in the outdoors before lunch. There's a small parking lot, picnic benches, and a restroom at the entrance to the trail, and a map of the different markers along the trail to identify the aforementioned different plant species. read more

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Huckleberry Botanical is a beautiful gem in the East Bay with tranquil, quiet, narrow hiking trails along which you can see native plants, some of which are so rare that they can only be seen here. This precious ecological jewel has little signs posted along the trails calling your attention to noteworthy plant and geological features and providing interesting information. Birds and wildlife thrive in the preserve and add to the wonderful biodiversity on display. No dogs are allowed, and the trails are narrow. I recommend visiting during the week or early in the morning to avoid crowding and to give yourself enough time to take your time. It's worth the effort it takes to relax, slow down, adopt a calm sense of equanimity, and enjoy this little beauty. read more

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This is a hidden hiking spot on the very top of Montclair. Super windy and narrow roads on my way to the regional preserve. They have a mini parking lot for hikers at the staging area. I thought this was going to be a easy and peaceful hike, but to my surprise they have extremely narrow paths without railings, which really made me feel uneasy. I was not expecting to be so high up on the hills, I guess I did not do my research! but I must say the views were incredible looking up but scary when looking down. The entire hike I felt like I was going to slip and fall down the hill. I know, I'm dramatic, but I was legit scared for my life! I unfortunately did not see any fruits as it was not the right season! I was actually excited to see all the different types of fruits but they are only in season around spring. I may come here again during that time to see how different the views are, hopefully I can overcome my fear of heights! read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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Fun, short-ish hike with some beautiful views. Feels like a tropical rainforest at certain points. It's easy to find, with a parking lot, but there is no T-Mobile service there, so I had to use my innate sense of direction (and the many signposts) to navigate the trail. The loop was about two miles, and took about an hour at a leisurely pace. Very few other people on it on a Friday afternoon. read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

Great place for families, couples, friends, and kids - pretty easy hike that teaches people of all ages about the natural flora of the Bay Area. If a forest could be a zoo, this would be close to what it's like. Why? Well, many of the representative trees and plants are labeled along with descriptions of their habitat and characteristics, much like a zoo. I appreciated the descriptions of the different plants and trees, as it provided great learning points while hiking. One thing I learned about the East Bay is that manzanita trees are endemic to this region, and some of the tree species are very rare. As a long-time Bay Area resident, I hadn't heard of these types of trees until this hike - so, I definitely appreciated the educational experience this hike provided me. Besides the educational experiences, the views are pretty amazing at certain parts. Most of the trail is shaded, which is great on a hot day. You may actually need to bring a long sleeve in case it gets chilly. I park at the main lot, which is actually kind of small. So if you get here later in the day, the lot may be full. Fortunately there is plenty of street parking directly outside of the main lot, which is where you will likely have to park. Definitely recommend! read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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It's only 1.7 miles long, so it won't make you break into a sweat. At the same time, it follows a circular path no matter which direction you go. It's nestled in the Oakland Hills off Grizzly Peak between Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve and Redwood Regional Park, both much larger areas with more varied terrain that allow for more challenging hikes. Comparatively, Huckleberry provides more of a nature walk. The winding route is mostly cool and shaded in a narrow valley. As you can tell from the name, you can see an abundance of plant life no matter what time of year you visit, and there are helpful informational panels along the way. You can see wildflowers, hazelnut trees, some strikingly deep red manzanitas, and of course, huckleberries along the trail. Also joggers so be prepared to lean right when they come at you. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2OrC8nU read more

