Benicia to provide for the health, inspiration and
education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary The tidal marsh—where the rivers meet the bay— State Recreation Area biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality forms a unique habitat, outdoor recreation. home to rare and endangered plants and wildlife. California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (707) 648-1911. This publication is available in alternate formats by contacting:
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P. O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service
www.parks.ca.gov
Discover the many states of California.TM
Benicia State Recreation Area
1 State Park Road Benicia, CA 94510 (707) 648-1911
T he combined waters of fourteen in 1834, Mexican commandant Dillon eventually purchased tributaries of the Sacramento and San General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo the property; he built a brick kiln Joaquin rivers surge through the Carquinez used these new converts, called and began making red clay bricks. Strait, past Benicia State Recreation Area, neophytes, as a labor force to work Sandstone and raw materials and west into San Pablo Bay on their way to on his vast land holdings—nearly for the bricks were eventually the Pacific Ocean. 175,000 acres. exhausted. The Dillon family and Over the past 150 years, these waters have A century later, only about 200 subsequent owners tried sheep carried silt and clay from the hydraulic gold Patwin were left—lost to forced ranching and raising grapes until mines and timber logging sites of the Sierra labor, deprivation and newly the State acquired the property and deposited the particles where fresh introduced European diseases. Doña Francisca Benicia for Benicia State Recreation Area water meets salt water at Southampton Bay. Carrillo de Vallejo in 1967. Euro-American Settlement The mudflat and marsh make up most of the The city of Benicia was founded in 1847 by NATURAL HISTORY recreation area, providing habitat for some General Vallejo, Dr. Robert Semple and Geology and Habitat unusual and endangered species. Thomas O. Larkin. Benicia was originally Nearly 70 percent of the parkland is tidal The climate is generally windy and cool named “Francisca” in honor of Vallejo’s wife, marsh wetland, ringed by grassy hills and year-round, with frequent fog. Temperatures Doña Francisca Benicia Carrillo. open water. The Southampton mudflat range from 40 to 101 degrees, with average Francisca’s founders changed the town’s formed by upriver silt and clay deposits is rainfall of 3 inches during winter months. name to Benicia on June 12, 1847, after over 1,000 feet thick. The principal habitats PARK HISTORY nearby Yerba Buena was officially renamed here are brackish marsh, saltwater marsh Native Americans San Francisco. With its strategic location and freshwater marsh. Today’s Solano County was first settled by skirting Southampton Bay and the Carquinez Plants and Wildlife the Patwin, who spoke the Southern Wintuan Strait, Benicia built the area’s first deep- This rare and endangered wetland language. Historians estimate that about water harbor capable of docking large ships. ecosystem is covered with marsh plants 3,300 Southern Patwin lived in the area Park Property such as salt grass, pickleweed, coyote before European encroachment. The sandstone point at Benicia SRA has been bush and soft bird’s-beak. Bird’s-beak is an From 1800 through the 1820s, Spanish known as Rocky Point, Quarry Point and now endangered gray-green annual herb in the padres from Mission Dolores, Mission Dillon Point. Stonecutter Patrick Dillon came snapdragon family. Non-native trees provide San José and the mission at Sonoma to California from Tipperary, Ireland, during light shade at the park entrance and picnic tried to convert the Southern Patwin to the 1849 gold rush. He settled in Benicia in table areas. Native plant communities such Catholicism. After the mission era ended 1851. General Vallejo leased Dillon the tidal as chaparral, valley grassland and coastal flat at Southampton Bay and Rocky Point scrub bloom on the hillsides. peninsula for a sandstone quarry. Native Plant Botanic Garden habitat for bird ACCESSIBLE FEATURES The Forrest Deaner Native Plant Botanic species. Virginia rails, The Benicia Bay Trail is Garden represents over 250 species on 3.5 endangered California a 2.2-mile, accessibly acres overlooking Southampton Bay. clapper rails and black designed scenic trail in The garden pays tribute to the late Forrest rails hide in marsh gently rolling hills. A few Deaner, founder of the Willis Linn Jepson vegetation. Visitors slopes exceed 8% grade, Chapter (Solano County) of the California may see herons and followed by rest areas. Native Plant Society. In spring, colorful egrets fishing or Accessible benches dot magenta redbuds, golden poppies, blue pelicans and terns the trail at intervals. The lupines and pink-flowered currants bloom. diving. The marsh trailhead, picnic tables Summer and early fall deepen native plant resounds with Suisun and parking are accessible; foliage into russets and browns. song sparrows and they are near the group Several demonstration gardens—Memorial, saltmarsh common picnic area, a mile into Residential/Sensory, Native American, yellowthroat. On their the park. A portable Butterfly/Hummingbird, Wildflower Meadow journey along the restroom at Military West and Riparian—display flora varieties, each Pacific Flyway, many is designated accessible. marked with different colored labels. The waterfowl winter in the For updates, see Botanic Garden is fully maintained by park, such as Canada Sweeping marsh and bay views www.access.parks.ca.gov. volunteers and funded through grants and geese or canvasback individual donations. For more information, and goldeneye ducks. PLEASE REMEMBER • Park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily. visit www.cnpsjepsonchapter.org. RECREATION • Pay the day-use vehicle fee at entrance. Wildlife Dogs and bicycles are allowed on the • Dogs must be on a leash. Dogs and bikes Endangered northern salt marsh harvest Benicia Bay Trail, part of the Bay Area Ridge are not allowed on marsh nature trails. mice depend on the park’s pickleweed for its Trail. California State Parks built the Benicia • Tent camping is not permitted. For a fee, dense cover. Marsh erosion, predators and Bay Trail in collaboration with the Bay Area RVs may camp en route for one night, severe habitat loss have Ridge Trail Coalition and the San Francisco space permitting, near the park entrance. reduced this mouse Bay Trail Foundation. population. Other park NEARBY STATE PARKS The park has 2.25 miles of paved road and • Benicia Capitol State Historic Park mammals include bike paths. The Hike and Bike Trail—two coyote, beaver, 115 West G St., Benicia (707) 745-3385 parallel, paved, accessible trails—begins • Sonoma State Historic Park otter and muskrat. at the Military West entrance and runs 0.75 363-3rd Street West (at the Mission) Marine birds float miles to the main park entrance, joining Sonoma (707) 938-9560 lazily on thermal Dillon Point Road for 1.5 miles. updrafts at this Dillon Point offers prime shore fishing This park receives support in part from the designated Important for sturgeon, starry flounder and striped nonprofit Benicia State Parks Association, Salt marsh harvest Bird Area, which bass. Anglers over age 16 must carry a valid 115 West G St., Benicia, CA 94510 mouse in pickleweed provides essential (707) 745-3385 California fishing license. Trespassing on fragile salt marsh areas is prohibited by law. Approved study permits are required. For information/application, visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/studypermits