We invite CNGA members to join us in exploring the diverse and scenic restored grasslands at Skyline Gardens 

Skyline Gardens is a section of the High Ridge Volcanic area on East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) land between Tilden Regional Park’s Steam Trains and the Caldecott Tunnel (Hwy 24). It is the most botanically rich area of its size (about 250 acres) in the entire East San Francisco Bay.

 282 native plant species have been identified so far. The Skyline Gardens Alliance is a combination botanical survey and restoration project in the Skyline Trail area of the Oakland–Berkeley Hills. The Alliance is a group of volunteers led by Glen Schneider whose purpose is to document the native flora and to remove invasive plants to assist the recovery of the native ecological diversity of the area. The Alliance is sponsored by the East Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) in collaboration with EBMUD. See the website https://www.skylinegardens.org/ for a plant list and more information. 

Timing: 10 am to 12 noon

Hiking Level: Moderate

Age Restrictions:18 and over

Registration Fee: $25. This is a CNGA Members-Only Event. Become a member today! 

Registration is limited to 20 people, so register today! 

Field Trip Leaders

• Glen Schneider is a local East Bay naturalist. He grew up in a local nursery family and has been a native plant garden landscape designer/builder for over 40 years. His own garden in Berkeley is on the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour
• Cynthia Adkisson began volunteering with Skyline Gardens in February 2017, pretty much every workday and then some. She retired from East Bay Municipal Utility District in October 2017, became a docent at East Bay Regional Park District Black Diamond Mines preserve in June 2018, and has worked with the Senior Naturalist to identify rare plants at the park and document them, along with many other fun projects there. Cynthia recently served two years as Vice President for the CNPS East Bay Chapter.
• Michele Hammond  is the Botanist for the East Bay Regional Park District and member of the East Bay California Native Plant Society. She has been working with native grassland ecology and restoration for over 20 years

If you plan to attend, please read these before registering: 

What to bring: Hat, sunscreen, water, and comfortable walking shoes or boots. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy on-site. Please leave pets at home.   

Additional suggestions: There will be some off-trail walking. Be prepared for ticks and poison oak.

CNGA COVID-19 Safety Policy:  All events will follow current regional health safety guidelines. Please practice good health hygiene, and physical distancing when possible. If you do not feel well, please do not attend.