Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area
Encyclopedia
Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area is a state park
unit of California
, USA, providing off-roading
opportunities in the Diablo Range
. Located in southern Alameda
and San Joaquin
counties, it is one of six state vehicular recreation areas (SVRAs) administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation
. With a diversity of terrain ranging from rolling hills
to steep canyon
s, Carnegie has become a popular destination for off-road enthusiasts of all skill levels.
, Carnegie
's unique past can be traced to the Gold Rush
when miners, traveled through Corral Hollow
on their way to the gold fields
. Later miners discovered that the canyon contained rich deposits of coal
and clay
. Fueled by California's rapid population growth and the subsequent demand for building materials, the Carnegie Brick and Pottery Company was formed. By the 1904 a vibrant town with 350 inhabitants was in place and the town's brick factory was producing upwards of 100,000 bricks per day. However, by 1916 the brick company was facing financial ruin and was sold. The new owners, in an effort to return the area to ranch land, sold off the factory's equipment and destroyed what remained of the town's buildings. The town of Carnegie was now a memory. Remnants of Carnegie's past are still evident throughout the park today.
grazing operation and also became a popular picnic destination for residents of Livermore
and Tracy
. During the 1960s, the privately-owned Carnegie Cycle Park was established, providing a setting for motorcyclists
to test their off-road skills. Finally, as off-road recreation gained popularity, Carnegie was purchased by the state in 1979 with OHV Trust Fund monies to create the present-day Carnegie SVRA.
users of all skill levels.
Day-use hours vary depending upon the time of year but generally range from 8 a.m. to sunset. Twenty-three campsites are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Ramadas, fire rings, restrooms and water faucets are provided for campers. Water and electrical hook-ups are not available. Picnic tables are located throughout the valley floor; however, fires are restricted to the fire rings provided in the campground.
The following facilities are operated by park staff and are open to the public unless a special event is scheduled:
s. Look up and you might catch a glimpse of a red-tailed hawk
, kestrel
or golden eagle
flying overhead, searching the grassland below for its next meal.
Black-tailed deer
are often seen feeding in the mornings and evenings, and coyote
sightings are common. Tule elk
, introduced to the Diablo Range in the late 1970s, can provide a special thrill for visitors who happen upon these large animals grazing in the park or on adjacent ranch land. Feral pig
s, wild turkey
s, bobcat
s and badger
s are just a few of the other animals that make Corral Hollow Canyon their home.
The wildflowers, bushes and grasses in the park are fragile and must be protected for future generations. Familiar plants native to the park include blue oak
, gray pine
, California poppies, California buckeye and the ever-present poison oak
. Many of the grasses in the park and the surrounding lands are non-native and were introduced during the many years of ranching and farming. However, Carnegie does have some beautiful stands of native bunchgrasses.
In 1998 over 3000 acres (1,214.1 ha) located west of the current riding area were purchased by the state for inclusion into Carnegie SVRA. This proposal, known as the Alameda-Tesla Expansion Project, will provide increased OHV recreational opportunities at Carnegie SVRA, including an extensive multiple use (i.e., motorcycles, ATVs, 4x4 vehicles, sports utility vehicles) trail system, a 4x4 vehicle obstacle course
, a day-use staging area, and interpretive and informational facilities. The proposed project may also provide non-OHV recreational opportunities like mountain biking
, horseback riding and hiking
, provided there is no conflict between them and OHV users. Within this area is the site of the former coal mining
town of Tesla.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
unit of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, USA, providing off-roading
Off-roading
Off-roading is a term for driving a vehicle on unsurfaced roads or tracks, made of materials such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain.-Off-road vehicle:...
opportunities in the Diablo Range
Diablo Range
The Diablo Range is a mountain range in the California Coast Ranges subdivision of the Pacific Coast Ranges. It is located in the eastern San Francisco Bay area south to the Salinas Valley area of northern California, the United States.-Geography:...
