Brushy Peak Regional Preserve facts for kids

Brushy Peak Regional Preserve is an awesome regional park located near Livermore, California. It's managed by two groups: the East Bay Regional Parks (EBRPD) and the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD). This special park is in Alameda County, just north of Livermore.

Exploring Brushy Peak Preserve

Getting to the Park

The park is located across the street from Springtown, a part of Livermore. To get there from Livermore, you can take Vasco Road into Springtown. Then, turn right onto Northfront Road (also called Altamont Pass Road). Next, turn left onto Laughlin Road. As you drive north on Laughlin Road, you'll see Brushy Peak Preserve on your right. The road gets narrower and winds through a small canyon. Soon, you'll reach the main parking area, which is called the staging area.

Awesome Hiking Trails

From the staging area, you can find trails heading in three different directions. These trails are perfect for hiking and exploring the preserve!

West Side Loop Trail

The West Side Loop Trail is a 2-mile (about 3.2 km) path that forms a loop. The eastern part of this trail goes through a flat valley. This area is about 700 feet (213 meters) high. The trail then climbs a hill, getting closer to the top of an 1100-foot (335-meter) peak. After that, it heads back down the hill and returns to the staging area.

You might see many birds from this trail. They often gather around the hills to the west of the preserve. This is because the West Side Loop Trail is close to the Vasco Landfill.

Brushy Peak Loop Trail

The Brushy Peak Loop Trail opened in 2008. It's a longer loop, about 4.4 miles (7.1 km) long. It starts at the Laughlin Staging Area, which is about 640 feet (195 meters) high. The trail follows an old ranch road and passes by a few small ponds.

The trail then starts to climb a hill covered with eucalyptus trees. As you go higher, the path becomes a single track. It continues to climb through rocky areas. You'll see small oak trees as you reach about 1340 feet (408 meters) in elevation over 2 miles (3.2 km). The narrow trail then goes through a pass and winds down the west side of Brushy Peak. Finally, it turns south and follows Brushy Creek until it meets the West Side Trail.

Laughlin Ranch Loop and Tamcan Trail

In the southeast part of the park, you'll find a group of shorter trails. These trails usually go around hills. They reach elevations from 700 feet (213 meters) to 1000 feet (305 meters) and cross open grasslands. You might even spot windmills from these trails! The southernmost trail, called the Dyer Ranch Trail, connects to Laughlin Road near Springtown.

History of Brushy Peak

Native American Heritage

Brushy Peak is named after a mountain in the Diablo Range. This mountain, which is 1702 feet (519 meters) tall, has been important for a very long time. It was especially significant to the Native American tribes who lived here before European settlers arrived.

Brushy Peak was a central point for trade routes. It connected tribes like the Bay Area Ohlones, Bay Miwoks, and Northern Valley Yokuts. The Ssaoam triblet of the Ohlone people were likely the most connected to the Brushy Peak area. They lived in the dry hills and small valleys around the peak and the nearby Altamont Pass.

European Settlers Arrive

The first European to explore this part of California was Pedro Fages in 1772. He passed through the Livermore Valley on his way back from Monterey. Later, Mission San Jose was founded in 1797. Many Ssaoam people lived at this mission from 1806 to 1836.

When the Mexican government turned mission lands into large ranches (called ranchos), some people left Mission San Jose to work on these new ranches. The land around Brushy Peak was probably used for grazing cattle from a ranch called Rancho Cañada Los Vaqueros.

During the California Gold Rush, Brushy Peak became a hideout for bandits. One famous bandit was Joaquin Murietta. However, by the 1870s, more and more people from the east were settling in the area. This made it harder for outlaws to hide. In the early 1900s, a group from San Francisco called the Bohemian Club even held outings on top of the peak!

Modern History of the Park

In the early 1970s, the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District (LARPD) thought Brushy Peak would make a great city park. They bought 507 acres (205 hectares) for this purpose in 1974. In 1997, LARPD and the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) officially agreed to work together. Their goal was to get more land, plan for the park, and protect Brushy Peak Regional Preserve.

More recently, in 2014, two conservation groups helped buy a 79-acre (32-hectare) piece of land called "Eddie's Flat." This land is right next to the western edge of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve, helping to protect even more of this special area.

Visiting the Park

The park's hours change throughout the year. It's a good idea to call 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4512, to check the current times. There is no fee to enter the park.

Please note that the very top of Brushy Peak mountain is closed to the public. This is to protect sacred grounds that were important to ancient Native American tribes.

LARPD sometimes offers special guided tours to the top of Brushy Peak and to the northern part of the park. You can call LARPD at (925) 373-5707 for more information about these tours.

Remember, while there is a restroom at the park, there is no drinking water. Make sure to bring your own water when you visit!

Fun Activities

Brushy Peak Regional Preserve offers many ways to enjoy nature! You can go hiking, biking, and study the plants and animals. Dog walking is also allowed, but your dog must always be on a leash.

The parking area at Brushy Peak is also one of the starting points for tour buses. These buses take visitors to Vasco Caves Regional Preserve for special tours that need to be reserved in advance. The other starting point for these tours is at Round Valley Regional Preserve.