Haiku Contest

Trail Trekkers gives a big thanks to Melissa Hobbs, who served as organizer for the 2026 El Cerrito Trail Trekker Hillside Haiku Contest, and to the judges of this year's contest, who included:

Jenny Hammer. Local writer, taught English at City College of San Francisco for thirty years. She has been a member of Trail Trekkers for many years. She established the geo-caching hike on Motorcycle Hill which involves finding poems written by California Poet Laureates in specific locations.
Eevelyn Janean Mitchell. Past Poet Laureate of El Cerrito. She has graciously been a judge for the Trail Trekker haiku contest for several years. She is a lifelong resident of El Cerrito.
Cynthia Slates. Poet and novelist who serves as a judge for the Academy of American Poets. She has taught creative writing at UC-Davis and City College of San Francisco and has led support groups for trauma victims using art and creative writing. She currently resides in Madera, CA.
Andrew Pimental. Professional tutor for the City College of San Francisco. He is also a celebrated poet.

Violet Z. (age 11)
The weather changes
From pitter patter to the
Shining light over us

Weeds grow showing off
Coming up before our eyes
Soil, moist and healthy

Phoebe S. H. (age 5)
I love ponds and lakes
Because I love the pond life
And the lakes and rivers

Maggie M. (age 6)
I love the forest
I love the flowers on the trees
It is nice to have leaves fall on my head

Beatrice P. (age 12)
Leaves are on the ground.
Grass covers the hill.
Poppies open up.

Birds are singing songs.
They fly alone or with friends.
They happily tweet.

Andie S. (age 6)
I like the wind
Soars past my ears
Past my heart

Maya C. (age 11)
Let the raindrops fall
From the dark clouds up above
And nourish the earth

Bug on the flower
Making your way across
Where will you go next?

Isaac G. (age 17)
Under the oak tree
Refuge from the rays of light
Tranquil and lively

The caw of the crows
A cool breeze blows overhead
The chirp of the bugs

Malini S. (age 13)
The trees sway gently
Grass turns from green to yellow
Summer in the hills

Climbing the boulder
Crouching in the long tunnel
Joy in Blake Gardens

Elizabeth U. (age 14)
The clouds are dyed pink
The bay absorbs the low sun
Day melts into night

Paths carved into hills
Grass holding golden poppies
Golden like the sun

When the sun is sleeping
Clear skies reveal magic specks
That light the humble night

Julie O.
Sun is setting
City lights turn on one by one
Night has come

Cool summer breeze
The sound of a waterfall
Somewhere in the distance

Big, vast, and blue
Birds rock back and forth in sync
A boat is coming near

Skylar O. (age 15)
hi there little bug
please get off my arm right now
you're really scary

formidable ants
in their obedient lines
going to the queen

Mark Friedman
One eucalyptus
Pod, nearly sends me rolling
Down the trail quickly

A glimpse of water
Flashing in the redwood shadows
Lifts my feet with hope

Playing hooky once
Led me on this misty hike
Beats working any day

Steven Kirby
Ah, trails on our hills
The views are incredible
Childhood memories

Sunrise to sunset
A great full day on the trails
Memorable hike

One step at a time
Up to begin down to end
Satisfying days

SCA Schulman
On a freezing walk-
finally see daffodils
Is spring almost here?

In Tilden at dusk
Moth lucky to be in park
My cat would eat you.

Trails hidden around
El Cerrito Recycling
A local treasure.

Pamela Lim-McAlister
Cool ocean breezes,
Beckoning waves, crunchy sand--
Beach calls out my name.

Verdant canopies,
Vines entwined embrace each other.
You and I...always.

