Leona Canyon Regional Open Space Preserve

Program Type:

Garden Classrooms

Grade Level/Age Group:

Adults/Professionals, College/University, Middle School, Upper Elementary, Lower Elementary, Kindergarten, Pre-Kindergarten

Number of Individuals Program Serves:

1,000

About the Program:

A pristine wooded canyon is protected in this 290-acre parkland near Merritt College in Oakland.

The park includes a self-guided trail focusing on the local Indian uses of plants. A brochure is available at the trailhead.

A teachers' trail guide is available online: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/leona#guide and provides additional context, history and tips for educators.

Some of the plants that grow here are the evergreen huckleberry, woodland strawberry and California blackberry. Collecting or picking the plants is not allowed.

Naturalist-led hikes are occasionally offered by the naturalists based at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. Their phone number and email are listed here.

Leona Canyon Regional Preserve is operated by the East Bay Regional Park District

Illustration: JoAnn Frisch for EBRPD.