. Located in southern Alameda
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
and San Joaquin
San Joaquin County, California
San Joaquin County is a county located in Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, just east of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 685,306. The county seat is Stockton.-History:...
counties, it is one of six state vehicular recreation areas (SVRAs) administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation
California Department of Parks and Recreation
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, also known as California State Parks, manages the California state parks system. The system administers 278 parks and 1.4 million acres , with over of coastline; of lake and river frontage; nearly 15,000 campsites; and of hiking, biking, and...
. With a diversity of terrain ranging from rolling hills
Rolling Hills
Rolling Hills may refer to:Canada* Rolling Hills, AlbertaUnited States* Rolling Hills, California, in Los Angeles County* Rolling Hills, Madera County, California* Rolling Hills Estates, California* Rolling Hills, Clark County, Indiana...
to steep canyon
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
s, Carnegie has become a popular destination for off-road enthusiasts of all skill levels.
Carnegie
Like many areas in Northern CaliforniaNorthern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
, Carnegie
Carnegie, California
Carnegie is a former town in Corral Hollow, in San Joaquin County, California.It waa discovered that the Tesla coal mines in Corral Hollow contained a rich deposit of clay. Fueled by California's rapid population growth and the subsequent demand for building materials, the mine owners, San...
's unique past can be traced to the Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
when miners, traveled through Corral Hollow
Corral Hollow
Corral Hollow, formed by Corral Hollow Creek, is a canyon with part in Alameda County and parts in San Joaquin County, 6.5 miles Southwest of Tracy, California...
on their way to the gold fields
Gold Country
Gold Country is a region in the central and northeastern part of California, United States. It is famed for the mineral deposits and gold mines that attracted waves of immigrants, known as the 49ers, during the 1849 California Gold Rush.-Geography:State Route 49 was built through the Gold Country,...
. Later miners discovered that the canyon contained rich deposits of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
and clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
. Fueled by California's rapid population growth and the subsequent demand for building materials, the Carnegie Brick and Pottery Company was formed. By the 1904 a vibrant town with 350 inhabitants was in place and the town's brick factory was producing upwards of 100,000 bricks per day. However, by 1916 the brick company was facing financial ruin and was sold. The new owners, in an effort to return the area to ranch land, sold off the factory's equipment and destroyed what remained of the town's buildings. The town of Carnegie was now a memory. Remnants of Carnegie's past are still evident throughout the park today.
State Vehicular Recreation Area
For years the area supported a large cattleCattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
grazing operation and also became a popular picnic destination for residents of Livermore
Livermore, California
Livermore is a city in Alameda County. The population as of 2010 was 80,968. Livermore is located on the eastern edge of California's San Francisco Bay Area....
and Tracy
Tracy, California
Tracy is the second most populated city in San Joaquin County, California, United States and an exurb of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 82,922 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. During the 1960s, the privately-owned Carnegie Cycle Park was established, providing a setting for motorcyclists
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
to test their off-road skills. Finally, as off-road recreation gained popularity, Carnegie was purchased by the state in 1979 with OHV Trust Fund monies to create the present-day Carnegie SVRA.
Terrain and facilities
With over 1500 acres (607 ha) of riding area, Carnegie offers a variety of terrain upon which to ride. Characterized by dry rocky washes, rolling hills and steep, rugged canyons, the park provides a setting for all-terrain vehicleAll-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
users of all skill levels.
Day-use hours vary depending upon the time of year but generally range from 8 a.m. to sunset. Twenty-three campsites are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Ramadas, fire rings, restrooms and water faucets are provided for campers. Water and electrical hook-ups are not available. Picnic tables are located throughout the valley floor; however, fires are restricted to the fire rings provided in the campground.
The following facilities are operated by park staff and are open to the public unless a special event is scheduled:
- MotocrossMotocrossMotocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
track — this popular track is open to motorcycles only. Formalized competitive events are held on some weekends causing periodic closures to the public. - ATV/MC Track — open to both ATVs and motorcycles.
- 70cc Children's Track — designated for motorcycles and ATVs with small engines up to 70cc displacement, the track offers young riders an opportunity to practice and improve their riding skills.
- 110cc Beginner Track — designated for motorcycles and ATVs with small engines up to 110cc displacement, the track offers young riders an opportunity to practice and improve their riding skills.