Jennifer Haller
Stumbling toward my destiny
Slipping on memories, stepping on mistakes
Scrambling in the inky darkness
Keep the night light on

Tiptoe from the setting sun
Leave a long shadow of regret
Summer creeps away

Bare feet stuffed into socks
Heavy with the weight of sorrow
Winter takes its toll

Anthony Edwards
Empty morning cup
Warm tea in January
Grey sky overhead

Brown hillside spaces
Watch out for roots as you hike
Murmurs from the birds

Surveys show new growth
See the future in the dirt
Hope beyond today

Sydny Fujita
Amache rose home
Now in coastal fog's embrace
Roots among the oaks

Through sunlight and wind
Frogs crouch resting patiently
Awaiting the rain

Cecelia Gunning
Beyond the white caps
Sky scrapers float in the fog
Is there anyone there?

Deborah Sauper
Steady, rising path.
Trekking, cresting, stand in awe.
Wonders revealed below.

Marshall Elliott
Try spring, for a change
The grass is green and tender
The hill soars upward

There is a puddle
With a tadpole in it
Not here, but elsewhere

So steep! Spring breathing!
Why is there no elevator?
The crunch of gravel

Gary Prost
Beautiful Blueschist
Tells a story lost in time
Of ancient seafloors

Michael Lessin
Hawk nestlings arch up,
Blooms pop tall grass, burrowing
Gophers gnaw the roots.

Kimberley Cullen
dead wood, coyote brush--
bobbing, a lizard's head
stops mine

damp grass flattened--
the boot just missing
a plump snail shell

upright brown leaf . . .
one step, two steps
the squirrel freezes

Joseph Herbert
So many smellsies
I must announce I was here
Sniff sniff sniff leg lift!

Sarah Story
Urban trail bird walk
An adaptable raptor
Rusty red tailed hawk

Beetle percussion
Acoustic wingbeat brass
Purple needle grass

Bay shore stewardship
A light lavender essence
Muwekma presence

Sarah Stoller
I talked to the oak
Listed out my complaints
Abramović style

Grey BART train snakes past
Your house near the lone palm
Things we used to see

There you are again
Smiling, bare armed, golden
Against matte blue Bay

Sneha Patel
Spring is hillside hikes
Waving foxtails red tailed hawks
Blue sky and bare rock

Midst canyon and bay
I walk the climbing rocky paths
Heart quiet, breath slow

Redwood grove surprise
Sylvan temple filling me
With grateful prayer

Paul James
Pitter patter leaves
Drifting to the ground it hears
Startles my fox friend

Barbara Speed
Delights to explore!
A labyrinth worth the climb,
and with views divine!

David Hayden
Hawks and vultures soar.
Oh, what’s that noise? Must be the
Recycling center.

Song of wind in leaves,
Rustle of passing BART train,
Call of the freeway.

Footsteps on gravel,
Dappled sunlight… suddenly:
Hawk! Jay! Coyote!

Caroline Macarah
My daughter delights
Shaking branches, showering
Petals lace concrete

William O’Brien
I’ve come to realize
Here upon this forest bench
That leaves also shake the wind

Serafin Colmenares
Sunshine peeks through leaves
And dances on the bare earth
Like a disco ball

Crooked roots stagger
The winding trail like broken
Steps of earth and time

Hummingbirds hover
And dart like ghosts over beds
Of blue and purple

Signe Burns
I hike with no phone.
Don't want one. Are you surprised?
Be free. Walk with me.

Shelby Pope
Uphill, uphill, look --
The titular Cerrito!
Also, recycling.

Marie Bantz
Banana slug slime
Red tailed hawks soaring high
All are welcome here

Kristel Rietesel-Low
White clouds from the sea
Hang between mountains as jays
Float from oak to oak

Walking through greenness
Fallen poppy petals glow
Like bright molten glass

Brooke Gentry-Strohm
In you
I breathe
In you
I feel
In you
I live
In you
I am home

Mossy branch
Dampy dew
Luciously green
Slowly climbs
Endlessly high
Lovingly mine

Rebecca Sablo
Coyotes scavenge
Amidst grasses that sway
With golden gate winds

Turkeys mill about
Coyotes howl at the moon
Cars roll down Moeser

Haiku Contest 2026

Winning entries 2026

Other Haiku Contest Entries

Haiku Contest and Hike Information

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