Get stories about Northern California nature and what makes it unique in our weekly newsletter!
During the statewide COVID-19 shelter-in place-order, tens of thousands of Bay Area residents have sought refuge in the region’s parks—on bike paths, trails and beaches. But that desire has, according to local officials, run afoul of public health. Last week, … Read more
Editor’s Note: We’ll update this story as park conditions change. March 27, 7:00 p.m. We strongly encourage anyone heading to a park this weekend to investigate and closely read up on the current restrictions as they apply to the specific … Read more
Parks as sanctuaries and refuges in times of crisis.
North Coyote Valley near San José might look unremarkable in the context of the Bay Area’s 1.2 million acres of unprotected land. But there’s actually nothing quite like it. The valley represents one of the few available undeveloped connections between … Read more
This is an excerpt from photographer and longtime Bay Nature contributor Stephen Joseph’s new book, Mount Diablo, A Story of Place and Inspiration. The book consists of hundreds of Joseph’s photographs, taken over three years on the mountain, and features essays by local conservation leaders.
Nearly a thousand acres of the valley oak savanna, wetlands, and agricultural land that once dominated Silicon Valley will be protected
For those who are unaware of Point Reyes Station, it is a small town adjacent to Point Reyes National Seashore and the quaint town of Inverness. It’s the type of town that tourists flock to on the weekends and most … Read more
This past July, the East Bay Regional Park District announced a ban on the controversial herbicide glyphosate, also known by the brand name Roundup. The prohibition was effective immediately in picnic areas. The district said it would discontinue use of … Read more
America’s national parks are often imagined as faraway destinations for special vacations. We’ve set aside places like Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone as getaways unrivaled in majesty and glory. I worked in many of these parks during my 12 years … Read more
How often have you encountered a trail, campsite—or even an entire park—with an odd or mysterious name? Eighty-five years ago, visionary academics, public officials, and hikers, living mostly in Oakland and Berkeley, convinced public agencies to convert hilltop watershed lands … Read more
