There is a waterfall in the East Bay hills that almost nobody gets to see. It is on Johnson Ranch, a private 116-acre property just northeast of Vollmer Peak, and John Muir Land Trust wants to open it to the public.
The deal
According to the land trust, the owners have agreed to sell the ranch to John Muir Land Trust if it raises $7 million by Dec. 31, 2027. If the money doesn't come through, the trust warns, the land could be sold for development. Linus Eukel is the trust's executive director.
What is on the land
The trust says the ranch has about 58 acres of woodland, 30 acres of grassland and 24 acres of scrub, plus springs and ridgelines overlooking San Pablo Reservoir. Berkeleyside reported that Wagner Creek runs through it, with a waterfall, and that Hipparion fossils, an ancient three-toed horse, were found there in 1922. Berkeleyside also reported that the land supports 15 special-status animal species.
Why it matters for hikers
The property sits where the Seaview Trail climbs from the Tilden steam train area. The land trust says buying it would connect thousands of acres of public land managed by the East Bay Regional Park District and East Bay Municipal Utility District. The trust bought the neighboring 16-acre Wagner Ranch in December 2025, Berkeleyside reported.
Can you visit?
Not yet. Johnson Ranch is private property. The nearest public access is Tilden's Seaview Trail and the Vollmer Peak area.