Who says the Bay Area has no fall colors? Our hike takes us past stately sycamores and marvelous maples adorned in autumn foliage. We’ll explain why one deciduous tree, the alder, is a party pooper and refuses to join in the parade of colors.
Our trail winds through riparian, grassland, chaparral, and woodland plant communities on the way to Tolman Peak. From this lofty perch, we’ll enjoy the beautiful view and hear an almost forgotten bit of local history associated with the peak.
LEADERS
Archana Paladugu and Ken Lavin
DISTANCE
This is a moderate hike of 5 miles with about 800 feet in elevation change.
WEATHER POLICY
Rain cancels
COST
Free; reservations required
WHERE TO MEET
We’ll assemble near the trailhead at the park entrance. There is an outhouse near the trailhead. [Directions]
NOTES
Bring water and lunch. Dress in layers and wear good hiking shoes. Bring poles if you normally use them. If you have any questions about this outing, email Ken Lavin or phone him at 415-543-6771 x321.
Photo: Abhishek via Flickr
Ken Lavin is outing coordinator for Greenbelt Alliance. Read about Ken here
Archana Paladugu is on a quest to cure her plant blindness by learning about the native plants and animals who share their land with us. She is inspired by her great-grandmother, who raised her in a little village in India and lived indigenously alongside a forest in a farming community. “The trees are your cousins. Care for them,” she often heard her great-gran say. “On the last day of the world, I would plant a tree,” are the words from her favorite poem by the US Poet Laureate, M.S Merwin. Archana volunteers as a climate worker for CCL and SL2050. She and her puppy have been exploring the East Bay hills, learning about the flowers along the way. For a living, she is a computer scientist who works in Green Energy Tech.
