Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
About The Park
Las Trampas Regional Wilderness offers 5,342 acres of wilderness and an expanded trail system that allows hikers and horseback riders to enjoy its remote and rugged areas. The park's size and terrain allow visitors a feeling of privacy and escape from urban hustle and bustle. Carry plenty of drinking water for yourself, your dog(s), and your horse(s) when visiting the park. The park's water supply is inconsistent and water may be unavailable at any time.
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The Story of Las Trampas
If you are interested in learning more about Las Trampas write to: The Story of Las Trampas, East Bay Regional Park District, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, P.O. Box 5381, Oakland, CA 94605-0381. Be sure to include your name and address plus a check or money order for $2.50, which covers the cost of printing and mailing the booklet. Back to top
Park Features
Geology
Two major Bay Area faults--the Las Trampas and Bollinger faults--account for the uplift and exposure of four well-defined geological formations. The Orinda formation holds remnants of ancient beach and shoreline; the El Sobrante formation consists of several fossil-bearing compressed rock layers; and the Pinole Tuff is of volcanic origin. Back to top
Little Hills Picnic Ranch
Adjacent to Las Trampas, this facility is available by reservation for group picnics of between 50 and 1,500 people. Facilities include a swimming pool, covered picnic areas, playfields and barbecue/picnic areas. For information, call the Picnic People at (925) 462-1400, or visit www.picnicpeople.com. Back to top
Las Trampas Stables
Las Trampas Stables offers horse boarding, riding lesson for children and adults 8 years and older, special equestrian events for groups, pony parties, and individual pony experience lessons by reservation only. Trail rides are currently not offered. For information and reservations email kleverhans@yahoo.com. Back to top
The O'Neill National Historic Site
Owned and operated by the National Park Service, this site is open to the public by reservation. Call (925) 838-0249 for information. Back to top
Vegetation
The dominant woodland vegetation on the western and southern exposures of Las Trampas and Rocky ridges is black sage, chamise and buck brush. These are interspersed with toyon, hybrid manzanitas, elderberry, gooseberry, chaparral currant, sticky monkeyflower, coffeeberry, coyote bush, poison oak, hollyleaf red berry, deer weed and dozens of other species. There are some creek dogwood along Bollinger Creek.
The dominant trees are coast live oak and bay laurel. Other species are buckeye, big leaf maple, canyon live oak, black oak and scrub oak. The latter, with its mistletoe, seems to prefer the ridgetop habitat at the end of Chamise Trail. Half a dozen fern species are found in the park and there are large areas of grassland. Back to top
Animals and Birds
The park's abundant wildlife includes raccoons, foxes, opossums, bobcats, skunks and squirrels. Late in the day, with binoculars, you can count the deer in the hill areas adjacent to the parking lot. Las Trampas is Spanish for "The Traps" or "The Snares." According to Erwin G. Gudde's California Place Names, traps were once set in the chaparral of the hills to catch elk. Historical records also indicate that antelope and mountain lions were plentiful during the last century. Sightings of the big cats have been reported in recent years. There are many species of hawks, and golden eagles are occasionally sighted.
The East Bay Regional Park District leases some of the grassland areas for cattle grazing. Cattle keep the grass height down, which lessens the fire hazard during the dry season. Back to top
Park Activities
Hiking and Horseback Riding
The park is bisected by Bollinger Creek. To the west is Rocky Ridge, accessible from the parking lot via a paved road that brings hikers near the 2,024-foot summit. At the 1,760-foot elevation you can hike westward along a trail managed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District to the Valle Vista Staging Area on Canyon Road in Moraga, or south to the Chabot staging area in Castro Valley. A permit is required for hiking on EBMUD lands. Call 510-287-0459 for more information.
Stone outcroppings on Rocky Ridge are beautifully sculptured by the wind and colored by many lichen species. An entire day may be spent hiking the ridge and the Devil's Hole area. Wildflowers abound in season and are especially beautiful after a rain.
Las Trampas Ridge, reached via Chamise and Bollinger Creek Loop trails, is east of Bollinger Creek. The view from the ridge affords the sights of the Ygnacio, San Ramon and Amador valleys, Mt. Diablo, Carquinez Straits and other distant points of interest. The Corduroy Hills Trail, skirting Eagle Peak, is for hiking only, as are the Sycamore, Mahogany and Trapline trails. Boots are recommended. Park visitors should use only signed trails that appear on the map; trails that do not appear on the map are not maintained by Regional Park staff, and some may be in a sensitive resource area. Back to top
Picnicking
Near the parking lot are two picnic areas--Steelhead and Shady. Facilities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Little Hills Picnic Ranch is available for group picnics of between 50 and 1,000 people. For reservations, contact the Picnic People at (925) 462-1400, or visit their website at www.picnicpeople.com. Back to top
Group Camping
The Corral Area is a reservable overnight group camp. Campers need to provide their own water. The park's water supply is inconsistent and water may be unavailable at any time. For information or reservations phone 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1. Back to top
Birdwatching
The park is a good place for birdwatching. There are many species of hawks, and golden eagles are occasionally sighted. Back to top
Biking
Bicycles may be ridden on designated bicycle trails, and on fire or service roads unless otherwise posted. No bicycles are allowed on Rocky Ridge View Trail. Back to top
Park Accessibility
There are disabled parking, a wheelchair accessible chemical toilet, drinking fountain and picnic site at the Bollinger staging area.
Trail Accessibility Reports
- Bollinger Creek Loop Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
- Rocky Ridge View Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
To Reach The Park
From I-580 in Castro Valley, take Crow Canyon Road north to Bollinger Canyon Road. Turn left (north) onto Bollinger Canyon Road and follow it into the park. From I-680 in San Ramon, take Crow Canyon Road west to Bollinger Canyon Road, turn right (north) and follow it into the park.
Click here for public transit information. Back to top
Trail Map
Park Info
- Address
- 18012 Bollinger Canyon Road
San Ramon, CA 94583 - Download Brochure
- Phone Numbers
- 510-544-3276
- Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4537
- Local Weather
- Maps
- View Trail Map
- Download PDF Map
- Yahoo Map
- Park Hours
- Open between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. unless otherwise posted or permitted
- Park Events
- Click here for upcoming events
- Parking Fee
- No fee
- Dog Fee
- No fee
- Camping Reservations
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
- Picnic Reservations
- Contact the Picnic People at 925-462-1400 or visit www.picnicpeople.com
- Emergency Number
- 911
- EBRPD Headquarters
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757
Park Update
- Visit Las Trampas and see the changing of the seasons. The black oak, black walnut, and big leaf maples are bursting with fall colors.
- Trail Update
- Bicyclists and horseback riders are not permitted on wet trails. Please take note that the water system at Las Trampas can be inconsistent at times, so make sure you bring enough water for you and your animals. We will be working on the single track trails on November 11 and 22 with the Trail Dogs. The Civic Conservation Corps will be cutting back brush along our fire roads starting the week of November 11 through 20.
- Grazing Update
- Cattle have returned to the Rocky Ridge east side of Las Trampas. A small herd remains on the east side of Trampas Ridge. Please close all gates to keep the cattle where they belong. If you notice any problems with the cattle, please call 510-544-3276.