Brought my two dogs here today. Got there in the very early morning so there are not a lot of people. We went for the Briones Hills Loop trail. Total distance is around 6.5 miles. I followed the allTrails route. The view is awesome when you reached the top. On the trail, it's not shaded. But luckily, it's not that hot today. Also, there are a bunch of cows on the grass. kind of interesting read more

This has recently become my favorite park to visit. With a large variety of trails of varying degrees of difficultly, each time I come back here there is always something new to explore. The park is really large! The trails are well maintained. Most are pretty exposed to the sun, so be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat(plus lots of water) if you're coming on a hot day. I love that this park is very dog friendly. My pup can go off leash and has lots of room to roam around. Just keep an eye out for cow pastures and be sure to put your dog back on leash in those areas. read more

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Love this spot and so does my little buddy! My dog has so much energy, normal walks don't do him justice. Parks like Hidden Lakes and Paso Nogal aren't big enough to satisfy his walking needs. Briones, phew... Poor dog couldn't even jump into the car he was so tired after an hour and a half of hiking up and down huge hills! This spot has some great shady spots to sit down and grab some water and nice wide paths for people and other dogs to pass by. Plus I love all the side trails that branch off he main trails. Found a hidden keepsake box under a tree off one of the trails, it made me smile. :D This place is a bit of a drive but so worth it! It's a little bit of country in the middle of our Suburbs. Supposedly you're supposed to pay? I haven't ever had to but I only go during the week. Update: I had to pay. It was $3 for car, $2 per dog, but I wasn't charged for my dog and they even gave him a cookie! When I left, the attendants and signs were gone... So it really depends on when you go. read more

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Great place to hike only drawbacks are the cow poop and coyotes. Other than that a superb place to hike on Saturday afternoon or early evening read more

Quiet and beautiful park near Martinez. The vast prairie with golden sunset. Watch out for rattle snake though, especially if you are taking a hike on the small trail beside the main trail, along the dry small stream waterway. read more

This has become my favorite East Bay park close to my house. Whenever I feel like I want to do a butt-kicker hike but only have a couple of hours, I usually go to Briones. Whether you start on the PH/Martinez, Lafayette, or Orinda sides you will gain some serious elevation (about 1,400 feet) & get quite a workout. And the view at the top is amazing! I usually start at the Alhambra Creek Staging Area in Martinez. The Alhambra Creek trail is less steep than others & still gets you to the top of Briones peak. From the Reliez Valley Staging Area, the hike up is shorter but much steeper (especially the last 1/2 mile before the peak). Once you are at the top you have an amazing unobstructed view. To the east you can see Mt. Diablo & the Diablo Valley, to the south you can see Las Trampas & the Tri Valley, to the west you can see the Oakland/Berkeley hills & Mount Tam, and to the north you can see the Carquinez Strait. There's even a nice bench at the top where you can rest your weary legs (you'll need it!). Go out & explore our incredible East Bay Parks! read more

Briones Regional Park - View from the top of Briones peak (1483 foot elevation). Mount Diablo, Concord, & Pleasant Hill in the distance. - Parks Near Me - Martinez, California

A nice, large park with amazing vistas and great trails, Briones is also fairly inexpensive. Compared to other parks, like the Lafayette Reservoir, Briones is a bargain. However, if you live in Walnut Creek, Castle Rock and Shell Ridge are closer and freer. I like Briones a good deal, however, and strongly recommend it. The hikes are a bit more extreme than Castle Rock and, as mentioned above, the vistas are great. An easy hike up to the Crest Trail (from the Orinda entrance) provides hikers with great views of the Martinez Bridge and mountains west of Lafayette. Also, there are some very nice picnic sites with water, toilets, and ample shade for lunch, a break, or some bird watching. For me, the most tense part of my visit was walking through a herd of cattle. They were docile, and seemed so, but three were grazing immediately off the path on one side, four or five on the other. And the bull was enormous. I've been around a lot of cows, but this was one of the largest cattle I've ever seen. They seemed accustomed to people and paid us absolutely no heed, even though I took pictures as we walked past. As long as you keep your dogs leashed and don't do anything dumb -- like try and ride a cow -- you'll probably be just fine passing them. But if they do chase you, remember that they can't climb trees. Unlike bears. Bears can climb trees. I suggest NOT getting those confused. There were lots of dogs out, too, and the dogs and owners were courteous. As with many of the trails around here, though, a portion of the cyclists were absolutely not courteous. I give most of the mountain bikers credit for letting us know they were approaching, but a few of the cyclists were traveling at very unsafe speeds and with reckless disregard for anyone's safety -- including their own. If you bring a dog, keep a leash handy. This will protect you and your dog from the cows, good cyclists, bad cyclists, and horses. There is a lot of different traffic on these trails and, above all else, you should use caution, common sense, and stay aware of your surroundings when you hike here. read more

