Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve

Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve is an 928-acre park in the Oakland Hills featuring volcanic formations, with Round Top peak rising to 1,763 feet and serving as the main landmark. Red-colored rocks and lava deposits are scattered throughout the landscape, with geological displays explaining the volcanic origins.

The park was founded in 1936 as Round Top Regional Park and later renamed to honor Robert Sibley, the second president of the East Bay Regional Parks District. This change reflected his important role in developing the regional parks system.

The preserve serves as a learning space where visitors discover volcanic geology through displays and information at the visitor center. Walking the trails naturally reveals how this place connects people to the geological past.

Multiple trails of varying difficulty levels serve hikers and horseback riders, with accessible routes leading to the summit. Bring sturdy footwear and water since most paths are open and exposed to direct sunlight.

The land contains remains from a volcano that erupted roughly 10 million years ago, leaving behind red-colored rocks formed by intense heat from the eruption. Visitors can observe these traces directly, getting a tangible sense of such distant geological time.

Inception: 1936

GPS coordinates: 37.85495,-122.20326

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:56