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San Jose, California
Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Alameda County
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®
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San Jose, California |
Morgan Territory Regional Preserve Alameda County |
This is one of the most remote open space preserves in the east bay. Expansive ridge top views reveal the back side of Mount Diablo to the west, Mount St. Helena to the north and the Central Valley with the snow-covered Sierra beyond to the east. This time of year there’s even a chance of a dusting of snow in this park.
Morgan Territory is located within the traditional homeland of the Volvon, one of five
Native American nations in the Diablo area who spoke dialects of the Bay Miwok.
Morgan Territory is named for Jeremiah Morgan, who in 1857 started a ranch in the area that
we know as Morgan Territory after having seen the land while on a hunting expedition.
Directions: Take I-680 North to I-580 East toward Livermore, exit onto N. Livermore Ave. and turn north. Shortly after N. Livermore curves left (west) and becomes Manning Rd. then turn right onto Morgan Territory Road and follow it for about 5.5 miles to the staging area.
Drive time approx. 1.5 hours - Parking Free - Dogs allowed
The Trail: We start out from the parking lot on the Coyote Trail, which takes us down a ravine. through lush Riparian habitat. Near the end of this trail after we enter the grasslands look for the Native American mortars in the rocks under the oaks. We then turn right on Stone Corral Trail and then right on Volvon Trail which will take us up to Bob Walker Ridge where we will have our meeting. Awesome views! After we will take Volvon Loop Trail through Oak, Bay and Buckeye forest and turn right on Valley View Trail. We then briefly rejoin Volvon Trail and turn left on Blue Oak Trail, look for the Woodpecker’s acorn storage in some of the big oaks. Then right on Hummingbird Trail that takes us back to a left on Volvon Trail. Turn right onto the single track Prairie Falcon Trail that takes us through Chaparral and past beautiful Manzanita to some rock out croppings where it may be possible to see the trails namesake soaring through the valley below. At the end of this loop we turn right on Condor Trail, which takes us back to the parking area.
Level: 2.5 - Miles: 6.5- Elevation: 700' - Troy H.
RECOMMENDED: Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.