Foothills Park
View upon entering Foothills Park
Foothills Park is a 1400 acre nature preserve. It offers a retreat to a rural setting in the bustling San Francisco Bay Area.
Fifteen miles of trails provide access to three distinct habitats: chaparral, oak woodland, and grasslands.
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Chaparral plant communities, found on many south-facing slopes and ridges in the park, are adapted to hot, dry conditions. Deep root systems and small, thick leaves positioned to reduce surface area exposed to the sun are adaptations these plants have developed to help conserve moisture. Chamise is the dominant plant species, along with manzanita, ceanothus, and scrub oak.
The oak woodland community is represented by coast live oak, California Buckeye, madrone, California laurel, and wicked poison oak. Common wildlife include the dusky-footed woodrat, white-footed mouse, scrub jay, and slender salamander. |
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Deer grazing in Las Trampas
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California's summer golden grasslands are dominated by annual species brought by early European settlers. These grasses have largely crowded out the native grasses that colored the hillsides gray-green in summer. In fact, many of today's grasslands were forests before woodcutting and livestock grazing took their toll. The grasslands are home to huge numbers of insects, rodents such as mice, gophers, and jackrabbits, and larger predators like bobcat, red-tailed hawks, owls, and coyotes.
Athletic and highly intelligent coyotes play an indispensable role in California open spaces where they are often the top predator. Coyotes keep rodent populations (mice, gophers, ground squirrels, and rabbits) in balance, helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
Athletic and highly intelligent coyotes play an indispensable role in California open spaces where they are often the top predator. Coyotes keep rodent populations (mice, gophers, ground squirrels, and rabbits) in balance, helping to maintain a healthy ecosystem.
