Briones Regional Parks extensive network of hiking trails is capped by Briones Peak, which has expansive views of hills and mountains in the San Francisco Bay Area. Access and parking. The park is located in rolling hills of the East Bay region, near Martinez, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Pleasant Hill.The western end of Briones Regional Park is adjacent to the Briones Reservoir, operated by EBMUD across Bear Creek Road.. Briones Peak is the highest point in the park with an elevation of 1483 ft (452 m), and offers panoramic views of Mount Diablo and the Diablo . To the north you can see the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers converge into Suisun Bay; San Pablo Bay sprawls northwesterly, Mount Tamalpais looms westward beyond the Berkeley hills and San Francisco, and Mount Diablo juts to the east. The park includes grazing land, a research center for University of California, Berkeley, and a 1,483-foot peak. Hiking the McCloud Falls Trail: Three Magnificent Waterfalls! It starts at a moderate slope, but gets steep toward the end of its half-mile length (topping out at about 13% grade). Good, harder than I thought, but I loved the extra work. Quagga Mussel watercraft inspections are mandatory. By 1850, Happy Valley Road, which runs along the edge of Briones Regional Park, was the main thoroughfare from Martinez south to the Pueblo of San Jos, and then up to San Francisco. 139 reviews of Briones Regional Park "Yesterday, I was in Boston, the temperature was a chilly 20 degrees when I left town. For additional information on the current construction and future trail repair project, please contact CCCSD at 925-229-7200. 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California Best Day Hiking and Backpacking Trails, Hike the Parks: Redwood National and State Parks, Urban Trails Sacramento: Hiking, Walking, Running Guidebook, Day Hiking: Mount Shasta, Lassen & Trinity Alps Regions The Top Trails, 2023 Trail Closures and Major Updates for my Northern California Books, Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping and Boondocking Book, Dispersed Camping and Boondocking Apps and Websites, Dispersed Camping Boondocking Gear Supplies Checklist: What to Take, Hike the High California Mountains Early in 2022 -- Before Summer Wildfires and Smoke, 2022 Free Entrance Days at Northern California National Parks and Monuments, 2023 Free Entrance Days at Northern California National Parks and Monuments, Ah-Pah Interpretive Trail: Easy Hike and Beautiful Redwoods. Also an access trail to Maud Whalen and Wee-Ta-Chi camps. 167. . Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Briones Regional Park is a 6,117-acre (24.75km2) regional park in the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) system, located in the Briones Hills of central Contra Costa County of the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Use caution while accessing all open trails in Garin and Dry Creek Pioneer. Trail use may be affected by rough trail conditions. Season: Year-round; wildflowers peak in April Briones Regional Park covers more than 6,000 acres in the rolling East Bay hills between Berkeley and Walnut Creek. Chamise Trail is open but damaged due to storms. Please help keep invasive mussels out of our water. BrandonTrailStone Bridgeto Horseshoe Trail - trail impassable due to a failed culvert, BrandonTrailHorseshoe Trail to Bort- Open to hiking only. Other trails have also sustained some storm damage. Castle Rock Trail will remain open north of the closure area from Orchard and the trail parking areas with an access gate into Castle Rock Recreation Area, heading south to reconnect to Stage Road Trail. Additional Parking is available at Dumbarton Quarry Campground. It's almost as if the trail decides to try breaking you when it still has a chance. Hikers gravitating to Tilden Park to the west and Mount Diablo to the east often overlook Briones, so you'll have plenty of time alone on the the trails. Trail Closure Notice - Lake TrailLake Trailiscloseddue to terrain damage. The east side is more wooded, while the west is more open and also more difficult, with lots of steep gradients. Please observe and follow signage in the area and exercise caution when using the trail in the construction zone. Lafayette Ridge Staging Area is closed due to significant landslides. Welcome to Briones East Bay Regional Park District 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605-0381 1-888-327-2757 (1-888-EBPARKS) (TRS 711) www.ebparks.org Rev. Type: Day hike View maps, videos, photos, and reviews of Briones Regional Park bike trail in Walnut Creek. Maps: USGS Briones Valley, USGS Walnut Creek, Briones Regional Park trail map Note: Highly recommended that you download the park map; there are many trail junctions and twists and turns of the paths here; there are usually maps at the trailhead Briones Regional Park/Alhambra Creek Staging Area GPS coordinates: N 37 57.389 W 12 7.398 On the positive side, this segment is a nice break in that it feels more sheltered and cozy, which is different from the spacious and bare (though scenic) feeling of most of the rest of the ridgetop mileage on this ride. 2023 East Bay Regional Park District.All Rights Reserved. Also, verdant and empty on a Saturday afternoon. In 1909, the Peoples' Water Company, the precursor to the East Bay Municipal Utility District purchased the land for watershed protection. Claim this business. East Bay park offers ample solitude, abundant sunshine. Some trails, park areas, swim facilities, may be temporarily closed -- due to weather conditions, water/algae conditions, park projects, habitat restoration, or repairs and maintenance. 