Leona Canyon
Two canyon trails to hike are Leona Canyon, behind Merritt College, and Dimond Canyon, with a trailhead off Fruitvale Avenue on El Centro. See the reddish bark madrone, live oak, and Monterey Pine trees at Leona Canyon, and get the best-wooded view near Leimert Bridge at Dimond Canyon. Bay trees arch into a canopy, and just past that is a fern glade. From this point on, the Sausal Creek stream bed becomes the path, so any rains will make it impassable. If it is passable, up the creek is a redwood canyon!
Looking for more hiking in Oakland? Check out the 100,000+ acres of parks and trails available through the East Bay Regional Park District.