See and Do!
Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve
About The Park
This 277-acre oak/bay parkland preserves the habitat of the extremely rare Alameda manzanita as well as other indigenous plant and animal species. A staging area at the end of Coach Drive serves as the trailhead for a two-and-one-half mile trail system that leads to ridgetop vistas of San Pablo and Richmond Bays, Mt. Diablo, and Mt. Tamalpais. For park information, telephone (510) 223-7840. Back to top
History
The lands of Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve were dedicated to the East Bay Regional Park District by a local construction company in 1985. The scenic ridgelands were preserved after developers agreed to limit an adjacent subdivision to the low-lying areas.
The area was formerly known as the Cutter Ranch, and belonged to Cutter Laboratories in Berkeley through the 1970s. The lab raised horses and cattle there, using blood from the animals to produce tetanus and diphtheria vaccines.
Today's Preserve was once part of the vast Rancho Sobrante land grant, given by the Mexican government to Juan Jose Castro in 1840. Great herds of Spanish longhorn cattle freely roamed the hills at that time, and were valued by the rancheros for their hides and tallow. The name Sobrante in Spanish means "excess" or "leftover," and reflects the late date of the land grant: the lands were leftover lands, not included in previous grants. Back to top
Park Features
Wildlife abounds in the Preserve's varied habitats of oak/bay woodland, coyote brush scrub, miniature "forest" of Alameda Manzanita, and open grassland. Coyotes stalk gophers in the tall grass; deer bed down by day in the tall thickets; salamanders sleep all summer buried in the woods; and golden eagles soar high above the ridge, scanning the ground for prey. The wildlife refuge pond at the southeastern end of the Sobrante Ridge Trail, near the intersection of Conestoga Way and Castro Ranch Road, is home to a variety of birdlife, including many red-winged blackbirds. There are also benches and picnic tables overlooking the hillsides. Back to top
Park Activities
Park activities include hiking, dog walking, hillside picnics, bird watching, bicycling on approved trails and naturalist programs. Back to top
Park Accessibility
Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve has three entrances; Conestoga Way, Heavenly Ridge Lane, and Coach Drive. The trails in this park consist of dirt fire roads and multi-use single-track trails, all of which have elevation gain and loss. Wheelchair accessibility is currently unavailable in this park although there are plans in the near future to install a wheelchair accessible gate at the top of Heavenly Ridge Lane. Click here for public transit information. Back to top
To Reach The Park
- From the Richmond/Oakland area:
Take I-80 to the San Pablo Dam Road exit in Richmond. Turn south on San Pablo Dam Road and proceed through El Sobrante to Castro Ranch Road. Turn left on Castro Ranch Road, left on Conestoga Way, left on Carriage Drive, and right on Coach Drive. The entrance is at the end of Coach Drive. - From the Diablo Valley area:
From Taylor Boulevard in Pleasant Hill turn right (west) onto Grayson Road. Turn right onto Reliez Valley Road. Go straight (west) on Alhambra Valley Road at its intersection with Reliez Valley Road. Turn left onto Castro Ranch Road, right onto Conestoga Way and follow directions above.
Click here for public transit information. Back to top
Trail Map
Park Info
- Address
- The entrance is at the end of Coach Drive, Richmond, CA
- Download Brochure
- Phone Numbers
- 510-223-7840
- Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4558
- Local Weather
- Maps
- View Trail Map
- Download PDF Map
- Yahoo Map
- Park Events
- Click here for upcoming events
- Camping Reservations
- No reservable campgrounds
- Picnic Reservations
- No reservable picnic areas
- Emergency Number
- 911
- EBRPD Headquarters
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757
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