Enjoy the eighth annual El Cerrito Hillside Festival with more than a dozen hikes and other events scheduled throughout El Cerrito’s 100-acre natural wonderland, the Hillside Natural Area. The festival is put on by El Cerrito Trail Trekkers and co-sponsored by the city’s Environmental Quality Committee.

Trail Trekkers is a 13-year old nonprofit dedicated to preserving and expanding El Cerrito’s wildland and urban paths and trails and advocating for open space. The Environmental Quality Committee advises the City Council and city officials, educates the public, and puts on cleanups, habitat restorations, and more. The Hillside Natural Area is a 100-plus acre park that will be preserved forever as open space.
Be aware: Even short hikes will have steep sections. Wear sturdy shoes with grip heels. Bring water, wear a hat. Watch for poison oak and check yourself for ticks.

Saturday, May 6

• Early Morning Bird Walk (8:30 -10 am)
• Insect Hike (10:15 – 11:15 am)
• Nature Scavenger Hunt (anytime between 12 – 4 pm)
• Family-friendly Rockhound Gathering (11:30 am – 12:30 pm)
• Geology Walk (1 – 3:30 pm)
• Fun and Amazing Facts About Oaks (1 – 3:30 pm)
• Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk (3:30 – 5 pm)
• Early Evening History Walk (5:30 – 7 pm)
• An Evening Tree Hike (7:30 pm – 8:30 pm)

Sunday, May 7

• Hillside Senior Stroll (10 – 11 am)
• Family Friendly Art in the Trees (11 am – 12 pm)
• Haiku hike (12:30 am – 2 pm)
• Magical apps make it easy to ID flora and fauna (2:30 -4 pm)
• Everyone is Welcome Gathering (5 – 7 pm)

Click here for the full schedule with its accompanying map to all events.