Best Nature Preserve Richmond Near Me

4worldlovers: The entrance is at the end of Coach Drive, Richmond, CA

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 toll free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, ext. 4534.

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.

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.

Park activities include hiking, dog walking, hillside picnics, bird watching, bicycling on approved trails and naturalist programs.

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.

4worldlovers: Sobrante Ridge Regional Park, or simply Sobrante Ridge, is a regional park of the East Bay Regional Parks District in Richmond, California. It covers 277 acres (1.1 km2) and protects the extremely endangered Alameda manzanita, a native plant of the area. The park has 2+1⁄2 miles (4.0 km) of trails. The endangered manzanita grow on 9 acres (0.036 km2).

4worldlovers:
A 24-acre heavily wooded nature preserve tucked into a quiet Tiburon canyon.


A short but strenuous one mile loop trail winds through secluded, mature woodlands.

Incredible wildflower displays appear in spring, especially after a good rainy season.

Friendly dogs on leash are welcome. Be aware this may be a strenuous hike for your dog, also.

4worldlovers:
Tenants suffering pandemic-related hardships who are unable to pay rent in May, June, July or August 2023, may defer their rent obligations from May until September 1. Use resources to ask questions of Rent Board or apply for grants to cover shortfall.


Living spaces above garages typically do not withstand earthquake shaking. State funded grants can cover up to 75 percent of the cost to retrofit yours. Complete a simple online form by May 31, 2023 to be considered.