490:
264:
406:
217:
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379:
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225:
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29:
402:. The prominent scarp that follows the top of the ridge traces the path of the Bollinger fault. Land on the western side of the ridge is being pushed up and over the eastern side by tectonic forces and the ridge is currently increasing in height as a result. The intense and rapid uplift experienced by Rocky Ridge and its surroundings accounts for the extreme steepness of the ridge's upper portion.
260:. Winters are wet and mild, while the summers are hot, but cooler than many other places in California due to the marine influence. The ridge typically receives about 27" of rainfall per year in addition to consistent moisture from fog on its upper portions throughout the year.
650:
and a wide variety of songbirds are encountered commonly on the ridge. Hikers on the ridge should be wary of letting small dogs off leash in the early morning or evening due to the presence of coyotes. Less commonly seen animals include
318:
launch site on top of the ridge is now used as a hiking path with connections to a wide assembly of single track paths maintained by both managers of the ridge. There is a telecommunications tower on the north end of the ridge.
271:(1,764') in the Berkeley Hills, showing Rocky Ridge and its neighboring mountains. From left to right: Mount Diablo (3,449'), Las Trampas Peak (1,827') and Rocky Ridge (2,024') (June 2nd, 2024)
311:'s San Leandro Creek Watershed and permits are required to enter. The roughly 50 square miles of watershed land on the ridge's western side is largely undeveloped and rugged.
424:
and many species of ancient marine sea creatures can be seen, as the seafloor where they were deposited is now thrown up into steep rock outcrops nearly 2000' above sea level.
169:. Being the second-highest mountain in the county, it is visible from much of the surrounding area. The ridge is a very prominent feature in the geography of the towns of
1045:
615:. Due to its relative high elevation and very steep slopes, moisture from fog is easily trapped by the ridge, allowing plants accustomed to wetter habitats to survive.
374:
An example of the unique sedimentary formations of Cierbo
Graywacke found along the crest of Rocky Ridge. Some outcrops stand 50 feet above ground level (May 24th, 2022)
61:
698:
232:
and the valleys of Kaiser, Cull and Crow creeks. The region about Rocky Ridge represents one of the last large areas of undeveloped land in the
268:
564:
Cattle grazing in the area since the 1800s has severely altered the plant communities on the ridge and facilitated the establishment of
785:
489:
883:"Geologic Map and Map Database of the Oakland Metropolitan Area, Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco Counties, California"
806:
220:
A view of Rocky Ridge's western face from the San
Leandro Creek watershed during the Spring wildflower bloom. (April 1st, 2021)
550:
443:
284:
514:
498:
835:
618:
Rocky Ridge and the surrounding region are home to an abundance of wildlife, the largest and most common being the
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and faulting characteristic of much of the west coast, particularly the convergence of the
Bollinger and Lafayette
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304:
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54:
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Along the crest of the ridge, where it is much wetter than lower elevations due to frequent fogs from the
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Multiple ephemeral and perennial springs emitting from the crest of the ridge form numerous creeks like
307:
and is a popular area for hiking and other outdoor activities. The western face of the ridge is part of
756:
355:
296:
229:
986:"Cattle Grazing Impacts on Annual Forbs and Vegetation Composition of Mesic Grasslands in California"
347:
600:
530:
513:. In lower elevations and in the valleys emanating from the ridge, there is extensive coverage of
907:"Geologic map of the Las Trampas Ridge quadrangle, Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, California"
604:
510:
343:
263:
101:
683:
545:
are common alongside the regular suite of oaks. Higher in elevation, the ridge is dominated by
439:
166:
871:. Davis Libraries University of California. Sacramento : California State Print. Office.
693:
591:
with an understory of native and nonnative plants at the foot of Rocky Ridge (May 19th, 2022)
431:
caves have formed over the millennia, imparting a unique character to the rock formations.
253:
170:
906:
382:
A north-facing view from atop the ridge shows the steep angle of uplift (August 12th, 2022)
249:
8:
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129:
931:
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526:
478:
245:
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572:. Soil compaction caused by herds also inhibits the establishment of native species.
