Family Hike, Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, Oakland

After several days stuck home due to sickness, my husband, son, and I headed out today for a short hike through the Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve in the Oakland Hills.  The 1.7 mile Huckleberry Path seemed about the right distance, and I’ve heard from many sources that it’s a great hike to do with a kid.  Another bonus?  The trail is also mostly in the shade.  It was hot today – in the mid-80’s – so shade was important.  Our bodies aren’t feeling ready yet for summer temperatures.

According to park literature, this path is a “route through perhaps the most unique and diverse plant life of the entire East Bay.”  The narrow single-track trail loops along the ridge, down into a valley, and back up to the beginning point.  At the trailhead, the park provides self-guided-tour pamphlets that include seventeen stops along the path with information about the plants we saw along the way.  Of course, having a young child who’s on the go, we weren’t able to rest and read at each of the stops.  We blasted by quite a few.  Maybe if any of you get here, you’ll be able to learn about the beautiful flora around you.  I can tell you the diversity on this short trail is incredible, ranging from fern grotto type scenery as the trail wound down and through the valley, oak forests, and, up along the ridgeline, beautiful manzanita.

Here’s what it’s like to hike with my 4-year-old.  We’re either running…  or he’s running ahead.

Or we’re carrying him (luckily for me, this doesn’t happen much any more.  He’s still feeling the effects of his cold today and wore himself out running.)…

He actually did stop once in a while to observe the little things that caught his attention, but I don’t have any pictures of those moments.  I guess I was too busy looking at stuff with him.

I was blown away by how beautiful this park is.  I’ve hiked in all the parks surrounding this one, and, though they are all beautiful, Huckleberry really stands out.

For more information about the Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, check out the website… http://www.ebparks.org/parks/huckleberry .