> East Bay Regional Park District | Embrace Life! > Parks > Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve

Park Info

Address
On Skyline Blvd., just east of Grizzly Peak Blvd./Diablo Dr.
Oakland, CA
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Phone Number
Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4554

Local Weather

Weather Forecast

Maps
View Trail Map
Download PDF Map
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Transit & Trails

Panorama

Park/Gate Hours
Nov. - Feb.
7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
March - October
7 a.m. -10 p.m.

Park Events
Click HERE for upcoming events

Parking Fee
No fee

Dog Fee
No fee

Grazing Information
Grazing in the Parks

Camping Reservations
No reservable campgrounds

Picnic Reservations
No reservable sites

Emergency Number
911

EBRPD Headquarters
1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757

Park Update

November 13, 2012 through the end of January 2013 (projected), the District approved Eucalyptus Removal Project will be underway and will include heavy equipment move-in and tree falling operations at the Sibley Triangle in the northernmost eucalyptus groves along Skyline Blvd. Sibley Island and Sibley Staging Area will not be used at any point during this project and impacts to parks users is expected to be very minimal due the inaccessibility and absence of infrastructure within the project area.

Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve

About The Park
Park Features
Park Activities
Video Clip - KQED Quest
Park Accessibility
To Reach The Park
Trail Map
Park Map
Interpretive Panels

About The Park

East Bay residents have a volcano in their backyard at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve. Originally called Round Top Park, Sibley shares with Temescal and Tilden the distinction of being one of the East Bay Regional Park District's original parks. The preserve was later named in honor of Robert Sibley, who helped found the District and served for 10 years on its board of directors.

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Round Top, one of the area's highest peaks, is made up of lava and volcanic debris left over from a 10-million-year-old volcano. During the past 10 million years, massive tectonic forces on the Hayward and Moraga earthquake faults uplifted the Berkeley hills, folding bedrock formations and tilting the Round Top volcano complex on its side.

Softer sedimentary rock from the Orinda Formation eroded away, exposing the Round Top volcano. In addition, quarrying in the north half of the preserve has revealed cross sections of the bedrock geology, providing an unsurpassed outdoor laboratory for studying volcanism in the Central Coast Ranges.

Park Features

Round Top (elevation 1763 ft. above sea level) is the preserve's most prominent feature.

The unstaffed visitor center at the Skyline Boulevard staging area has displays illustrating the preserve's geology. A self-guided brochure is available at the staging area highlighting the preserve's geological features.

Several trails provide access throughout the preserve. The 31-mile East Bay Skyline National Recreation Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail system, traverses the preserve along the ridgeline between Wildcat Canyon and Anthony Chabot Parks. Round Top Road goes from the Sibley visitor center to the top of Round Top. Round Top Loop Trail circles Round Top peak. Volcanic Trail, once a quarry haul road, contains most of the stops on the self-guided volcanic tour.

From Old Tunnel Road on the northwest side of the park, the paved Quarry Road ascends and meets the east end of Volcanic Trail. Quarry Trail connects the middle of Volcanic Trail to a point lower down on Quarry Road. Finally, Pond Trail is a short trail segment that descends to a couple of ponds on the north side of the preserve.

Park Activities

Most trails are hiking and equestrian only. A few trails are multi-use. Dogs are permitted at Sibley, but are not allowed on adjacent Huckleberry trails. A visitor center at the park shelves self-guided tour brochures so guests can stroll the park and learn of its historic significance at their own leisure.

Bicycles are not allowed on narrow-gauge trails, except on the Skyline Trail between the Sibley visitor center and Old Tunnel Road. Bicycles are allowed on the wider-gauge fire trails and paved roads, but are not allowed on Round Top Road from the fork .15 mile east of the visitor center to the top of Round Top.

Video Clip - KQED Quest

KQED QUEST Exploration: Steve Edwards, Director of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, reveals the fascinating geological history of Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.

Park Accessibility

Round Top Road is paved to the top of Round Top. (Watch for occasional vehicles using the road.) There is also a 600-foot, paved wheelchair path north of the visitor center that ends at a viewing platform. Quarry Road, beginning at Old Tunnel Road, is also paved.

To Reach The Park

From Highway 24 take the Fish Ranch Road immediately east of the Caldecott Tunnel. Continue 0.8 miles to Grizzly Peak Boulevard. Turn left and go 2.4 miles on Grizzly Peak to Skyline Boulevard. Turn left and drive .1 mile to the preserve entrance on the left.

The closest bus line, AC Transit #305, runs only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. From Lake Merritt BART, 19th Street BART, or Rockridge BART take AC Transit bus 59 or 59A; these bus lines go to the Montclair Transit Center. From there, transfer to AC Transit bus 305 and exit at the stop on Colton Boulevard and Ridgewood Drive. Walk the short distance from Colton to Skyline Boulevard, turn left and proceed to the preserve. It is a mostly level, 0.9-mile walk that passes the Huckleberry Preserve staging area.

Please call AC Transit 511 (TDD (hearing impaired line)/TTY: 1-800-448-9790) or visit www.transit.511.org to confirm transit information.

Transit & Trails: Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve (transit, biking, and walking directions)