Sunol Regional Wilderness, Regional park in Alameda County, California, United States.
Sunol Regional Wilderness is a nature reserve in Northern California that runs along Alameda Creek, covering oak woodlands, open grasslands, and dry shrubland. A network of trails crosses the land, giving access to different habitats where a wide range of plants and animals live.
The land was protected in 1962 by the East Bay Regional Park District after serving for generations as ranch land. Before that, Native Americans used this area to process acorns on bedrock mortars, which can still be seen at several spots across the reserve.
The visitor center holds a collection of over 600 plant specimens gathered from the surrounding land, which visitors can examine up close. Regular programs run throughout the year to help guests learn more about the native plants and animals of the area.
The reserve is best reached by car, and there is a parking area at the main entrance. No supplies are available inside, so bring enough water for your time on the trails.
The reserve is home to one of the largest breeding populations of golden eagles in the region, which can often be spotted hunting California ground squirrels over the open grasslands. These birds of prey are present here in numbers that are rare across most of California.
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