Leona Canyon

Photo by Jef Poskanzer.

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Jan-Mar 2009

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by Ann Sieck — published January 01, 2009

Most of the East Bay Regional Parks' many open-space stepchildren--isolated patches of protected land--offer a hiker views of roads and buildings at every bend of the trail. Like her sisters, Leona Canyon is entirely surrounded, but her little-used 1.4 mile main trail between steep hillsides cloaked in forest and chaparral feels isolated and serene.

This 290-acre preserve was saved in a 1970s deal with developers, and the south trailhead sits by condominiums atop a ridge of landfill that closed off a small creek and forced it into Oakland's storm drains. The trail drops to skirt a small reedy pond where mallards dabble before following the nameless stream north into the canyon. Though shown as vernal on maps, it trickled through last year's dry summer and supports lush growth of willows, horsetail, ferns, and poison oak. In places the branches of laurel, alder, and buckeye arch over the trail, and we saw flickers, phoebes, and three species of woodpeckers in one tall oak snag. We heard, but did not see, California quail, possibly because the sparse foot traffic here includes professional dog walkers escorting happy fleets of off-leash canines.

Getting there: From Keller Avenue east of i-580 in Oakland, turn left on Campus Drive, then right on Oaks Canyon Drive. Or start from Merritt College (AC Transit #54, or small parking fee; closed on weekends). Oaks Canyon trailhead has no facilities except a portable toilet. A self-guided nature trail is being planned.