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Leona Canyon Regional Preserve
After the initial drop, passing a tiny pond where you may see a duck or two, the trail begins to climb through patches of forest that soon turn into dense mixed woods. Here the surfacing actually improves for awhile, and there are level stretches, but further on it gets rough again, and, 0.2 mile past the junction with Artemisia and Pyrite Trails, begins a relentless climb to where it emerges at Merritt College after 1.4 miles. Artemisia Trail climbs the east canyon wall, and is very steep until it levels off as it approaches the back yards of houses along Skyline Boulevard. Presumably Pyrite Trail is similar; I mean to try it someday. What I wrote about Leona Canyon in early 2009 for Bay Nature Magazine: |
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***************** Trail Map with access highlighted (only on trails I have evaluated). Original map from EBRPS can be found here  |
I
love this little park! Unfortunately the wheelchair access is far from
wonderful, but the first 0.6 mile of Leona Trail is marred only by uneven
gravel surfacing and a short steep stretch down from the parking lot,
and I encourage anyone who can easily get there to check it out.
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. A self-guided
nature trail is being planned.
Details:
The portable toilet at the Oaks Canyon entrance isn't accessible,
and there are no benches or picnic tables until at least 0.5 mile out.
Leona Trail's north end is at Merritt College, where I'm sure you'd
find accessible restrooms during open hours (and one could get there
by bus) but the trail at this end is very steep indeed. To drive to
the south end: from Keller Avenue east of I-580 in Oakland, turn left
on Campus Drive, then right on Oaks Canyon to small parking lot (no
designated parking). No fee, unless you park at Merritt College. Dogs
and bikes are permitted, and you'll meet quite a few of the former.