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Our Mission

The mission of California State Parks is

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

© 2009 California State Parks Printed on Recycled Paper


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

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