Albany Hill

View of Albany Hill view from east to west

Albany Hill is a unique geological and ecological landmark located on the west end of the City of Albany near the shoreline of San Francisco Bay. Formed by ancient tectonic activity and composed primarily of Franciscan chert, the Hill rises above the surrounding urban landscape and remains the City’s most prominent natural feature. The site includes approximately 39 acres of land, with about 28 acres preserved as open space.

Despite its relatively small size, Albany Hill supports a rich diversity of native plants and wildlife, including a seasonal monarch butterfly population. Together with nearby Creekside Park, the Hill provides an important natural refuge and habitat corridor within the East Bay.

Stewardship and maintenance of Albany Hill are shared by the City’s Public Works and Fire Departments in partnership with the nonprofit organization Urban Tilth. Ongoing work focuses on maintaining safe public access while improving ecosystem health, restoring native habitat, and reducing wildfire risk.

Learn more below about the geology, ecology, and ongoing projects that help maintain, preserve, and enhance this treasured natural resource in Albany.

Open Space Acreage

  • City-owned park & open space: 15 acres
  • Privately-owned dedicated open space: 11 acres
  • City easement on private dedicated open space: 2 acres
  • Privately-owned undeveloped open space (zoned as Residential Hillside Development): 11 acres
  • Total open space acreage: 39 acres

Past Project History

Wildfire Resilience Program

The California State Coastal Conservancy's Wildfire Resilience Program supports local partners in development and implementation of projects that improve forest health and reduce the risk of catastrophic fire in areas where people are living near wildlands.

Albany has been awarded a three year grant to establish the Habitat Restoration Intern Program to increase our understanding of plant and animal communities on Albany Hill. The data collected will help in our development of more fire resilient and healthy ecosystems. This program is administered through the City's Public Works Department.

 

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