| Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve | |
| Map: | United States Oakland#California#USA |
| Map Label: | Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve |
| Type: | Regional park |
| Location: | Oakland, California |
| Area: | 205acres |
| Created: | 1978 |
| Operator: | East Bay Regional Park District |
| Status: | Open |
Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve is a small regional park mainly located in the city of Oakland, California, and administered by the East Bay Regional Park District. The park is named for the canyon in which it is situated, Claremont Canyon, out of which Claremont Creek flows on its way to its confluence with Temescal Creek. Previously the canyon was named Harwood's Canyon, and then later as Telegraph Canyon. The name was changed to Claremont by a developer of the nearby Claremont district.
Claremont Canyon was part of an 1820 Spanish land grant called Rancho San Antonio. It was used as a transportation route by Americans from the eastern United States. In 1858, a transcontinental telegraph line was built through the canyon. Starting in the 1860s, the Pony Express carried mail through the canyon to and from the eastern part of the United States.[1]
EBRPD first bought an 80acres parcel of surplus state land east of the U.C. Berkeley campus in 1978. Then it acquired some more acreage in the immediate area from several individuals. Finally, it bought a 64acres parcel in Gwin Canyon. These acquisitions were combined to become Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve.[1]
Despite its small size of 205acres, Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve forms an important link in the chain of parks that line the Berkeley Hills. It rises from a height of about 420 ft (130 m) above sea level, just behind the Clark Kerr campus of the University of California, Berkeley to the average 1300 ft (400 m) ridge of the East Bay hills, linking by way of other conserved land belonging to the university and the East Bay Municipal Utility District to other parks such as Tilden Regional Park and Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. It thus offers direct pedestrian access to the park system, with connections to public transportation, from the lower-lying residential areas of Berkeley and Oakland.
Claremont Canyon contains a variety of plant communities, both native and introduced. Coastal scrub is an important part of the preserve, housing coyote brush, French broom, lupine, monkeyflower brush, and California coastal sagebrush.[2] [3] Redwood groves can also be found in the canyon, containing both older and recently planted trees. Eucalyptus stands have been planted in the area throughout the years, though many local residents now are concerned they may pose a fire hazard.[4] [5]
The Preserve is relatively undeveloped and offers almost no amenities to visitors other than two hiking trails: Stonewall Panoramic Trail and Gwin Canyon Trail.[1]
The Stonewall Panoramic Trail begins at a parking area on Stonewall Road, behind the historic Claremont Hotel. The trail is 1.6miles long and ascends 700feet.[6] The steep path up to the ridge gives splendid views across the cities of Berkeley and Oakland, and beyond to San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco. On clear days, especially in winter, the Farallon Islands, about 44 miles (70 km) away, can be seen beyond the Golden Gate.
Within the Preserve is a side canyon called Gwin Canyon with a 2miles trail accessible from the end of Norfolk Road near Strathmoor Drive in the Oakland Hills. The trail ends just above Claremont Creek, 0.6miles from the trailhead.
While the upper reaches of Claremont Canyon are technically outside the Preserve, there are an additional 225acres of open space contiguous to it owned and managed by the University of California. A local non-profit citizens' organization, the Claremont Canyon Conservancy, works with the public landowners offering stewardship services and educational programs.
There is very little public parking available either within or very near the Preserve. Street parking is prohibited. Visitors can use mass transit to reach the UC Berkeley campus, then enter the Preserve by hiking.