The 34 acres of Shepherd Canyon Park were set aside for preservation by the 1975 Shepherd Canyon Corridor Plan that shelved a proposal to run Highway 77 through the area. The park and surrounding neighborhood are named for the Shepherd Family, early Oaklanders who lived on the land during the late 1800s.

The park’s playing fields sit atop what used to be the middle portion of the natural channel of Shepherd Creek, which joins Palo Seco Creek to become Sausal Creek as it flows into Dimond Canyon below.

Park Activities

Hiking up to Shepherd Canyon Park from Montclair Village on the Montclair Railroad Trail is a wonderful way to spend a sunny morning. Alternatively, a parking lot completed in 2008 provides easy access for those arriving by car. Shepherd Canyon Park features playing fields filled with youth sports on weekends, a small climbing structure and nature-filled hillside trails that provide great sunset views.

The secluded back side of the park off Escher Drive has a terrific picnic area with creek access and a rope swing. Reviewers call Shepherd Canyon Park a “beautiful park with lots of good walking/hiking trails” and many “nice areas to explore.”