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The Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve is literally and figuratively an oasis amongst the east bay hiking options. There are several things which make this hike one of the best in the area. For instance, unlike its neighboring parks, Huckleberry is designated for pedestrians only (i.e. no bikes, dogs, or horses allowed). It is lush and green when other areas are not owing to the unique rocky soil and location in a summer fog corridor. Importantly, this preserve is of vital ecological importance so it's a great educational experience. Even if one is not a botanist, one can observe native plants that are extremely rare in the bay area and extremely rare in general. Examples include Brittleleaf and pallid manzanitas which grow nowhere else in the world. Also, unlike in most of the East Bay Regional Parks, there aren't any nonnative eucalyptus trees growing here. Once here, the importance and beauty of the preserve becomes apparent; along the 1.7 trail loop, there are numbered posts describing the unique species of plants. https://www.calflora.org/app/ipl/ipx?loc_id=gpi80is a useful site to compare pictures of the species you may see. There is also a page for adding observations of things you see here https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/huckleberry-botanic-preserve-monitoring. The hike probably should be started from the main parking lot but I like to start at the lower Pinehurst trailhead; be warned though that spot has limited parking and you will be hiking uphill to cut into the Huckleberry loop (but it's good for leg day with those stairs!). The hike is varied and includes plenty of shade too. read more

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It's amazing what you can find when you're not even looking for it. Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve was that randomly beautiful discovery for me. On a recent hike through Redwood Regional Park, I decided to explore the East Bay Skyline Trail which inadvertently lead me to the Upper Pinehurst Entrance of Huckleberry Botanic. Upon first entrance, I honestly wasn't expecting much at all. However, I was gravely taken by surprise by how gorgeous this preserve was. The Upper Pinehurst Trail took me to a trail split: the lower and upper Huckleberry trail loop. You can take either the lower or upper trail land it will loop you back to the trail split. If you're looking for more of a workout, take the lower trail and connect to the upper trail. I ended up taking the lower trail and didn't know that it would be uphill coming back on the upper trail, but it was still incredibly scenic. The Huckleberry loop is a self guided tour through the preserve that's filled with a plethora of different flower and plant species. There are several informational placards that will help you identify what type of plant that you're looking at. If you're like me and don't have much of "green thumb", the self guided tour is absolutely perfect! I was honestly astounded at how many different species of foliage that there was in this small preserve. I literally felt like I was in a movie. Every turn revealed the most gorgeous greenery, and of course its' namesake: huckleberries! There are no shortage of them! You'll be surrounded by tons of vibrant huckleberries. You'll also come across a few different species of ferns. Ferns are one of my favorite plants, so I was excited to see them in the preserve as well. The trail loop is only about 3 miles round trip, but you can take your time and really explore as much or as little as you want to. There weren't many other people on the trails, making it a serene and peaceful hike. Throughout the hike, you'll see peek-a-boo patches of the Oakland hills. The trail ends at the Staging Area. There are picnic tables and also a small parking lot as well. There are signs warning of ticks, mountain lions, and rattle snakes, but thankfully, I didn't run into any of them. Once you reach the Staging Area, you can turn back around and complete the loop (if you're coming from the Upper Pinehurst Trail). This preserve is absolutely amazing! If you're looking for a fairly easy scenic hike with little to no traffic, I would highly recommend it! It's an Oakland gem that I'm so happy to have stumbled upon. read more

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This is one of my favorite places to hike off of Skyline Blvd. in the Oakland Hills. For me, it is a very magical place with narrow paths that weave along the side of the hills. There are benches along the way, if you want to sit, relax and look at the view. It is relatively easy walking. Bicycles and dogs are not allowed. There is poison oak, and the paths can be somewhat overgrown, but it is an amazing place to walk or run in a meditative state. If you go early, there usually aren't many people. I wouldn't recommend taking a large group of people (even though I have seen some groups). read more

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This is my favorite hike in the Bay Area. Here's why: (1) Its a loop, so you naturally always end up at the trailhead. Can't go wrong. (2) Its varied in scenery. You see Mt. Diablo, then you go through this fern jungle, you climb wood stairs, and you see a trickling stream. (3) There are descriptive placards for the flora along the way. Read them! They are well-written and informative. The parking lot is small, but I've never once had a problem finding a space. And there is a bathroom at the trailhead that is open, even during COVID. Speaking of COVID, everyone on the trail is really good about separation and wearing masks. On today's hike, I didn't see a single person without one. read more