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name for the ridge has been lost, however the current managers of the ridge, the
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Where the rock juts out of the soil along the crest of the ridge, numerous
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As a result of its steepness and prominence, Rocky Ridge has an extensive
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331:
224:
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522:
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119:
932:"The Stories Rocks Tell: Geology of Las Trampas - Bay Nature Magazine"
882:
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Rocky Ridge is host to a number of different habitats typical of the
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474:
395:
28:
323:
233:
485:
blooming among ferns on the crest of Rocky Ridge (April 19, 2021)
656:
627:
623:
558:
197:
44:
868:
Geology of Las
Trampas Ridge : Berkeley Hills, California
390:
from the
Miocene Epoch. The ridge was uplifted as a result of
299:
on the west. The eastern face of the ridge is included in the
554:
308:
244:, which are a generally north-south trending subrange of the
205:
201:
208:, believe it was commonly traversed by many native groups.
33:
Rocky Ridge during a rare summer rainstorm (August 13, 2023)
608:
291:. Part of Rocky Ridge serves as the boundary line between
497:
and the upper watershed of San
Leandro Creek covered in
420:
sandstone that comprise the crest of the ridge are very
718:
716:
714:
412:
full of marine fossils on Rocky Ridge (July 6th, 2022)
711:
314:
A partially paved road built for access to a former
816:. Contra Costa County Public Works Department. 2022
189:The current name originates from the oddly-formed
1046:Mountain ranges of Contra Costa County, California
458:and Crow Creek among others, which flow west into
955:
953:
951:
699:Steelhead and salmon distinct population segments
607:can be found growing amongst multiple species of
1037:
948:
599:, a microhabitat exists in which moss-covered
750:
748:
659:, though they are known to inhabit the area.
157:is a 2,020 ft (620 m) ridge in the
256:and frequently receives fog from the nearby
193:outcrops that trace the crest of the ridge.
228:A view south from atop Rocky Ridge towards
961:"Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve"
745:
983:
786:"Atlas of the Biodiversity of California"
574:
488:
473:
404:
377:
369:
262:
240:Rocky Ridge is the highest point in the
223:
215:
984:Hayes, Grey F.; Holl, Karen D. (2003).
838:. Alameda County Flood Control District
1038:
754:
287:watershed which drains north into the
275:Rocky Ridge is the divide between the
724:"Contra Costa County Watershed Atlas"
860:
858:
856:
854:
852:
533:being the dominant tree species. In
864:
783:
13:
386:Rocky Ridge is composed of marine
279:watershed that drains west to the
14:
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929:
849:
515:California mixed evergreen forest
505:from Rocky Ridge (May 24th, 2022)
1002:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2003.00281.x
27:
977:
674:Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
305:Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
301:East Bay Regional Park District
252:. The region has a cool-summer
163:Contra Costa County, California
923:
899:
875:
828:
799:
777:
1:
836:"San Leandro Creek Watershed"
704:
394:and the millions of years of
248:named for the nearby city of
211:
184:
49:615.7 m (2,020 ft)
7:
807:"Mean Seasonal Isohyet Map"
662:
499:California evergreen forest
460:Upper San Leandro Reservoir
267:A view south and east from
10:
1062:
865:Ham, Cornelius K. (1952).
757:"The Story of Las Trampas"
469:
365:
326:that includes the city of
140:
135:
125:
115:
107:
97:
92:
53:
43:
38:
26:
21:
442:, which flow north into
295:on the eastern side and
755:Knight, Walter (1973).
511:California Coast Ranges
102:Contra Costa County, CA
16:Mountain in SF Bay Area
684:Bollinger Canyon Creek
592:
506:
486:
413:
383:
375:
272:
237:
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167:San Francisco Bay Area
77:37.81500°N 122.06139°W
694:Great Valley Sequence
578:
492:
477:
408:
381:
373:
266:
254:Mediterranean climate
227:
219:
990:Conservation Biology
250:Berkeley, California
82:37.81500; -122.06139
640:Red-shouldered hawk
613:woodland strawberry
293:Contra Costa County
130:Contra Costa County
73: /
814:contracosta.ca.gov
733:. 2004. p. 84
632:Cottontail rabbits
593:
527:California Buckeye
507:
487:
479:California Poppies
414:
384:
376:
362:and its environs.
273:
246:Inner Coast Ranges
238:
222:
179:Orinda, California
159:Inner Coast Ranges
39:Highest point
679:Las Trampas Creek
620:black-tailed deer
495:San Francisco Bay
483:Lupinus albifrons
464:San Lorenzo Creek
436:Las Trampas Creek
418:Briones Formation
416:Upturned beds of
410:Briones Sandstone
281:San Francisco Bay
277:San Leandro Creek
152:
151:
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1030:
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996:(6): 1694–1702.
