Geologically, the hill is predominantly Jurassic sandstone, carried to the western edge of North America on the Pacific Plate and scraped off there in the course of subduction.

[5][6] The north side of Albany Hill was long used by Chochenyo Ohlone, as evidenced by large mortar stones and remnants of a shell midden.

[7][8] Around this time the eucalyptus trees now on the hill were planted by these aforementioned dynamite manufacturers to catch debris and muffle the sounds of potential explosions, of which there were several.

As a large open space, the only nearby high elevation next to the Bay, and in the path of sea winds blowing through the Golden Gate, Albany Hill is an ecological island.

[12] The Native American practice of regular burning to avoid brush buildup (and major fires) was continued by the dynamite companies and later the city, into the 1960s.

Hawks, Great Horned owls, wild turkeys, Anna’s Hummingbird, Townsend’s warbler, striped skunks, black-tailed deer, and the western forest scorpion are among the animal inhabitants; mallard ducks, black-crowned night herons, kingfishers, and egrets fish the creek.

californica), California Mugwort (Artemisia douglasiana), Coyote Mint (Monardella villosa), Hairy Gumplant (Grindelia hirsutula var.

hirsutula), Indian Lettuce or Rooreh (Claytonia perfoliata), Sticky Monkey Flower (Diplacus aurantiacus), Wavy-Leaved Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) In addition, Margot Cunningham’s Natural History of Albany Hill[14] identified: Lichens: Flavoparmelia caperata, buckeye branch, Xanthoria parietina Fungi: false turkey tail, lion’s mane, butter and eggs, western hardwood sulphur shelf Butterflies: western monarchs, common checkered skipper, anise swallowtail Other insects: green sweat bee, vinegar ant or velvety tree ant, dancer (type of damsel fly) Herps: slender salamander, arboreal salamander, California alligator lizard, ring-necked snake The hill provides an unobstructed view of Albany, Berkeley — notably, UC Berkeley's Sather Tower — and the Berkeley Hills.

From the early 20th century on, particularly in the 1970s, numerous schemes were proposed for development of Albany Hill, from dynamiting it for bay fill to building high-rise hotels or blasting out the top to create a reservoir.

After a series of public hearings the consultant's recommendation design was chosen leading to the present development pattern of clustered high-rise residential use and preservation of the majority of the hill.

On November 15, 2008, strong dry northeast winds whipped up a fire in a forested area on the west side of the hill above a large apartment complex (555 Pierce Street).

Luckily, heavy rains and a prompt response by the Albany and Berkeley fire departments limited the blaze to 2 acres (8,100 m2), with no structures burned.

[citation needed] More recently, on June 26, 2022, a vegetation fire broke out on the west side on Albany Hill, burning near Cleveland and Washington avenues.

The Friends have also educated the public about the natural and cultural significance of the hill, monitor the wintering site for the monarch butterfly migration and trail improvement projects, and in the 1990s they helped bring privately held parcels into city hands.

[26] In January 2020, a development of 48 mansions up the west side of Albany Hill, facing the Golden Gate, was proposed by Trumark Homes.

[27] A public petition ("Save Albany Hill Park") was created online to entice City Hall to block the project.