Hike #1 Trails Challenge ’09

Western Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum grande) seen on French Trail.
Roberts Regional Recreation Area & Redwood Regional Park Loop As I wrote a couple weeks ago the East Bay Regional Park District is hosting its annual Trails Challenge. Last Thursday I hiked my first official challenge trail of 2009. I chose a “summer” recommended hike as it was a nice warm sunny spring day and this route would be shaded by redwoods and oak woodland most of the way with just a smidge of chaparral and grassland. Being midweek I had the first half all to myself, but later in the afternoon I was joined by equestrians, mountain bikers, and dog walkers. Along the route, I was pleasantly greeted by plentiful wildflowers and a “serpentine prairie” right here in Oakland. Date Completed: March 26, 2009 Location: CA, Oakland, Roberts Regional Recreation Area & Redwood Regional Park Mileage: ~7.1 mi round trip Elevation: +/-1700'; lo pt 822'; hi pt 1,535' Trails Challenge Total Miles: 7
	California tortoiseshell butterfly (Nymphalis californica). It briefly landed on Dunn Trail in the Serpentine Prairie Preserve part of Redwood Regional Park.
Links: View all my photos from this hike Read more about the Trails Challenge Learn more about the serpentine prairie Roberts Regional Recreation Area official website Redwood Regional Park official website
	Backlit sword fern on Graham Trail in Roberts Regional Recreation Area.
Topographic map of my route. Click for a larger view.