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Briones Regional Park ranks highly on my list of favorite hiking locations in the East Bay. We have enjoyed a few trips from the Bear Creek Valley entrance, off of the Orinda exit (Highway 24). Three of the reasons this park ranks so highly for me include: -- Gorgeous views. Worth the climb for sure, especially on a cool and clear day. -- Reasonable $3/car parking fee and only required sometimes. Bring cash in case someone is at the entrance kiosk. -- Lots of trail options, of varying distances and difficulty level. You can get a great workout here for sure. The first time we ventured here, we intended to do the Briones Crest Trail, as described in the East Bay Trails book. It is just under 7 miles. However, it was SO muddy (our fault for going right after a huge rain) we opted to take a short cut back down to the trailhead. That trip involved a lot of mud and swearing. During our visit yesterday, we did the Briones Crest Trail hike. We moved at a quick, steady pace, with a few short water breaks, and did it in right around 2.5 hours. To do the 6.8 mile Briones Crest Trail, drive past the kiosk directly ahead to the last parking lot. From the trailhead just past the parking lot, you will take a counter clockwise journey along the Homestead Valley Trail, Briones Crest Trail, Table Top Trail, back to the Briones Crest Trail, Mott Peak Trail, Black Oak Trail, and finally returning to the parking lot via the Old Briones Road Trail. Be sure to grab a trail map since cell service is difficult to come by. The beginning and end are paved, although most is unpaved, well marked dirt paths. There is a great deal of climbing and not a whole lot of shade, so I recommend going early in the day and when the weather is a bit milder. Oh, and watch out for cow poop. read more

Fresh air, sunshine, endless vistas. What's not to love. read more

Briones Regional Park - you'll always see plenty of kids here - Parks Near Me - Martinez, California

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This park is HUGE for an East Bay Regional Park. Which is good for several reasons: A lot of diverse landscape. Many trailheads, and only two require a parking fee on weekends. Close to civilization on three of four sides. It's easy to find something you'll like here. I've been in this park so often, yet I still haven't seen everything. A few of my favorites: * Homestead Valley, when green, is IMHO the most scenic spot. Great for a picnic. If I would have proposed to someone who lived in the area, I would have tried to have my wedding here. * Lafayette Ridge Trail. Very steep, both up and down, great workout on the legs. Be careful on a mountain bike. * Buckeye Ranch Trail. Relatively unknown. Shaded with old oaks. Cross the stream, and there's a large meadow hidden away from it all. I'd love to have a romantic picnic there. [UPDATE: We did have a picnic here - with our daughter, so it wasn't exactly romantic. All enjoyed it, though, except that there were a lot of mosquitos.] * Old Briones Road. A mile south of the road's end, it comes to a wide open area, with views of Mt. Diablo. I'd come here with the aussie and she'd run her legs off, and I'd try to keep up with her. * Alhambra Creek Trail. Another valley like Homestead, but not as nice. Still, quite peaceful, flat, and a smaller trail on the other side of the gully if you want more privacy. Lots of cows, too, which my girl liked. But wait, there's more! I love Briones. I loved introducing my wife, her dog, our girl to the park. It's a fantastic way to walk away an afternoon in God's nature. read more

Ever since I moved out here this hiking trail/park has been my favorite so far. It's dog friendly which is the reason why I started taking my dogs for hikes. I know a lot of the trails around this area don't allow dogs so I was stoked to find this place. There are all different trails that go around the Martinez area looking over the Benicia bridge and the Diablo hills. If you make it all the way to the top they have 1 bench that you can sit, relax and catch your breath while looking over the Walnut Creek, Concord, Benicia and I'm sure some other cities. I've seen so many cows and foxes just roaming around makes you kinda feel 1 with nature lol. You can sometimes see people riding their horses on the trails too. The trails are pretty clean because most people pick up after their dogs and the parking lot is pretty big so you don't have to worry about finding parking. Sometimes they charge a $3 fee to get in but for the last 3 years going here I've only paid like 5 times. The gates have a sign stating they close at 5 but I notice people are still hiking up the trails around 430 so not sure if they really do close the gates at 5 like they say. I like to find the hard secluded trails so I can let my dogs off the leash and run with me. I love this place check it out if you are ever in the area. read more

