Park It: Wildflowers likely to make for a spectacular spring

Just back from a trip to San Diego and Baja California, I can report that the 2019 wildflower season looks like it will be one of the great ones. The desert is in bloom, and the displays at Anza-Borrego State Park are said to be spectacular. Further north and closer to home, flower displays don’t appear to have peaked yet. But if the situation in the south is any indication, spring will be beautiful in Northern California too.

The best places to see wildflowers in the East Bay Regional Park District include Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, east of Mount Diablo; Black Diamond Mines in Antioch; Briones Regional Park in Central Contra Costa; and Sunol Regional Wilderness south of Interstate 680, where the wildflower festival will take place April 14. Poppies often grow in profusion at Vargas Plateau near Fremont.

One really beautiful wildflower venue is Rocky Ridge at Del Valle Regional Park, south of Livermore, but you have to work for it. It’s a 2-mile climb up the Ohlone Wilderness Trail from Del Valle’s Lichen Bark picnic area. Because the trail leads through San Francisco Water Department lands, a permit is required; permits can be purchased at Del Valle’s entrance kiosk.

For the first in a series of guided wildflower walks, join naturalist Eddie Willis from 10 a.m. to noon March 24 at Black Diamond Mines. Meet Eddie in the parking lot at the upper end of Somersville Road, 3½ miles south of Highway 4 in Antioch. He’ll lead a hilly 2-mile walk through the chaparral in search of early-season blooms. The hike is free. Black Diamond charges a parking fee of $5 per vehicle when the kiosk is staffed. For information call 888-327-2757, ext. 2750.

Antioch: While we’re at Black Diamond, the mine tour season opened officially on the first weekend in March. The park offers one-hour guided tours of the historic Hazel-Atlas silica sand mine at various times on weekends through November. For safety reasons, tours are for ages 7 and older, and there’s a fee of $5 per person. For information, call the park district at 888-327-2757 and select option 2 for the reservations office.

Oakley: Elsewhere in East Contra Costa County, Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley plans a “S’mores Spring Break” event from 2 to 4 p.m. March 23. Spend the afternoon discovering the region’s wildlife, learning fire safety and tent-building techniques, along with sampling the tasty campfire treat. Tents and s’mores will be provided. Big Break is at 69 Big Break Road off Oakley’s Main Street. For information, call 888-327-2757, ext. 3050.

Alameda: “Duck, Duck, Goose!” is the theme of Family Nature Fun Hour from 2 to 3 p.m. March 23-24 at Crab Cove Visitor Center in Alameda. It’s a program about our feathered friends. Family Nature Fun is from 2 to 3 p.m. every weekend, with a different topic each time. Then from 3 to 3:30 p.m. you can watch the staff feed the fish in the center’s large aquarium. Crab Cove is at 1252 McKay Ave. off Alameda’s Central Avenue. Call 510-544-3187.

Oakland hills: Saturday Strolls are a series of family-friendly walks led by park district naturalists, designed to encourage health and outdoor recreation. There’s one from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 23 at Leona Canyon in the Oakland hills. It’s a moderate 4-miler up the canyon to a view of five Bay Area bridges. Meet at the Canyon Oaks parking area, which is off Keller Drive east of I-580. For information and directions, call 510-544-3187.

Fremont: The Ohlone people have spent centuries learning the secrets of their homeland. In a program from 1:30 to 3 p.m. March 23 at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, naturalist Kristina Parkison will share Ohlone knowledge of plants and animals and lead some Ohlone games. The program is for ages 7 and older. Meet Kristina at the park’s visitor center at the end of Patterson Ranch Road off Paseo Padre Parkway. The program is free, but there’s a parking fee of $5 per vehicle at Coyote Hills. For information, call 510-544-3220.

Online: East Bay Regional Parks are never dormant, but springtime brings lots of great activities. For a full listing, visit the park district’s website at ebparks.org.

Ned MacKay writes a regular column about East Bay Regional Park District sites and activities. Email him at nedmackay@comcast.net.