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930:Lesle, Timothy.
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731:cccleanwater.org
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669:Las Trampas Peak
551:annual grassland
400:transform faults
388:sedimentary rock
356:Alameda Counties
289:Carquinez Strait
236:(May 25th, 2023)
191:sedimentary rock
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784:Kaufman, Eric.
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644:Red-tailed hawk
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440:Bollinger Creek
368:
336:Mount Tamalpais
214:
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12:
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965:East Bay Parks
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911:ngmdb.usgs.gov
898:
874:
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798:
793:coastal.ca.gov
776:
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691:
689:Buckhorn Creek
686:
681:
676:
671:
664:
661:
653:mountain lions
648:Turkey vulture
601:California Bay
589:Coast Live Oak
570:exotic species
539:Big-leaf maple
531:California Bay
519:Coast Live Oak
471:
468:
448:Buckhorn Creek
367:
364:
297:Alameda County
242:Berkeley Hills
230:Alameda County
213:
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888:
887:pubs.usgs.gov
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597:Pacific Ocean
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422:fossiliferous
419:
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392:overthrusting
389:
380:
372:
363:
361:
358:, as well as
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329:
328:San Francisco
325:
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310:
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258:Pacific Ocean
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196:The original
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111:United States
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58:
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52:
48:
46:
42:
37:
30:
25:
20:
993:
989:
979:
968:. Retrieved
964:
939:. Retrieved
935:
925:
914:. Retrieved
910:
901:
890:. Retrieved
886:
877:
867:
840:. Retrieved
830:
818:. Retrieved
813:
801:
792:
779:
767:. Retrieved
763:
735:. Retrieved
730:
636:Prairie dogs
617:
594:
563:
508:
493:View of the
452:Kaiser Creek
444:Walnut Creek
433:
426:
415:
385:
360:Mount Diablo
321:
316:Nike Missile
313:
285:Walnut Creek
274:
239:
195:
188:
154:
153:
142:Type of rock
820:October 13,
769:October 12,
764:ebparks.org
737:October 13,
638:as well as
543:white alder
352:Santa Clara
332:Golden Gate
161:in western
155:Rocky Ridge
147:sedimentary
80: /
68:122°03′41″W
55:Coordinates
22:Rocky Ridge
970:2023-10-16
941:2023-10-16
936:Bay Nature
916:2023-11-28
892:2023-10-13
842:2023-10-13
705:References
585:Valley oak
523:Valley oak
456:Cull Creek
120:California
65:37°48′54″N
1010:0888-8892
547:chaparral
503:Chaparral
342:, Marin,
340:San Mateo
269:Round Top
212:Geography
185:Etymology
171:Lafayette
165:, in the
93:Geography
45:Elevation
1040:Category
1026:54546719
663:See also
566:invasive
535:riparian
324:viewshed
283:and the
234:East Bay
98:Location
1018:3588916
657:badgers
628:Bobcats
624:Coyotes
581:savanna
561:).
537:areas,
470:Ecology
429:aeolian
396:folding
366:Geology
136:Geology
108:Country
1024:
1016:
1008:
559:Bromus
557:, sp.
446:, and
348:Sonoma
330:, the
198:Saclan
175:Moraga
126:county
1022:S2CID
1014:JSTOR
810:(PDF)
789:(PDF)
760:(PDF)
727:(PDF)
609:ferns
555:Avena
553:(sp.
517:with
309:EBMUD
206:EBMUD
202:EBRPD
116:State
1006:ISSN
822:2023
771:2023
739:2023
655:and
611:and
605:oaks
603:and
587:and
568:and
549:and
541:and
529:and
501:and
481:and
462:and
354:and
344:Napa
338:and
204:and
177:and
998:doi
583:of
303:'s
1042::
1020:.
1012:.
1004:.
994:17
992:.
988:.
963:.
950:^
934:.
909:.
885:.
851:^
812:.
791:.
762:.
747:^
729:.
713:^
646:,
642:,
634:,
630:,
626:,
622:.
579:A
525:,
521:,
466:.
454:,
450:,
438:,
350:,
346:,
334:,
181:.
173:,
1028:.
1000::
973:.
944:.
919:.
895:.
845:.
824:.
795:.
773:.
741:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