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Not sure if there's any other areas if you drive further up, but parking is limited. I went there around 4:30 on a Sunday and there was only one car there so it wasn't bad. Nice area, it's all incline so if you're out of shape like me it will be tough lol overall, nice shady area. read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - Beginning of the walk - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

I love this hiking place. It's a 2.5 mi hike, shaded, not crowded and lots of parking spaces. People practice social distancing especially if the trail is narrow. Don't forget to bring your mask! read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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This preserve is so beautiful.  It is amazing that it is so close to the city. This 1.7 miles loop takes about two hours to finish. While your hiking you will learn about what native plants grow in this area. You can choose to start at the lower trailhead or the upper trailhead.  It is totally up to you but if you plan to make this hike a learning experience and you want to follow the interpretive panels from number one then we advise you to start with the upper trail. read more

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This is such an absolutely gorgeous hiking trail, it reminds me of some of the trails in Hawaii along the road to Hana. At the fork in the road where you have the choice between the upper trail or the lower trail, we chose the lower trail. I think this was a mistake. The trail was absolutely gorgeous, but the downhill path in the shade is very easy to get very far down very quickly. When hiking, however, what goes down must come up. Including my body. Ugh. Such a tough hike back up. Really gorgeous though. We saw some people with very young kids (toddlers) getting pretty far down. Heard them crying and whining on the way back up. If you have little ones, think about how far you can CARRY them up the hill before you get too far down. read more

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Great easy walk that winds up and around the hills, through and past various flora and fauna. The trail we took had information markers and we enjoyed reading the history and catching animals run and fly by. -parking lot and plenty of street space -trail markers with info -take water, some parts are dry and sunny read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - Map of preserve - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

Great place to hike and it isnt super crowded which is a huge plus during covid to keep your distance from others. There are different trails and paths to take to see different views each time. You can see mount diablo fron a distance as well, super cool! The one downside was parking, wasnt the easiest to find good parking. read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - Views - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

This is one of my favorite parks - I like to take the trail that goes down from the ridge to the spot off Pinehurst where there is a sharp bend - in the winter, you can visit BILLIONS of ladybugs that overwinter there in the clearing just before the last 100 yards before the gate at Pinehurst. The trail goes back and forth through some very pretty, heavy woods - mostly mixed bays and oaks with some redwoods in one area - and then you have a pretty easy hike back up - it's not too strenuous. From the ridge top, there are outstanding views! read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - over-wintering ladybugs in Huckleberry - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

