Hiking

Redwood 4-H Hiking Project is continuing into it's 14th year with a monthly hike at the best nature areas around the San Francisco Bay. Every second Saturday of the month (except for April) we will hike a new nature trail, each selected for its special natural features and suitability for the club’s hikers and the season. Learn about the trails and ecology of several parks in the Bay area. Good Hiking Practices will be taught and we encourage members to take photographs and bring healthy snacks. Trail levels range from easy to moderate in difficulty and are usually Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm including breaks. All destinations are within a driving radius of 1 hour or less from Castro Valley. Some destinations require an entry fee. On some of the hikes dogs are allowed too. 

Age: 5-18

Limit: no limit

When: 2nd Saturdays from 10am-2pm

Bring: Water, snacks, suitable hiking attire and closed toe comfortable shoes

Where: Castro Valley (Project Leader will send location and any date/time changes)

Cost: mostly free, some parking fees 

Project Leaders: Talila Golan

Project requirements:

Redwood 4-H Hiking Project is open to members of all ages. Primary members ages 8 years and younger are required to have an adult chaperone. Members ages 9 years and older can hike without a chaperone, but family members are more than welcome to join in. 

Youth hikers are encouraged to carry their own water and snacks. All hikers are required to abide by 4-H rules, local park’s rules, and hikers safety and leave no trace etiquette.  

Project Plan:

October 12:  Point Pinole Regional Park, 2.5 miles, easy (Richmond). A pretty park by the Bay with interesting history and great views. 

November 9: Don Edwards NWR Alviso Unit, 4 miles, easy (San Jose). The best place to catch the fall bird migration. Offers a side view of the Drawbridge ghost town.

December 14: Foothill Regional Preserve, 3.5 miles, mildly moderate (Palo Alto). Beautiful nature area with forest, chaparral, and a pond, with lots of wildlife.  

January 11: Anthony Chabot Regional Park, 2.5 miles, moderate (Oakland). The less explored side of the park, north of the lake, inside a redwood forest alongside a creek featuring a seasonal waterfall. 

February 8: Sunol Regional Wilderness, 3.5 miles, moderate (Sunol). Rolling hills, deep canyon with cascading falls at the best part of the Alameda Creek, which would be running highest in this season.  

March 8: Brushy Peak Regional Preserve, 4.5 miles, moderate (Livermore). A lovely nature preserve, home to many amphibians and other wildlife, and great views. 

May 10: China Camp State Park, 2.5 miles, easy, ends at the beach (San Raphael). A beautiful park by the north shore of the Bay, with a lovely forest, wildlife, and great bay view. There is beach access at the end of the hike. 

Questions? Contact Project Leader Talila at talilagolan @ gmail.com (remove spaces around @)

Last year's Project Plan:
10/14/23 Pillar Point Bluff, Half Moon Bay

11/11/23 Mt. Diablo State Park, Danville, $10 per car park entry fee

12/9/23 Point Bonita Lighthouse, Sausalito

1/13/24 Foothill Nature Preserve, Palo Alto

2/10/24 Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline, Martinez

3/9/24 Vargas Plateau Regional Park, Fremont

April no hike this month
5/11/24 Joseph D. Grant County Park, San Jose, $6 per car entry fee