Don Close Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Don Cline Park, also known as Don Castro Regional Recreation Area, is a state park located in Hayward, California.


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Summary

The park is an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts as it offers various recreational activities such as hiking, fishing, picnicking, and bird watching. The park features a large lake, several picnic areas, playgrounds, and hiking trails that provide a scenic view of the surrounding hills.

One of the main attractions of the park is the lake, which is stocked with trout and catfish, making it a popular fishing spot. The park also offers a boat launch, allowing visitors to enjoy boating and kayaking in the lake. Additionally, there are several trails in the park that provide an excellent opportunity for hiking and nature watching.

The park is rich in history, and visitors can learn about the area's past at the Don Castro Adobe, a historic landmark located within the park. The adobe is believed to have been built in the 1850s and was once the home of a Spanish landowner.

The best time to visit Don Cline Park is during the spring or fall months when temperatures are mild, and the park is less crowded. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can enjoy different activities depending on the season.

Overall, Don Cline Park is an excellent destination for outdoor enthusiasts, providing a variety of recreational activities, historical landmarks, and scenic views.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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