On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area,
shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval
Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two ships loading ammunition for
Pacific troops exploded, resulting in the worst home front disaster of WWII.
The aftermath illuminated the issues of segregation and racial inequality in
the military.

On July 17, 1944, a massive explosion jolted the San Francisco East Bay area, shattering windows and lighting up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were killed instantly when two ships loading ammunition for Pacific troops exploded, resulting in the worst home front disaster of WWII. The aftermath illuminated the issues of segregation and racial inequality in the military.

Bird's eye view of the park

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

Benicia Capitol SHP

John Muir’s life was a tapestry of roles—fruit rancher, family man,
writer—each interwoven with his deep love for nature. As one of America’s most
influential naturalists, Muir was more than just an observer of the
wilderness; he was its fiercest advocate. His passion for the land drove him
to protect the places he held dear, ensuring that future generations could
experience their beauty.

John Muir’s life was a tapestry of roles—fruit rancher, family man, writer—each interwoven with his deep love for nature. As one of America’s most influential naturalists, Muir was more than just an observer of the wilderness; he was its fiercest advocate. His passion for the land drove him to protect the places he held dear, ensuring that future generations could experience their beauty.

John Muir National Historic Site

Benicia SRA

The San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve comprises two
components located along the salinity gradient of the San Francisco Bay. The
reserve's 3,710 acres are located at China Camp State Park in San Rafael and
Rush Ranch in Suisun City, 30 miles north and 50 miles northeast of San
Francisco, respectively. A primary focus of the reserve is to support tidal
marsh restoration through research, monitoring and education. These sites
serve as valuable reference sites in the San Francisco area where nearly 97
percent of the historic tidal wetlands have been lost due to development
pressures in the region. These reference sites create an opportunity for a
scientific basis for restoration activities in the bay area.

The San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve comprises two components located along the salinity gradient of the San Francisco Bay.  The reserve's 3,710 acres are located at China Camp State Park in San Rafael and Rush Ranch in Suisun City, 30 miles north and 50 miles northeast of San Francisco, respectively.  A primary focus of the reserve is to support tidal marsh restoration through research, monitoring and education.  These sites serve as valuable reference sites in the San Francisco area where nearly 97 percent of the historic tidal wetlands have been lost due to development pressures in the region.  These reference sites create an opportunity for a scientific basis for restoration activities in the bay area.

San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Contra Loma Dam and reservoir are part of the Central Valley Project - Delta
Division and offers recreational opportunities for the East Bay area near San
Francisco. Numerous hiking trails exist as part of the facility and the area
provides excellent access to the Contra Costa Canal Regional Trail. The trail
system provides for bikes, equestrian and pedestrian use and are available
from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. The park also provides picnic and other day
use facilities and adjacent to the Antioch Municipal Golf Course.

<a href="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/dams/ca10143.htm" rel="nofollow">Contra Loma Dam</a> and reservoir are part of the <a href="http://www.usr.gov/dataweb/html/delta.html" rel="nofollow">Central Valley Project - Delta Division</a> and offers recreational opportunities for the East Bay area near San Francisco. Numerous hiking trails exist as part of the facility and the area provides excellent access to the Contra Costa Canal Regional Trail. The trail system provides for bikes, equestrian and pedestrian use and are available from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. The park also provides picnic and other day use facilities and adjacent to the Antioch Municipal Golf Course.

Contra Loma Reservoir

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is the only national wildlife refuge in
the country established to protect endangered plants and insects – the Antioch
Dunes evening primrose, the Contra Costa wallflower, and the Lange’s metalmark
butterfly.

Created in 1980, the 55-acre refuge was once part of a larger sand dune system
that stretched two miles along the southern bank of the San Joaquin River east
of the City of Antioch. The sand dunes were formed by ancient deposits of
glacial sands carried downriver from the Sierra Nevada. Over thousands of
years, ocean winds and bay tides slowly shaped these aeolian (wind-blown)
sands into dunes that approached 120 feet in height. Isolation of these dunes
resulted in the development of species of plants and insects that were found
nowhere else in the world. In 2022, another 12 acres were added to the refuge
bringing the total area to 67 acres.

Large-scale sand mining and industrial development fragmented the sand dune
habitat until only a small portion of the original ecosystem remained. What is
left today are two disjunct parcels (the Stamm and Sardis Units) containing
sand dunes varying from 0-50 feet high, making up refuge.

Due to the sensitivity of the habitats and the endangered species, the refuge
is not open to unsupervised use by the public. However, refuge staff and local
educators conduct on-site environmental education efforts through monthly
guided tours and special events. Volunteers also regularly assist refuge staff
with habitat restoration projects and endangered species surveys.

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is the only national wildlife refuge in the country established to protect endangered plants and insects – the Antioch Dunes evening primrose, the Contra Costa wallflower, and the Lange’s metalmark butterfly. Created in 1980, the 55-acre refuge was once part of a larger sand dune system that stretched two miles along the southern bank of the San Joaquin River east of the City of Antioch. The sand dunes were formed by ancient deposits of glacial sands carried downriver from the Sierra Nevada. Over thousands of years, ocean winds and bay tides slowly shaped these aeolian (wind-blown) sands into dunes that approached 120 feet in height. Isolation of these dunes resulted in the development of species of plants and insects that were found nowhere else in the world. In 2022, another 12 acres were added to the refuge bringing the total area to 67 acres.Large-scale sand mining and industrial development fragmented the sand dune habitat until only a small portion of the original ecosystem remained. What is left today are two disjunct parcels (the Stamm and Sardis Units) containing sand dunes varying from 0-50 feet high, making up refuge. Due to the sensitivity of the habitats and the endangered species, the refuge is not open to unsupervised use by the public.  However, refuge staff and local educators conduct on-site environmental education efforts through monthly guided tours and special events. Volunteers also regularly assist refuge staff with habitat restoration projects and endangered species surveys.

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge

Bird's eye view of the campground

Group Campsites

Juniper Campground

Live Oak Campground

Mount Diablo SP

America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O'Neill, chose Northern
California as his sanctuary at the pinnacle of his writing career. Secluded
from the outside world within the serene walls of his Tao House, O'Neill
crafted his final and most memorable masterpieces: The Iceman Cometh, Long
Day's Journey Into Night, and A Moon for the Misbegotten.

America's only Nobel Prize-winning playwright, Eugene O'Neill, chose Northern California as his sanctuary at the pinnacle of his writing career. Secluded from the outside world within the serene walls of his Tao House, O'Neill crafted his final and most memorable masterpieces: The Iceman Cometh, Long Day's Journey Into Night, and A Moon for the Misbegotten.

Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

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