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Beautiful park, over 6,200 acres of open space, dog-friendly trails (most are off-leash), with ridge top views as well as a few shady trails lined with oaks. This is the best time to visit, when everything is green and there's some water in the park. There are a few ponds and a creek, although mostly dry, it has a few spots filled with newts. You can hike to the peaks without too strenuous of a climb, and there are also quite a few easier, flat trails. There's plenty of parking at the 4 staging areas, and 3 of them charge a fee on busy days, but there's no fee at Lafayette Ridge. I'd recommend paying to start in the more scenic heart of the park, unless you're up for a long hike on the Lafayette Ridge Trail. Cattle roam freely in the park, but they didn't bother my dog or I. I even saw another dog run right up to a group of them, but they didn't seem to react much. read more

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We went to Briones Reg. Park on Sat 5/30/09 because East Bay Area Trails Council (EBATC) were having a special event so that all hikers, bikers, & riders could come out & socialize together. That was very nice. They were waiving the parking fee $3 for us and providing FREE lunch. That really made me want to go. It's 45 min from San Leandro so it's not close for me, but friend drove so it was fine. We parked at the Bear Creek Staging Area. The EBATC had the Oak Grove picnic tables reserved - that was great. No guide for the hikers, but V. knew the trails so we were ok. 7 of us total. Bikers lots more, Riders- 16. We hiked up Abrigo Valley Trail - Rt on Briones Crest, down Mott Peak Trail - down back on Abrigo Valley Trail. Maybe 2 miles. We saw a snake sunning itself. Lunch: It was a big one. Lots of burgers: beef, salmon, & garden, hotdogs, 2 kinds of potato salad, regular salad, watermelon, & homemade brownies. After lunch we did a 3 mile loop hike. Deer Creek Trail - to Ivan Dickson Memorial which is a nice bench w/ a plaque facing Briones Reservoir. Then Right on Briones Crest Trail. Lots of steep sections, but we managed. 3 pit toilets near the parking lot. read more

Go! Now! It's SPRING!!! Bring a picnic! Check out my pictures, it's BEAUTIFUL right now!!! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/WSOeKVwxcXKnJWtrcFbAvg?select=QrUJ_hilG_wPFWPWHVsNdw Another week or two and all that gorgeous green grass and spring wildflowers will be dry and brown. Some Tips: - If the ranger is there, parking is $3 per car plus $2 per dog, or you can park out on the street for free and walk in. - There is a drinking fountain and water spigot. It's in a nice picnic area to the right as you first enter the parking lot. - There are cows, horses, and poop from both. If you're dog is like mine, she'll need a bath (or two) when you get home. - There are lots of different loops you can do, all have some hill climbing, but nothing too strenuous. Most trails are exposed to the sun and it can get pretty hot. Some trails have some nice shaded parts. - Dogs are welcome, and can be off leash just about everywhere after the parking lots as long as they're under voice control. You'll find lots of other friendly mutts here. Too many people live in the Bay Area that don't know about the Regional Parks district. We can help remedy that, bring your friends! read more

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Dry hills in Briones. Did the 6.8 mile loop from Alhambra staging area. Booth wasnt manned today on sunday 10/05/2014 so free parking today. Total elevation change of 1600 ft. Great hike! Just one steep part where I had to use my hands but it was short and enough roots in the ground to keep you from slipping. 98 degrees today in October! read more

Briones Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Martinez, California

Hiked here many a time over the years. Pretty steep hills, great workout for the legs, great views at the top of the ridges. Sections are nearly pristine native oak habitat, beautiful in the spring. Other parts are cow (and fly) country, hence four rather than five stars. Those parts aren't so pretty. Park is quite large (take a look on a map). Lots of trails and they hold some mean trail runs. That was a blast. read more

What is there to complain with nature's beautiful rolling hills, wondering cows and California poppies. Can't believe I live so close by and never knew about this park. Came through the Bear Creek Staging Area from Lafayette entrance and parked at the end of the road. $3 entrance fee. A group of us did the Briones Crest Trail and the beginning of the hike kicked a few people's booties! 7 miles round trip. Straight up for about a good 25 min but it was worth the view and workout! Excited to get my bike tune for the season and check out Briones for some nature ride! There are about three different entrances so make sure you check and confirm with folks if you're meeting up. read more