Vegetation and wildlife
Carnegie SVRA is home to a surprisingly wide range of plant and animal life. Those who take the time to explore will see raptors soaring gracefully above, countless tracks of small mammals and insects, and an impressive, colorful display of spring wildflowerWildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
s. Look up and you might catch a glimpse of a red-tailed hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West...
, kestrel
Kestrel
The name kestrel, is given to several different members of the falcon genus, Falco. Kestrels are most easily distinguished by their typical hunting behaviour which is to hover at a height of around over open country and swoop down on prey, usually small mammals, lizards or large insects...
or golden eagle
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
flying overhead, searching the grassland below for its next meal.
Black-tailed deer
Black-tailed Deer
Two forms of black-tailed deer or blacktail deer occupying coastal temperate rainforest on North America's Pacific coast are subspecies of the mule deer. They have sometimes been treated as a species, but virtually all recent authorities maintain they are subspecies...
are often seen feeding in the mornings and evenings, and coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
sightings are common. Tule elk
Tule Elk
The tule elk is a subspecies of elk found only in California, ranging from the grasslands and marshlands of the Central Valley to the grassy hills on the coast. The subspecies name derives from the tule that it feeds off of, which grows in the marshlands...
, introduced to the Diablo Range in the late 1970s, can provide a special thrill for visitors who happen upon these large animals grazing in the park or on adjacent ranch land. Feral pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
s, wild turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
s, bobcat
Bobcat
The bobcat is a North American mammal of the cat family Felidae, appearing during the Irvingtonian stage of around 1.8 million years ago . With twelve recognized subspecies, it ranges from southern Canada to northern Mexico, including most of the continental United States...
s and badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
s are just a few of the other animals that make Corral Hollow Canyon their home.
The wildflowers, bushes and grasses in the park are fragile and must be protected for future generations. Familiar plants native to the park include blue oak
Blue Oak
Quercus douglasii, the Blue Oak, is an oak in the white oak section of the genus, Quercus sect. Quercus. It is endemic to California and is found in foothills surrounding the Central Valley of California and certain locations in the California Coast Ranges, USA...
, gray pine
Gray Pine
Pinus sabiniana , with the common names gray pine, California foothill pine, and the more historically and internationally used digger pine, is a pine endemic to California in the United States...
, California poppies, California buckeye and the ever-present poison oak
Poison oak
Poison oak may refer to* Toxicodendron diversilobum, grows on West Coast of North America* Toxicodendron pubescens, grows in the Eastern United Statesdamnnnnn tissss is terribleee...
. Many of the grasses in the park and the surrounding lands are non-native and were introduced during the many years of ranching and farming. However, Carnegie does have some beautiful stands of native bunchgrasses.
Resource management
Consistent with the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act of 1988, the condition of soils, wildlife and vegetative resources are continually monitored by park staff to determine if soil loss standards and habitat protection plans are being met. Through this monitoring process, changes (such as erosion or wildlife population variations) can be detected and the appropriate action can be taken to mitigate problems. Consequently, from time to time, certain trails or hill climb areas may be fenced off or closed in an effort to protect wildlife and restore habitat. These closed areas are often replanted with native plant species in order to repair and rehabilitate those areas damaged by recreational use.In 1998 over 3000 acres (1,214.1 ha) located west of the current riding area were purchased by the state for inclusion into Carnegie SVRA. This proposal, known as the Alameda-Tesla Expansion Project, will provide increased OHV recreational opportunities at Carnegie SVRA, including an extensive multiple use (i.e., motorcycles, ATVs, 4x4 vehicles, sports utility vehicles) trail system, a 4x4 vehicle obstacle course
Obstacle course
An obstacle course is a series of challenging physical obstacles an individual or team must navigate usually while being timed. Obstacle courses can include running, climbing, jumping, crawling, swimming, and balancing elements with the aim of testing speed and endurance. Sometimes a course...
, a day-use staging area, and interpretive and informational facilities. The proposed project may also provide non-OHV recreational opportunities like mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, horseback riding and hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, provided there is no conflict between them and OHV users. Within this area is the site of the former coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
town of Tesla.