Our mission statement
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El Cerrito Trail Trekkers is a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving, improving and extending the city’s network of public pathways, stairs, trails and greenways for pedestrian and bicycle use. We also advocate for increased public open space, and sponsor activities that involve trails and open space, including hikes, festivals, and other educational events.
Brief history and accomplishments: Trekkers was founded in 2010, initially as an offshoot of the city’s Environmental Quality Committee. We were inspired by Berkeley Path Wanderers. Since then the group has built several new trails in the Hillside Natural Area, and improved several other trails. For more details on the Trail Trekkers history and current activities, click here. Work parties include trail building and maintenance, broom pulling, and other habitat enhancement projects, often in conjunction with the EQC Green Teams and Friends of Five Creeks. |
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In 2014, working with the El Cerrito High Mountain Biking Club, Trust for Public land, and the city, we spearheaded a successful effort to acquire the Madera Open Space and added it to the Hillside Natural Area. As part of the deal for federal funding, we also secured an agreement that will preserve the entire Hillside Natural Area as open space in perpetuity.
Trekkers worked with the National Park Service to develop our trail map to all city trails, and way-marking signs in the Hillside Natural Area. We worked with the El Cerrito Rotary Club on the Rotary Interpretive Walk in the Hillside. Both sets of signs will be installed soon.
Trekkers puts on two dozen hikes every year, plus an annual Hillside Festival in conjunction with the Environmental Quality Committee.
By working closely with the city, Trekkers has brought renewed public attention to the city’s open spaces and trail network.
Current projects:
— We are overseeing installation of the National Park Service-designed waymarking signs in the Hillside Natural Area.
— We are working to preserve the 15-acre Fairview Open Space from a proposal to build 38 large homes on this fragile and beautiful habitat, and to add the land to the Hillside Natural Area. As part of our Open Space Campaign, we are working to preserve other private land adjacent to the public Hillside by acquiring easements to permit public us.
— As the pandemic recedes, we are resuming an active agenda of hikes, trail work and habitat improvement parties, and the annual Hillside Festival.
Trekkers puts on two dozen hikes every year, plus an annual Hillside Festival in conjunction with the Environmental Quality Committee.
By working closely with the city, Trekkers has brought renewed public attention to the city’s open spaces and trail network.
Current projects:
— We are overseeing installation of the National Park Service-designed waymarking signs in the Hillside Natural Area.
— We are working to preserve the 15-acre Fairview Open Space from a proposal to build 38 large homes on this fragile and beautiful habitat, and to add the land to the Hillside Natural Area. As part of our Open Space Campaign, we are working to preserve other private land adjacent to the public Hillside by acquiring easements to permit public us.
— As the pandemic recedes, we are resuming an active agenda of hikes, trail work and habitat improvement parties, and the annual Hillside Festival.