Briones Regional Park - The cows just chillaxin on a beautiful day - Parks Near Me - Martinez, California

I visited Briones yesterday for the first time. When we first arrived and got the dog settled, I was disappointed. Not because of the park, but the day before we were a Joaquin Miller State Park surrounded by glorious redwoods. So my first thought arriving to briones was... Crap! No shade. I was wrong, while there were still some very open paths, there are also great trails under the Trees. After about 4 miles We decided to trek back to the car, it was getting hot, and I didn't want nightfall to sneak up on me. Unlike most people.. I enjoy running down, so I took off, jumping from side to side to keep steady and not slip and in about 25 minutes I was all the way down. Pretty neat place to go, bring water and sunscreen! read more

Briones Regional Park - Briones Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Martinez, California

So I had to head here for a Bio class. We got a little lost while driving up. Those of us in the back of the car were a bit worried that we'd die a horrifying death, if not by going over a cliff, than by cannibalism Donner party style. However we got there in one piece and after wandering around for a half hour avoiding poison oak (tons up here...just tons!) and looking around at the buck eye, sweet pea, golden globes, maples and laurels we headed back to school. All in all no one was eaten by bears, thus yes, a good time was had. read more

Go now, hurry, now before the wildflowers are gone. I took the Orsan Trail near the corner of Bear Creek and Happy Valley, Lafayette side. Don't forget your allergy medication but be prepared for fields of poppies, yellow flowers and white flowers (sorry I'm not an expert in CA wildflowers) Go to the east bay water district website and buy a permit for $10.. I'm happy to support this amazing park. read more

Briones Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Martinez, California

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I went back here last weekend and parked on the Lafayette side, off Reliez Valley Rd. We hiked through the Spengler trail (much of which is wooded and of different terrain than the Bear Creek area) and made it up to the top of Briones Crest-taking a loop back. It was a gorgeous day and pretty much felt like we had the park to oursleves-we ran in to only a few hikers along the way-but that's because the park is so expansive. Warning on the Spengler trail, twice we ran in to a large group of cows on narrow wooded trails. It was a little challenging getting around them and a little more daunting then seeing them out in the open space. read more

I've been here many times. Sometimes I take the entrance from Lafayette and sometimes from Martinez. One is close to work and the other is close to home. Here are some pictures of wildflowers that I took yesterday. read more

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This is one of my favorite places to hike. I usually come here during the summer when it's 80-100 degrees. There's shaded tree areas and large open hills with city views with dirt, grass, and gravel trails. There's a variety of elevations as well, so it isn't boring. Sometimes we encounter people with horses or walking their dogs. Everyone seems very welcoming and friendly. Overall, it feels like a very safe environment. I could easily ask someone for directions if I am lost. There's parking and trails that loop back to the parking lot which is a bonus for someone like me who hates following a trail only to have to stop and turn back the way I came. If you come on a hot day, I highly suggest bringing water because you will need it. Also, the bugs love to bite me here so if you are one of those people who tends to get bit a lot I suggest you put some bug spray on. Also, be aware that there isn't cell service in most areas. read more

Briones Regional Park is a good East Bay highing destination. There's parking at Springhill Road on the north side of the park. Last time I came here, we took the Lafayette, Buckeye Ranch, Sunrise and Briones Crest trails, stringing them all together to make a loop. We passed some really excellent views along the way! Tip: The first part of the hike is fairly steep, with an elevation gain that totals around eleven hundred feet Visiting on a weekday, we only saw one or two other people the whole time we were there. read more

Everyone was very friendly at this park. You would walk by and they would say hi or good morning to you. It's $6/parking. We did the Ursan Trail along the waters. Mostly flat land with some shade. It's a good walk on a fall day. read more

Mountain Biking Review: Decent ride on the Briones Crest Trail, which starts in the back corner of the lower parking lot. It starts out with a pretty brutal climb to the top of the hill. You then go through a gate that is there for cattle grazing and continue to climb. Pretty scenery but not the type of riding I was looking for. Was passed by 3 people on horse-back, so you must share the trail with them. Overall it was a good workout with some decent views. Like biking books say about this spot, I wouldn't recommend it on a hot summers day b/c there isn't much shade. read more