I have recently wanted to explore Oakland after living here for the past 17 years and have recently started really enjoy taking in the beautiful sights this city has to offer and seeing the glowing reviews of this easy hike, I wanted to give it a try! Let me just start off saying that I'm not a hiker, but a city gal to the core but enjoy a nice walk and enjoy the scenery. So, my 13 year old, our small maltipoo and I went for early in the morning and then we saw a sign that said No Dogs Allowed and a warning about Mountain Lions, Rattlesnakes and Ticks but then ran into a woman who advised us that if we stuck with the trail on top, dogs are fine so we set off in that direction. It was quiet and full of nature which was cool but yet, I felt uneasy with the narrow trail and fenceless drops in certain areas and I kept going back to the sign's warning which was to be aware of mountain lions and ticks. As I walked through the trail, I kept thinking, gosh, the trail is narrow, how can I even keep an eye out for wild animals and what would I do if I came across one? Will a mountain lion just come out and see my pup as a tasty treat? My mind was really playing tricks on me!! I suppose for an avid hiker or people who really enjoy nature, it is awesome! Sad to say that I came to the realization that it just wasn't me or my daughter's cup of tea. We reached the half way point of the trail and my teen just couldn't take it anymore. She wanted out! So, we went up one trail that led to a tennis court thinking we can get to the street. WRONG! It was blocked off and think it was private property so we had to back from when where we came from. Then further along the path, we found a trail that led back to the street. We were sooooo happy! However, we still had to walk back to the parking lot which was 25 mins away. Halfway to the car, a pack of 10 wild turkeys blocked our path and we were freaked out. We saw cars and bikers coming down the road and the turkeys would go towards the cars and bikers and not necessarily move as well. So, what would they do if we tried to walk by. We stood on the side of the road for a good 10-15 mins trying to wait for them to disperse and it didn't happen. We then tried to go up a steep dirt hill to try and go around them with our small maltipoo in our arms and that also didn't work which also brought some serious issues trying to get back down for me. Finally, the pack of turkeys finally dispersed a little as we slowly inched by not making any sudden movements and once we cleared it, my teen sprinted leaving me and the poor dog behind! Oh and to top it off like a cherry on top. My poor maltipoo came gone with ticks! Oh ewww! I guess I was a little naive thinking we weren't there that long and didn't go deep into the preserve so she escaped the ticks, but nope she had them and they are freaky looking! I almost fainted and then my husband gave me a lesson on ticks! And then to pull them out.... It was definitely memorable but I think I will stick with parks, lakes and shorelines. I think the avid hikers would find the place beautiful and scenic but definitely not for me! I gave it 4 stars because I think that if I was a hiker, it was definitely a great place! read more

Hidden gem up in the hills of Oakland. Short hiking trails with interpretive information. Beautiful views! There are several parking lots. I walked up which was kind of difficult bc A) hills so steep! and B) there are no sidewalks. It's not car traffic heavy, not cyclist traffic heavy! Be careful. It's a great workout getting up there! read more

Another one of my hidden jewel's or should I say not so hidden. The East Bay has some awesome parks and trails. This is one of the many that offer amazing views of the bay area. As an avid hiker, I enjoy spending my time in the hills of the East Bay. I swear each time I'm here I find a new place to visit. The parking lot here isn't big so once again get here early.Other then that i would definatly put this place on your to do list. read more

Pretty, clean, lots of shade, not pet friendly! I think place is really beautiful and though it does not have many view points to rest at, the trail itself creates a fairytale forest vibe so if that is enough for you, this place is a must go to :) read more

I've been here about 5 times since last year with various people and keep coming back cause it's just such a cute and relaxing trail to walk up in the hills! There's not a lot of parking so you already feel lucky pulling into the lot, then you're surrounded by massive greenery and the smell of nature all around. The loops are each about a mile which is a manageable distance for when you're unsure of committing to anything longer, and lots of trees ensure plenty of shade to keep your hike cool. You could play scavenger hunt with all the little signs placed throughout the trails that describe the history of the manzanitas and other wild plant life. Lately people I've encountered on the trail have also masked up immediately and we practice polite social distancing. What's not to love about a little getaway in this forest? read more

I'm somewhat of a hiker and thought this park was just ok. I've been one other time pre-yelp so I had to go again to write this review. We did 3 parks: Huckleberry & Redwood Regional Park & Sibley in one day. FREE parking is available & 1 pit toilet which when I went had seat covers & toilet paper (important to me). Trail map & Huckleberry path self guided trail map are available at the trailhead. We did the self guided trail starting at 17-7 then continued the rest of the trail later on in the day. #8 Western Leatherwood is supposed to have flowers Dec-March..didn't see any! Also, #16 Coast Silktassel should have flowers Dec-Feb and didn't see any! Bogus. Lots of runners at this park & very narrow trails. NO BIKES allowed. Dogs & Horses aren't allowed in Huckleberry except passing through on the Skyline National Trail/Bay Area Ridge Trail. read more

