Benicia State Recreation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Benicia State Recreation Area |
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Beaver lodge on Southampton Creek
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 Benicia State Recreation Area
Location in California
Benicia State Recreation Area
Location in the United States
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| Location | Solano County, California, USA |
| Nearest city | Benicia, California |
| Area | 447 acres (181 ha) |
| Established | 1957 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Benicia State Recreation Area is a special park in California, USA. It protects a unique area of wetlands where the land meets the water. This park is in Benicia, about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of the city center. It covers 447 acres (181 hectares) of marsh, grassy hills, and rocky beaches. The park is located along the narrowest part of the Carquinez Strait. Here, the waters from the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River flow towards San Pablo Bay. This bay is the northern part of San Francisco Bay.
A Look Back in Time
In 1775, a diarist named José de Cañizares explored this area. He was part of the Portolá expedition. He also sailed with Juan de Ayala on the San Carlos, the first ship to enter San Francisco Bay. Cañizares named a cove near Benicia Puerto de las Asunta. This means Assumption Harbor in Spanish. He found it on a special Christian holiday.
Later, in 1849, a United States Navy ship arrived in the cove. This ship was called the Southampton. It was led by Thomas ap Catesby Jones. Because of this ship, the cove is now known as Southampton Bay.
The rocky area in the park has had a few names. It was called Rocky Point, then Quarry Point, and now Dillon Point. A stonecutter named Patrick Dillon came to California in 1849. He settled in Benicia in 1851. General Vallejo let Dillon use the tidal flat and Rocky Point. Dillon used it as a quarry to dig for sandstone. After the sandstone ran out, the Dillon family raised sheep and grapes there. The State of California bought the land in 1967 to create the park.
Amazing Animals and Plants
About 70% of the park is the Southampton Bay Wetland Natural Preserve. This area has very thick mudflats, over 1,000 feet (305 meters) deep! The main types of habitats here are brackish marsh, saltwater marsh, and freshwater marsh. A brackish marsh has water that is a mix of fresh and salt water.
This wetland is a rare and important ecosystem. It is home to special marsh plants. These include salt grass, pickleweed, and coyote bush. You can also find soft bird's-beak here. This plant is an endangered gray-green herb.
Many animals live in the park. One important mammal is the endangered northern salt marsh harvest mouse. Other mammals include coyotes, river otters, muskrats, and California golden beavers. The beavers likely moved here from the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta in 2007. Long ago, before the fur trade, the Delta had many beavers. The fur trade was very important in opening up the West.
Benicia State Recreation Area is also an Important Bird Area. This means it's a vital place for birds. It provides a home for endangered California clapper rails and black rails. Other rare birds like Virginia rails and Suisun song sparrows also live here. Many waterfowl spend the winter in the park. They stop here during their long journey along the Pacific Flyway.
Fun Things to Do
The park has 2.5 miles (4 km) of roads and bike paths. These are great for cyclists, runners, walkers, and roller skaters. The Hike and Bike Trail has two paved paths. It starts at the Military West entrance and goes for 0.75 miles (1.2 km). It then joins Dillon Point Road for another 1.5 miles (2.4 km).
This trail system is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and the San Francisco Bay Trail. Many people enjoy the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) walk out to Dillon Point. You can also have a picnic at the group picnic area, about one mile into the park.
At the end of the picnic area, you'll find the Forrest Deaner Native Plants Botanic Garden. This garden shows off plants that grow naturally in the Bay Area. From the top of Dillon Point, you can see the route of the Carquinez Strait Scenic Loop Trail. This trail will be 50 miles (80 km) long when it's finished.
Dillon Point is also a great spot for fishing from the shore. You might catch white sturgeon, starry flounder, or striped bass here.
Images for kids
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A view from the B. S. R. A. toward Mount Diablo
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A view from the B. S. R. A.
