SUNOL, Alameda County — Fall offers an opportunity to explore the ridges, trails and natural history of Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve, but visitors should distinguish the preserve’s gate hours from its staffed visitor center hours.

The East Bay Regional Park District lists the preserve as open 8 a.m.–7 p.m. during October. From November 1 through March 7, the posted schedule shifts to 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Seasonal hours can change due to emergency weather and park conditions.

When can families visit the information center?

At 1895 Geary Road, the Sunol Visitor Center is listed as open Fridays 9 a.m.–1 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. It closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

District naturalists provide trail suggestions, interpret local ecology and explain the preserve’s wildlife. Visitor displays include an herbarium with samples of local plants and, at times, live animal ambassadors.

What will parking cost?

The district lists weekend and holiday vehicle parking at $5. Fees for buses and vehicles with trailers are higher; consult the official park page before organizing a group visit.

Because trail conditions can change after rain, ask the visitor center about route accessibility and any restrictions before undertaking a longer hike. Pack drinking water and suitable footwear. Trails range from relatively gentle approaches to steep climbs.

How to contact park staff

The visitor center’s posted telephone number is 510-544-3249. The district provides park maps, rules and program announcements at ebparks.org/parks/sunol. Visitors planning an event or commercial activity may need additional permissions.

For Sunol residents, the preserve is both recreation space and sensitive habitat. Stay on authorized routes, observe fire restrictions and carry out trash. A general schedule is not a confirmation that every trail or facility is open today.

Sources: East Bay Regional Park District Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve and Sunol Visitor Center pages, reviewed October 2026.

Help independent local news grow Your contribution helps us build and sustain community reporting.
Support Sunol News

Choose how to support Sunol News:

Credit / Debit Card via Stripe

Choose an amount from $1. One-time support through the publisher's LINKERNO Stripe account.

Continue with PayPal

Zelle323-677-7643Open Zelle through your bank. Verify the recipient before sending.

Optional reader support. When possible, add “Sunol News” to the payment note. Contributions are not advertised as tax-deductible. Support does not influence editorial decisions.

Sunol News — Your Community Newspaper

Have a correction, news tip, local announcement, or story to submit? Contact our editorial team. All submissions are reviewed before publication.

Contact the Sunol News newsroom →

More from Sunol News

Explore more local reporting and community updates on the newspaper homepage.

Visit Sunol News →

COMMUNITY

Comments

Join the California58 conversation. You must be signed in to comment.

  1. Pingback: Herald-Area Nature Guide: Cosumnes River Preserve Opens Trails at Sunrise, But Pets and Camping Are Prohibited – California58