Short, easy, shaded hike. Beautiful ferns all along the trail and there are pamphlets with numbered markers if you care to learn about the different plants in the area! The trail here connects to Sibley and I think Redwood Regional Park as well, so you can easily extend your hike if you're looking for something longer than the 2-mile loop. My friend and I came here on a Saturday morning. The lot is pretty small, but there it was about half full. There's also some space along Skyline Blvd, or there's also a larger lot at Sibley, which is just 0.4 miles down the road and an easy walk. We parked at Huckleberry and unintentionally ventured out onto Skyline, so walked to Sibley and made our way back along the trail. The connecting trail from Sibley to Huckleberry is a moderately steep descent (or ascent, if you choose to venture the opposite direction) - lots of loose gravel so be careful about footing or choose the right shoes. Beautiful area overall. read more

Had an exhilarating hike at Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve this afternoon. A beautiful fully shaded 2.5 mile hike, on the crest of the Oakland Hills. What an ecological jewel with a native plant community and mixed evergreen forest. I love that they had little plaques explaining each plant. The trails were very well maintained with great signage or God knows where I would have landed =) I was worried it might be crowded but most of the time felt like I was the only one on the trail with the native birds to keep me company. Even the bathroom was super clean! As a solo hiker, I felt safe as well. Surely going again! read more

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Don't go there, I want to save it all for myself. Hahaha But more seriously, if I catch you riding a mountain bike through the endangered manzanitas I WILL chase you down the trail while calling EBRPD police to bust your ass. I've done it before. I live down the street and hike this preserve regularly. So make wise choices and bike somewhere else that has wider trails and can actually tolerate the erosion. read more

For years I've been meaning to check out Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve. Having it be a featured trail on the 2016 East Bay Regional Parks Trails Challenge made it the perfect chance to check it out. I visited with my friend on foggy July morning. The dew on the grass and the green canyons were a welcome reprieve from the dusty brown hills east of the Caldecott Tunnel. The 1.7 mile loop was categorized as moderate but that was more for the 1800 ft. elevation gain than the actual mileage. Overall it was a really enjoyable hike that actually left me wishing it was longer. If you are inclined to go further you can actually hike in to nearby Sibley park from here and extend your hike, Taking the Huckleberry Path to Skyline and then back to Huckleberry Path is an easy loop-well maintained trails and good signage. Most of the trail was shaded with lots of pretty manzanitas, ferns and lush greenery (lush considering it was July!) There were many other folks on the trail-which leads to another key tip-go early or be prepared to wait for parking. We got there around 9 and were the only two cars in the lot. When we were done about an hour later, the lot was full-it's small but you can find additional parking along the road or at Sibley. So glad I finally checked out this small but scenic regional park. Hike #8 of Trails Challenge Miles Hiked: 1.7 Total Miles Hiked in Challenge: 32.2 read more

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Nice easy trail with beautiful views! Parking was easy, with the small lot right in front. The trail is shady, so be sure to layer and dress warmly depending on the weather. read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

So not being the most super fit woman in the world I agreed to go on a hike with my gal Charlotte S and a bunch of my Ummah from the Lighthouse Masjid this past saturday. The website was vague as were the direction to get to the trail head- so I used my GPS which promptly got us lost. So my advice to find the trail head is.. go to the Pinehurst Rd lot- the one with the sign- that is the trail head right on Skyline. The trail was well kept- not much loose gravel, rocks or other stuff.. it varied between flat trail, a few switchbacks and a hill with steps put in it- that totally kicked my butt. Some parts were steep, narrow and slippery- so keep the kids close and an eye on the trail. Our group had kids as young as 3 months all the way to the elderly.. and well all made it back in 2 hours give or take. This is doing the loop of the trail.. not the straight across one. For this hike - wear sturdy shoes with a aggressive tread, pack water at least two 32 oz bottles a person and a wilderness first aid kit- just in case. The beautiful views make this well worth the sweat and you can take it super slow to enjoy the views. read more

