Ladybug Hike at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park Oakland

Staying near downtown Oakland I never imagined I could walk through a redwood forest just a few minutes away from the bustling city and traffic. In winter! A wonderful retreat from the mayhem of city life.

But it gets even better. A friend told me about the incredible Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park ladybug overwintering spot.

Everyone has seen ladybugs in the garden or maybe even in the house occasionally. But what if I told you that you could see THOUSANDS of ladybugs all in one place?

Every winter the ladybugs host their own reunion and gather together to keep warm and maybe do some canoodling. They pay no attention to the curious humans watching them.

Read on to learn more about the Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park ladybugs hike.

California is a great vacation spot – tourists swarm to the beaches and cities and vineyards every year. But animals and insects also love to visit California for some warmth in the wintertime.

There are the Monarch butterflies wintering in Goleta California, near Carpinteria.

And the sea lions gather around in San Francisco, Carpinteria, and Point Reyes Seashore for mating and pupping season.

Then there’s the beautiful surprise of seeing dozens and dozens of ladybugs covering branches and fence posts in Oakland. And when you look a bit further you see there are thousands of ladybugs.

Look at the sticks and twigs for clusters of ladybugs

Take a closer look around and see the orange sticks and twigs are really a giant mass of ladybugs.

Small branch completely covered in ladybugs.

Some tree branches become entirely covered with ladybugs

You’ll probably see a lot of mushrooms at Reinhardt Redwood park too. I saw big clusters of multi-color mushrooms that I think are turkey mushrooms…but I could be wrong!

Just remember, never taste wild mushrooms unless you are a mycologist or have consulted with one. Always good advice to not put stuff in your mouth unless you are certain it isn’t poisonous, right?

Turkey tail mushrooms growing on a downed tree.

Mushrooms growing on the bark of a downed tree in the park

Several small mushrooms growing in the forest.

You’ll see lots of mushrooms growing along the trails at Reinhardt Redwood park

Okay, let’s get back to the ladybugs!

Did you know that ladybugs are a type of beetle? The ladybird beetle to be precise. And the scientific name for ladybug (or lady beetle) is Coccinellidae. There are a few thousand species of lady beetles in the world!

In the United States there are around 500 kinds of ladybugs.

A lone ladybug atop a moss covered fence post.

Some ladybugs are solo travelers too!

Where to find the ladybugs at Reinhardt Redwood Park

Start your hike at Skyline Gate Staging Area. Take the Stream Trail and start watching for the ladybugs right around the Eucalyptus Trail and onward to Prince Trail.

Redwood trees at Oakland lady bug trail in Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park.

What a wonderful surprise to hike the redwood trails in Oakland California

Look at the fence posts and the gate. Also watch on the ground for twigs and sticks – the ladybugs will cover them entirely. The clusters of ladybugs are remarkable to see.

Have a look at this map of Reinhardt Redwood Park to get familiar with the layout of the trails.

The trails are well marked with signage along the way and at trail intersections.

Stream Trail signage at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park in Oakland.

East Bay hiking is wonderful at Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

Hiking trail sign pointing to Fern and Stream trails.

Trails are well marked at Oakland CA Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park

When do the ladybugs show up?

The ladybugs migrate in November and will stay until late winter – around the end of February.

Peak season for the ladybugs is around the end of January to early February.

Fence post covered in moss and ladybugs.

Fence posts seem to be a favorite place for the ladybugs to gather

Why do the ladybugs go there?

Scientists are not certain as to why some ladybird beetles gather in large groups while others spend the winter alone. It could be they stay together to stay warm, as well as to have the opportunity to mate.