485. Not as many wildflowers as Id hoped in bloom yet. I now understand why I live in California, it is good to be reminded every once in awhile. Website. Due to the damage that our range suffered from the recent heavy rains, the start date of our much-anticipated Monday Night 3D Shoots will be delayed. I went clockwise, last mile is muddy and theres a big fallen tree but you can get around it. Storm Damaged Trail ClosuresGarin Woods Trail and Ziele Creek Trailare currently closed due to storm damage.High Ridge Loop Trail has sustained damage but is open to pedestrianuse. Updated July 24, 2023. These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s). Please see our Calendar for scheduled maintenance days. After 100 yards the trail drops to the Alhambra Creek canyon and continues to end at 8.4 miles at the trailhead at the Alhambra Creek Staging Area. The all-color fourth edition features the best trails in: Includes trailhead directions and detailed maps and trail descriptions, Often available at Barnes & Noble, REI, and other quality bookstores and outdoor stores (call first!). Public WiFi is not available. My only quibble, and the thing that kept me from giving it five stars, is that all of the trails in Brionis are wide, some of them gravel. Registration for Spring 2017 Season Starts January 8 2017 . A hike to Briones Regional Parks most popular destination, an open, rolling hilltop meadow on top of Briones Crest. Park District naturalists often lead walks to view the park's natural and historic features. Lafayette Ridge is within Briones Park, and runs parallel to the city of Lafayette. Hikers/walkers welcome Abrigo Valley Trail is a part of a network connecting with Mott Peak Trail and Santos Trail, ending at Briones Crest. 2537 Reliez Valley Rd, Martinez, CA 94553, United States. If this feels like it's not boding well for the remaining miles on the ride, it's misleading. Be sure to mention the nature and exact location of the problem including the trail or area name. Briones Regional Park has three primitive group camping areas available for reservation beginning mid-May through October. Sunday, July 29 is an ODD-numbered date - Bikes & Hikers allowed on designated trails in Pilot Zone. View Map. The ridge's trails offer terrain for mountain biking, with periodic gains/descents of up to 200ft (61m) elevation. Whispering Creek Trail Partially ClosedWhispering Creek Trail is closed on the east side of the Park and also the section on the west side of the Park due to storm damage. . Visit www.ambroserec.org/ambrose-aquatic-center for more information. You can find Briones Regional Park easily accessible by car via Highway 24. It is the camper's responsibility to know and follow all campground and park rules as well as Federal, state, local, and county health department orders BEFORE making a reservation and arriving to the campsite. To accommodate early park users,Coyote Hills staff will open the gates to the park at 7am. Most serious climbs peter out in less than two miles. Lindsay Wildlife Museum. More information. Over the 0.3 miles that you cover in that stretch to reach the ride's highest point, you average 15% grade end to end. Updated July 24, 2023. Wildcat Creek Trail FloodedApprox 150ft of the Wildcat Creek Trail is closed due to flooding near the Wildcat Marsh Staging Area at the Richmond Parkway underpass. Turn left at the light onto Bear Creek Rd and look for Bear Creek park entrance just beyond Happy Valley Rd. Water at the park may be intermittent. Visit my Youtube channel for short vids of hiking trails all over Northern California. While the first half of this route provides some decent views toward Mount Diablo and its surroundings, the best views are available only in the second half of the ride and face mostly the north and northeast. Head out on this 3.9-mile loop trail near Lafayette, California. View Map. Weather permitting, the Briones Archery Club holds a shoot at the range on the second Sunday of the month, starting around 9:30 a.m. Martinez, CABear Creek Staging Area: 1611 Bear Creek Road, Lafayette, CAReliez Valley Staging Area: 1956 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette, CA. Briones Regional Park/Alhambra Creek Staging Area GPS coordinates: N 37 57.389 W 12 7.398 The park is best in winter and spring, when the grass is green, and is very popular during this time. Please review the current California Covid safety measures on the governments website:https://covid19.ca.gov/safely-reopening/. See tips on ourHeat Safetypage. Here are the Bear Creek final results: 2023 Bear Creek Results, Located within Briones Regional Park Bear Creek Road Entrance. The trail stays shaded while dropping 0.4 mile to a fork, where you bear left for a brief climb. Briones Regional Park, California - Camping & Campgrounds. Reservations must be made at least 5 days in advance. All other park entrances are open. Vehicle access to the park typically reopens when capacity is available, but expect very extended wait times to enter. The area which includes present day Briones Park and the Russell Reservation were part of the 1842 Mexican land grant of Rancho Boca de la Canada del Pinole granted to the widow of Felipe Briones. Try to make sure it's not a too hot of a day because there isn't too much shade on the paths (just certain areas). This closure only affects the last half-mile on the Moraga end. in downtown Lafayette is closeduntil further notice. Yearling cattle are in Deer Creek, Pereirra , Valley, and Briones Crest trail areas. Unfortunately, the entrance is too narrow to allow horse trailers to exit the staging area.