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve - The flat trail - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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Went for an afternoon hike here. Beautiful trail in the Oakland hills with a lot of ferns, manzanita, bay trees, and oaks. Very relaxing and feels secluded even though you're right in Oakland. There's a small parking lot at the trail head. Trails were well marked and easy to follow. The trails are also on google maps, but there is not consistent cell service on the trail. We did the lower and upper huckleberry trail loop, which was a little over 2 miles. Nice short hike as a quick getaway from the city life. I'll be back here again. read more

Just like what happened to other reviewers, our GPS got us lost, too!! Here's a little tip: if your GPS allows you to key in the cross street name, key in Skyline Blvd and Snake Road. Once you get to the junction of Skyline Blvd and Snake Road, bear left and go straight on to Skyline Blvd. In less than a minute, you would see the Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve on your right. You would see a dirt parking lot with a sign board that says "The Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve." This is a great park to visit in a hot summer day because it is mostly shaded! It's very lush and green, has lots of different plants to see, and the path is really easy to follow. To make the loop starting from the dirt parking lot mentioned above, it would take about 1 hour or so. It's a small park with few hikers and no dogs (dogs are not allowed here) - but, what an oasis in a hot summer day! It's a great little park. I love it. read more

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Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve can be reached from the Montclair district in Oakland. First, you need to find Snake Road. This is easy to find. Then, take Snake Road all the way to the top, and when you reach Skyline, turn left (this means, turn north) and within a minute you'll be in the parking lot at Huckleberry Preserve. The trails in Huckleberry Preserve have loops and branching points. The main trail, which follows a stream, takes the form of a beeline that leads you to the Lower Pinehurst Trailhead, which leaves you standing at Pinehurst Road. Sometimes, I drive down Pinehurst Road and park near Lower Pinehurst Trailhead, and then hike uphill along the same trail. OPTION OF TAKING THE TRAIL TO THE SOUTH. As an alternative to the continually descending trail that leads to Pinehurst Road, you can hike the level pathway south, until you reach REDWOOD REGIONAL PARK. In my opinion, Redwood Regional Park is the crown-jewel of the east bay parks, in view of its three monumental trails: (1) East Ridge Trail; (2) Stream Trail; and (3) West Ridge Trail. WHAT IS ENCOUNTERED FURTHER DOWN PINEHURST ROAD. If one hikes from the top of Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve down to the Lower Pinehurst Trailhead or, alternatively, if you park near the Lower Pinehurst Trailhead, you can hike down, down, and down Pinehurst Road until you encounter an intriguing zig-zagging EBMUD trail. This zig-zagging EBMUD trail involves eighteen switchbacks, and eventually you reach East Ridge Trail (mentioned above), which is in Redwood Regional Park. My point is that, if you choose to hike through Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, you are not going to get much of any aerobics workout - - - but those for those who enjoy the secluded beauty of the trees coated with lush cloaks of green moss, then Huckleberry Preserve will deliver - - - and for those who additionally want an aerobic workout, then you have the option of hiking the horizontal route south to connect with SKYLINE GATE and then take Stream Trail or East Ridge Trail, and you will also have the option of hiking down, down, down through Huckleberry Preserve to the Lower Pinehurst Trailhead, and then continue along the road down, down, down, until you encounter the zig-zagging EBMUD trail which takes you up, up, up. PHOTOGRAPHS. Most of my blue donut photos are from Huckleberry Preserve, with one blue donut from the octopus tree located a 1-minute walk downhill from the very top of Stream Trail. My amanita mushroom photographs are all from the edge of East Ridge Trail, just downhill from the intersection of East Ridge Trail with Eucalyptus Trail (perhaps 100 feet to 300 feet beyond this intersection). The amanitas will be on your left, as you walk downhill on East Ridge Trail. read more

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This is my favorite park in the East Bay. It has beautiful views, interesting information on the self-guided tour posts, and is a habitat for cool native plants. read more