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I went on a loop hike here last Friday. I decided to go because it was a hike recommended in various hiking books, although I did a loop different from what was written (which would have been much longer). This is pretty nice in April when the hills are still green (despite the lack of rain this wet weather season). It's especially nice on the ridge trail where one can get a view of the Benicia Bridge and surrounding area. We did walk amongst cows though, so do be aware of their waste matters. Also, I can see this not being a desirable hike during the summer when it's mostly hot in this part of the Bay Area, and the hills will have turned brown by then. read more

Briones Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Martinez, California

Ive been coming here intermittently since June 2014 and gotta say what a nice place to ride my mountainbike and relax! Im somewhat of a newb to trail riding so this place is perfect for me. Trails are not too steep or technical. I mainly stay on the fire roads so i know there is much more to explore yet. The view from the bench at the Tabletop gate is amazing, especially at dusk. The contrasting colors of the ridgeline to the West, and the lights of Concord and Martinez with Mt Diablo in the distance is certainly worth seeing! Watch out for the cow patties though! read more

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Nice park with loads of hiking trails. Love how green it gets in the early part of the year and into spring. Highly recommend the Lafayette Ridge Trail. read more

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Briones Regional Park is huge! My fiance and I are on a hiking kick - we recently had the chance to hike in Briones Regional Park. Since we only had a short period of time, we opted to take the Old Briones Road Trail. We accessed the trail and the park through the Bear Creek staging area in Lafayette. The trail is moderate with some steep inclines with many rolling hills. There is also some rough terrain. The view at the top of the is absolutely gorgeous. We will definitely be back again - our goal is to hit Briones peak on our next hike! read more

Briones Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Martinez, California

I'm giving this park 5 stars mainly because of the friendly hikers I've encountered here. I was so shocked every hiker that I came across while hiking here would actually took the time out of their day to say hi to me...EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!!! Though I don't even look particular open to talk...one hiker even tried to chat me up about the rareness of seeing a flying wild turkey. My entire day was lightened by the warmth of strangers here. Maybe my review is biased, but I feel I can't give anything less than 5 stars:)) read more

I ventured out this morning, bound and determined to hike in today's beautiful weather (of course I'm still missing the rain). Upon parking at the trailhead, I began my hike and discovered entrancing vistas that compelled me to simply stop, stare, and be thankful. Hiking this area offers something for every skill level. I opted for the moderate trail (Briones Crest View) and enjoyed tons of mud (hiking poles saved me from completely sliding down to the ground on multiple occasions). The trek starts flat, winding through valleys of green grass and cow pastures. Once the ascent begins you'll find yourself in a classic NorCal forested switchback situation. The climb is approximately 1000ft, though super gentle. Once to the top and hiking the hills you will enjoy views of Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tamalpais, the Bay, and on a visually clear day, the Sierras (which were beautifully snow covered today). Beware the cows! Lols. Lots of "youngins" so go slow as to not spook if you find yourself sharing a trail with them. No need to get chased or worse, trampled. There are small waterfalls hidden within the patches of forest and gorgeous mistletoe thrives in many of the oaks. This 7 mile hike was the perfect length. I highly recommend and encourage you to take a walk here. It's truly a gem of the Bay Area. read more

This is my go-to park in the east bay for running and dog walking. There's numerous trails of varying difficulty and amazing vistas nearly around every bend. In the summer it can be a bit of a challenge since there's not much tree cover, but any other time it's a verdant paradise. Looping around the park is about 14 miles of trails and of course, there's plenty of inner trails as well. It's easy to get lost, but it's just as easy to find your way out. **Pro tip: Get one of the maps at the entrances. Relying on your cell phone to guide you is going to lead to disappointment that you don't have decent reception out there. Cows are one of the prominent features here, as they're out grazing at some part of the park pretty much all the time. And of course, with cows there's bound to be lots of BS laying around. It's a good idea to periodically check your feet. Yeah, I know, it's a difficult thing to do when you can see Mt. Diablo on one side of you and Mt. Tam on the other, but...poopy shoes suck. **Pro tip 2, Electric Boogaloo: Other than the cows, there's coyotes. If you're out at the park around dusk or dawn, there's a good chance you'll run into some. Keep your dogs near you! And don't plan to be out after sunset, because they will come in large numbers, and likely will follow you and your dogs all the way to the exit. There's also signs for mountain lions, but I've yet to see one. read more

