Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

Redwood Regional Park Park is located in the Oakland Hills, a few miles from downtown Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area, a region part of East Bay Regional Park District. The entrance to the main park is off Redwood Lane. The park is known for its old growing redwood forest, which was once an extensive logging operation. Now the largest natural stand of the East Bay ‘s coastal redwood is this redwood forest.

A redwood forest lies a few miles from downtown Oakland along Redwood Road. In the mid 1800s the area was the scene of extensive logging for the supply of materials for the San Francisco Bay region, the peaceful forest groves are little evidence of the busy past of the Park. The foresters’ time is long gone, and they have been replaced by stately forests of 150 feet of coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). The park was renamed in 2019 to commemorate the founder of Mills College, Dr. Aurelia Henry Reinhardt. In 1934, Dr. Reinhardt was one of five prominent civic leaders elected to the first board of directors of the Park District.

The park is popular for hiking, trail ride, mountain biking and horse riding. The park has many trail lines, including the Canyon Meadow Staging Area, Skyline Gate Staging Area, and the Redwood Gate Staging Area. Popular trails in the park include the East Ridge Trail and the West Ridge Trail, which provide access to the bikes, the stream trail and the French Trail. This park consists of four picnic areas, multiple group campsites for the night and a playground for children off of Canyon Meadow Stream Trail. Also within the park is the Chabot Space and Science Centre.

Redwood Regional Park is excellent for watching nature. There are a number of species in the park, including uncommon species such as golden eagle and common species such as deers, raccoons and squirrels.

The name of the rainbow trout species was based on fish taken from the drainage of the San Leandro Creek, which includes the Redwood River. Today’s trout in the creek are the descendants of this type. Historical Landmark # 970 is located within the Redwood Gate park entrance off Redwood Road within a short distance of the fishway interpretive site. The fishing path was built in this area at the river to help the trout reach upstream. However, please note that fishing in the park is not allowed.