Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve
About The Park
Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve is nestled in the Berkeley and Oakland hills behind the historic Claremont Hotel. Although Claremont Canyon was part of the 1820 Spanish land grant Rancho San Antonio, the first recorded use was not until 1858, when a transcontinental telegraph line was strung through it linking Oakland with eastern states. In the early 1860s, the canyon was used by Pony Express riders to carry mail between Sacramento and San Francisco, and for the next few decades the canyon carried horse and wagon traffic between Oakland and Contra Costa County. Travel through the canyon declined after 1903 with the opening of the Kennedy Tunnel, which preceded the Caldecott Tunnel. In the early 20th Century, the canyon was used for cattle grazing, dairying, minor quarrying, and development of springs to supply water.
Presently, the undeveloped upper Claremont Creek watershed has two major landholders. The University of California owns roughly 150 acres in the upper canyon, and the East Bay Regional Park District manages the 208-acre preserve in the middle and lower canyon. In addition, the City of Oakland owns Garber Park, a 13-acre oakbay woodland, south of Claremont Avenue.
Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve was conceived in the 1970s, when the Claremont-Elmwood Neighborhood Association—and later, the Friends of Claremont Canyon—rallied the East Bay Regional Park District to acquire land for the preserve's creation. The District acquired 80 acres of surplus state property in the hills immediately east of the California School for the Deaf and Blind, which became the University of California's Clark Kerr Campus. The District later acquired undeveloped land east of the state surplus property from many individual landowners. Completing the preserve, the District purchased a 64-acre parcel covering most of Gwin Canyon, a tributary canyon southeast of Claremont Creek. Back to top
Park Features
Claremont Canyon Preserve is used primarily for its hiking trails. Stonewall fire trail begins off of Stonewall Road, a block north of the Claremont Hotel. This steady .75 mile climb to the top is steep, but hikers are rewarded with a panoramic view of Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco Bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Going east along Panoramic Ridge, a fire trail straddles the boundary with University of California property, and connects with the University's trail system in Strawberry Canyon. In Gwin Canyon, a hiking trail descends from the north end of Norfolk Rd. and dead ends .6 mile from the trailhead, just above Claremont Creek.
Bicycles are not allowed anywhere in the preserve. Back to top
Park Accessibility
The park is not accessible to wheelchair users at this time. Back to top
To Reach The Park
The main entrance to the preserve is on Stonewall Rd., off Claremont Ave., a block north of the Claremont Hotel. Parking on the street is limited; watch for the 2-hour limit. Other access is from the top of Panoramic Way, but no street parking allowed.
Directions to Gwin Canyon: From Highway 24, take the Fish Ranch Road exit immediately east of the Caldecott Tunnel. Continue about a mile to the four-way stop. Make a left onto Grizzly Peak Boulevard going toward Sibley Preserve. At .8 mile, turn right onto Marlborough Terrace, then right onto Norfolk Rd., then take the right fork to the dead end. Street parking is very limited.
Park Info
- Address
- Access is from Stonewall Road
Berkeley, CA - Phone Number
- 510-644-0436
- Local Weather
- Maps
- Yahoo Map to Stonewall Road
- Park Hours
- Open between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted or permitted
- Park Events
- Click here for upcoming events
- Parking Fee
- None
- Dog Fee
- None
- Camping Reservations
- No reservable campgrounds
- Picnic Reservations
- No reservable sites
- Emergency Number
- 911
- EBRPD Headquarters
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757