Bay Nature

Park: 37.39668804 -121.80448582 park Alum Rock Park

Good for:

• Bikes
• Birding
• Views

Habitat:

• Chaparral
• Forests and Woodlands
• Grasslands
• Riparian

Attributes:

• Accessible Parking
• Accessible Picnic Area
• Accessible Restrooms
• Accessible Trail
• Bike Parking
• Dirt
• Drinking Water
• Gravel
• Hiking
• Horseback Riding
• Loop
• Mountain Biking
• Parking
• Paved
• Picnic Tables
• Restrooms
• San Francisco Bay Trail
• Telephone
• Trail Hiking
• Transit Accessible
• Visitor Center
• Walking

Overview

I took public transit to Alum Rock Park. I had to walk 15 mins along Penitencia Creek in order to get into Alum Rock Park.

The weather was perfect for hiking. I started walking along the creek bed. There I saw many California native plants like: California Buckeye, California Bay Laurel, sticky monkeyflower, miner’s lettuce and Coast live oak. Non-native plants were present on the hike near the creek. The trees create a beautiful canopy in the canyon. Whenever there was a bench, I would take a break and stay in the moment with my surroundings. Then, I took notes of who I saw.

As, I passed through the visitor center, I began to see Western sycamores along the creek. Next, I could smell the sulfur springs. Allow the way I saw steller jays. I decided to turn back and take the North Rim Trail. The afternoon sun was in full swing. Thankfully, I brought a one liter bottle with me. I took pictures on the trails. The hillside was full of chaparral plants. The trail had hills. There was less shade on the trail. Along the way, I saw a small patch of Blue-eyed grass.