Only a few spots left! | Spring Bird Walk Sat., May 2nd | Let's go birding!
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Birders and bird enthusiasts looking for a House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) at our 2025 bird walk led by Erica Rutherford (second from the right) and John Colbert (not in the photo) | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona.
Only a few spots left! Saturday, May 2 from 7:30-10:30am (meet at 7:15am)
Join Erica Rutherford and John Colbert, Conservancy members and long time birders, at our Spring Bird Walk. Erica and John will lead this event and help us look for birds that breed in the Canyon. We will search for year-round resident and migrant birds.
(Please RSVP) This event is limited to 15 participants (only a few spots left!)—contact us at info@claremontcanyon.orgor fill out the short form to sign up for this walk. We will email the exact location to participants who sign up to the event. Bring binoculars and a field guide if you have one. Rain cancels.
An Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) flycatching from a branch at our 2026 Woodpecker Walk | Photo by Wendy Leyden.
Tap-tap-tap!
Last Sunday, Jeff Martin, a clinical psychologist and part time naturalist educator who describes himself as a woodpecker enthusiast, led a group of birders and bird enthusiasts along The Woodpecker Trail in Claremont Canyon, in search of six regularly occurring woodpecker species. With binoculars on hand, this was a fun morning filled with beautiful views of the canyon, abundant bird calls, and acorn woodpeckers (Melanerpes formicivorus) flycatching and resting near branches filled with sap wells. Thanks to Jeff's lead, we located a few woodpecker hangouts and saw a close-up of their interaction. If you missed this walk visit our Flora and Fauna page to follow Jeff's self-guided walk and contact us at info@claremontcanyon.org to be added to a waitlist of our future woodpecker walks.
Cal students joined forces on Berkeley Project Day and learned to install steps on a section of the Willow Trail in the upper canyon | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona.
Thanks to all our volunteers!
We are grateful to our volunteers who celebrated Earth Month with us. InGarber Park,volunteersremoved non-native and invasive plants and hauled fallen debris out of the park and into a large dumpster provided by the City of Oakland. This helps lower fire fuels and makes the park more fire safe as we prepare for the drier summer months. On Earth Day, the Claremont Resort & Clubhosted a successful volunteer event to help clean the public paths leading to the Evergreen entrance. In the upper canyon Berkeley Project Cal students rerouted a section of the Willow Trail to make it safer and more accessible. They installed a few steps and plan to return to help us finish this project. A shout out to the Claremont Resort & Club for providing $35 gift certificates to all of the volunteers who attended Garber Park's Earth Day event, for them to enjoy lunch at the East Bay Provisions (coffee shop) located at the Claremont Resort & Club.
This multi-trunked tree or large shrub is in bloom in Garber Park. Springtime is a great time to see creamy-white flower spikes of the California Buckeye (Aesculus californica)growing within the leaves. These spikes have abundant flowers for pollinators like native bees and butterflies to enjoy. If you have a pollinator garden, this is a great addition, just keep in mind that all parts of this plant are toxic. If you have an apiary, buckeye won't be a good plant for your yard, as the pollen and nectar is also toxic to non-native European honey bees. If you'd like to learn more about this plant, visit CalscapeandUSDA.
All levels of fitness are welcome! Wear sturdy shoes, dress in layers, and bring your favorite water bottle. Tools and gloves are provided.
Visit this 13-acre park and help restore its native wild habitat (we meet year-round). Meet at the Fireplacebelow the Evergreen Lane entrance (Map). For more informationor questionscontactWyllie.
Join us in the upper canyon as we work to restore and maintain pathways, remove invasive broom, and collect litter. We meet at Signpost 29, 1.5 miles up Claremont from the intersection of Ashby/Tunnel Rd. More information Here. Questions? Contact us at info@claremontcanyon.org.
Help restore native plants and maintain a popular trail! Weed invasive plants, plant seeds, and-if it comes to it-water native seedlings. Located in the small side canyon just north of Claremont Canyon, which is above the Clark Kerr campus. No prior experience needed. Gloves and tools are provided.
Please contact Jim Rosenau or call at (510) 845-0106.
Hiking the Canyon
We would love to hear from our members and others who are out hiking or otherwise observing nature in the canyon. Send us your pictures at info@ClaremontCanyon.org and we will feature one each month.
False Solomon Seal (Maianthemum stellatum) in Garber Park's Fern Glade with stripy berries. Due to the changing weather conditions we are seeing plants blooming and seeding earlier in the Canyon. According to CalFlora, False Solomon Seal has white buds in the spring and these berries in the fall—as seen in previous years. Have you been seeing changes like these this year? Send us your photos and observations | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona.
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In Derby Canyon,Take to the Hills has done great work restoring native plants and repairing nearby paths. Grab your pair of hiking shoes and enjoy the beautiful views as you listen and watch pollinators fly from one flower to another. This is also a section of The Woodpecker Trail that Jeff Martin put together for you to follow along. Visit our Flora and Fauna page to see this trail. The Woodpecker Trail, April 2026 | Photo by Ruby J. Soto Cardona.
Trails are open
All trails are open and accessible throughout Claremont Canyon. For maps and complete information on trails click here. You can also take a guided tour here. Please stay safe and take all items and pet waste out with you.
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