DISTANCE: 3.13 miles
ELEVATION GAIN: 850 ft.
TIME TAKEN: 1:07
HUCKLEBERRY BOTANICAL PRESERVE
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA
PHOTO ALBUM
MAP
Huckleberry Botanical Regional Preserve is a 240 acre urban treasure. According to the brochure, "the native plant community found here is seen nowhere else in the East Bay, and represents a relic plant association found only in certain areas of California where ideal soil and climate conditions exist." There is a self guided interpretive loop trail, which has little signs telling you what all the plants are. I felt a a jerk not studying the botanical specimens like I was supposed to, but I was in a strange mood, and half wondering if the rangers were gonna come throw me out of the park. So I hiked quickly, not lingering in any one place too long. You see…
The Bay Area, along with most of the world at this point, was in the grip of panic and confusion related to the Coronavirus pandemic. The industry in which I am employed having virtually evaporated overnight, I thought I could at least take the opportunity to do a lot of hiking, even if nothing else good came from the situation. But today, when I arrived at the Huckleberry Staging Area, I saw the parking lot closed with caution tape, and signs saying the the East Bay Regional Parks were closed by order of the Department Of Health! Lame. I didn't think it was right for them to close the parks, so I drove around until I found a place where I could park by the side of the road, and jumped in at the Upper Pinehurst Trailhead. "I'll have the damn place to myself," I thought, and hopefully not get caught and fined. The next day it was announced that closing the parks had been a mistake, and they were all re-opened. This was before EVERYONE lost their jobs and started flocking to open spaces, and they had to start closing them again (more on that soon!)
The main reason I wanted to go to Huckleberry was because I had never been to it before. It was on the "to do" list, and I didn't quite know what to expect. It is a true "forest bath" experience. No open peaks or hilltops, no waterfalls, just going DEEP into the plants. Ferns, manzanita, bay laurel and oaks surrounded me completely. When you could occasionally see out from the herbaceous wonderland, there was a great view of Round Top, as well as Mount Diablo and points east. I achieved my goal of squeezing in a quick hike for the day, but I don't feel like I did the park "right." I fully intend to return and follow along with the brochure to study the variety of plants. California plant identification is one of my weak spots, and it would make me a more credible outdoors writer if I could expand my knowledge.
It was a nice little hike. I did not, in fact, have the place to myself, as I saw several other parties within. I was the only one doing the responsible thing and hiking by myself. I got in, did the loop, and got back out without incident, wondering on my way home if all my hikes for the foreseeable future would be done against the law.
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