Morgan Territory Regional Preserve facts for kids

The Morgan Territory Regional Preserve is a large park located in California. It's found east of Clayton and north of Livermore, California. This park is right next to Mount Diablo State Park. It's managed by the East Bay Regional Park District. The preserve covers about 5,230 acres (2,120 ha) of land. You can usually get into the park from Livermore.

Many fun activities happen here. You can go camping, hiking, or horseback riding. Picnics are also popular. If you want to use the backpacking campsite, you need a reservation. But remember, this campsite is not easy to access for wheelchairs. Picnic spots cannot be reserved. Dogs are welcome in the park, and there is no fee for them.

Exploring Morgan Territory Preserve

What is the Park Like?

Morgan Territory Regional Preserve is one of the biggest parks managed by the East Bay Regional Park District. A creek flows through the middle of the preserve. This creek runs alongside Morgan Territory Road. Many trails branch off from this main road. They lead into the hills around the park.

Nearby Natural Areas

Some trails in the preserve connect to Mount Diablo State Park. On the western side of the park, trails also link to the Las Vaqueros Watershed. However, you need a special permit to enter the watershed area.

Trails and Starting Points

There is one main starting point for trails. It's located at a high spot called a pass. This pass is about 2,030 feet (620 m) high. The Volvon Trail follows a ridge from this pass. It stays at an elevation of about 1,900 feet (580 m). The very highest point in the park is on Highland Ridge. It reaches about 2,317 feet (706 m) high.

The park has camping areas where you can find water. Restrooms are also available. Besides the main starting point, you can find restrooms and a camping/picnic area on Roger Epperson Ridge. This spot is along the Highland Ridge Trail.

History of Morgan Territory

Early People and Settlers

Long ago, the land that is now Morgan Territory was home to the Volvon people. They were a Native American group. Their language was a dialect of the Bay Miwok language. In 1772, Spanish explorers arrived in the area. This changed the Volvon's world forever. Some Volvon people were killed by Spanish military groups. Many others were drawn into Catholic missions. In these missions, poor conditions and new diseases from the Spanish caused many deaths. Most of the native resistance to the Spanish way of life ended around 1806.

Later, the King of Spain started giving away huge pieces of land. These were given to his friends and supporters. Few of these new landowners lived on their grants. Instead, they divided the land into smaller parts. They gave or sold these parts to others. These new owners created large ranches. Often, these owners were not Spanish. They were immigrants from the United States. Two examples are John Marsh and Jeremiah Morgan.

Morgan Territory was named after Jeremiah Morgan. He was from Alabama. He came to California in 1849 looking for gold. He worked as a miner for a short time. Then, he went back to Iowa for his family. He returned to California in 1853. In 1857, he started a ranch near Mount Diablo.

Recent Park History

The Morgan Territory Regional Preserve was first created in 1975. On April 17, 2015, the East Bay Regional Park District announced something exciting. They had added a 260 acres (110 ha) piece of land to the preserve. This land was once called the Viera farm. It is also next to Mount Diablo State Park. This addition made the total area of Morgan Territory Regional Preserve 5,230 acres (2,120 ha).

Plants and Animals

Flora and Fauna of the Preserve

The East Bay Regional Park District says that over 90 types of wildflowers grow in Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. One special flower is the Diablo sunflower. Its scientific name is Helianthella castanea. This sunflower only grows naturally in the foothills of Mount Diablo. Animals you might see in the park include deer and coyotes. Sometimes, you might even spot a mountain lion.