Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve — Local services in Orinda

First time I saw a photograph of the stunning Labyrinth in Sibley Volcanic Park I imagined I must be looking at an image of neolithic earthworks… But an inscription on the back of of the photo said “Sibley Regional Park Oakland, CA” I was flabbergasted. It took me about 2 years to figure out exactly where this was (in 1998, before Google had taken over the map world)…

The location of the Labyrinth was not on any park map, because it was “not officially sanctioned or a historically old enough feature”. Now it is on a few park signs.

Once found I’ve taken many people there. When we visit in the SPRING it’s particularly awe-inspiring there’s a shallow VERNAL POOL, which covers half the bottom of the old quarry. This time of year it’s teaming with LIFE. Redwing blackbirds and other marshy birds fill the air with their mating songs, Spring peepers fill the cool night air with their amphibious chorus… Newts and Salamanders have gathering under water, breeding and protecting their eggs ! It’s the beauty of biodiversity embodied !! And THEN there is the beautiful Labyrinth

Bring a small offering to leave in the Center but LEAVE the DOGS at HOME

This pool is so FRAGILE and dogs just wreak havoc on the new & delicate life there !

But DO bring a human friend to share...

I grew up in the area I have been going out to the Labyrinths since I was a teenager. I have a ritual where I walk out to the main labyrinth barefoot and leave a small offering to mark key moments in my life. I hope to be able to do that into old age.

The best time of year to go there is spring, when flowers are in bloom and everything is lush green. The rest of the year it is like a dry, rocky desert. There usually aren't too many people around, allowing for a contemplative experience. There is a hill out there that we used to call Hammock hill because at the top there is an old grove of Bay trees and there used to be a big hammock strung up there between two of them. One of these days I will put a new hammock there.

Much of the park allows dogs off-leash. I have seen rattlesnakes in Sibley so please do watch out for them. I have also seen Coyotes so be careful if you have a little dog. Big dogs probably are ok but if your dog is smaller than around 30 lbs then Coyotes might be in the bushes waiting for an opportunity to get it. Usually a Coyote will not attack in the open trail but it might try to lure your curious dog into the bushes where the rest of...

This preserve provides a great natural area for all kinds of recreation and respite. There are loops small and large enough for running. There are plenty of people walking their dogs. I witnessed several cyclists riding their bikes.

The most unique aspect of this preserve was the educational aspect. At the trailhead there was a descriptive pictorial explaining the geological.history to the volcanoes throughout the area. As you walk through the park one will find several markers detailing the specific rock outcroppings and their origin story. This was great for those enthusiastic about the geological history of the Bay Area. I also think this may be a great idea for building interest in science for children as a family outing.

Overall the hike was easy to moderate in difficulty. I circumnavigated the Preserve and my mileage was under 7 miles. The parking lot was medium sized, but I had no problem finding a spot at 9:30 on a Saturday morning. I noticed a lot of turnover since most were there to take their dogs on a quick walk.

As usual enjoy the space and don't forget to say hello to your fellow...