It goes up and down, up and down, and up and down. But that's not what you think. I am talking about the Briones Regional Park's Lafayette Ridge Trail. This is one of the best workout / running spots in the East Bay. If you enter the park on Pleasant Hill Road and start the trail there, it's about 3 miles of a roller-coaster run to the 1,357-foot Russell peak one way. And, of course, 3 miles back. Considering the gain in the elevation, this is a pretty tough weekend workout that begs for a good lunch in Lafayette afterwords! Great stuff: * Dogs can be let off leash for miles of trails * Mountain bikes are allowed on trails * Enjoy the wildlife: deer, wild turkeys, and an occasional fox or a bobcat * Run fast or slow - the views of Lafayette Reservoir, Benicia Bay, and Mt. Diablo are MAGNIFICent! Tip: take a bottle of water with you if you run on a warm day. The combination of dry wind and elevation change will make you pretty thirsty. If you didn't bring any water with you, there is an elementary school next to the parking lot with drinking water fountains outside the restrooms. read more

What a beautiful place, but... Dear humans, I assume you go into the parks because you love nature. Leaving dog crap and dog crap bags... and even a human waste pile with tp on the trail completely negates any sort of "nature lover" you think you might be. It makes you irresponsible and ruins the little bit of nature we have left around here. Grow up and clean up your mess. read more

briones rd martinez, ca not open big pine tree down on the rd as of 555am 4 8 2022 photos @ https://imgur.com/a/rPQCq80 read more

Briones Regional Park - briones rd martinez, ca not open big pine tree down on the rd as of 555am 4 8 2022 photos @ https://imgur.com/a/rPQCq80 - Parks Near Me - Martinez, California

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This is a wonderful place if you and your dog are up for a hike. It seems that many dog owners come here to let there dogs be free to roam and play. There's so much space! There's a big grassy open space, hills, a forest, a stream, etc. It's like a doggie Disneyland!! BEWARE: - Tics - Horses (If your dog is small, it might accidentally squish it :*( ) read more

Today, as I've done many times before, I hiked all around the reservoir. This time was different, I did it all alone to experience it without chatter or other distractions. 13.1 miles of pure bliss. This place is - bar none - the most beautiful place in the East Bay. Because of the warm weather, I did the hike clockwise -- by starting on the Oursan trail and finishing up on the Bear Creek trail -- the last 4 miles of the hike on a single track trail in mostly shade. In the winter months, I do the hike counter clockwise, to finish up the hike in full sun (if the sun obliges!). Today, I was determined to really look at the surroundings and to take my time. I usually do this hike in about 4 - 4.25 hours. Today, however, I finished in under 4 hours. How did THAT happen?! I guess I was so caught up in the wonder and beauty, that my pace picked up without my knowledge...or consent :-) Truly folks, get an EBMUD permit -- I just renewed mine for 5 years - $30 - that is only $6 per year! Yes, you could tag along with a friend who has a permit since each permit holder is allowed up to 4 people on the permit, but I'm a firm believer of people supporting the beautiful hiking trails that are maintained by EBMUD. I plan on doing this hike again in a couple of weeks with a friend to prepare for our hiking trip to Zions National Park in Utah in August. While Briones Reservoir doesn't have much elevation gain, with a span of over 13 miles of ups and downs, a hiker can still get about 2,000 feet of elevation gain. A truly magical experience. Warning to dog owners, dogs are permitted on the Oursan trail, but not the Bear Creek since it is a narrow single track. To experience the entire hike, either leave Fido at home or take him/her only on the Oursan trail and forego the last 4 miles on the Bear Creek. You can accomplish this by staging a car at the Bear Creek trail head but begin your hike at the Briones Reservoir Overlook trail head. Fido will still enjoy 9 miles of wonderment. read more

If you like nature and love a good hike, Briones is your place! Spring is the BEST time to come...all the wild flowers are blooming, the salamanders are hatching, bird watching at its best, and kite flying! Of course there is so much more to appreciate about this parkland. There is plenty of (green wood) posts to help guide your way through the trails you've chosen to follow. Grab a brochure to help with the trail maps, believe me, it will come in handy!! The trails are not stroller friendly. And watch your step as the ground is ever changing with the cows and horses also traveling the paths. Trails are uphill, downhill, flat and so on... you'll be sore the next day! There are about 4-5 places to park and enter. We park at the Alhambra Creek staging area. Take a right off of Alhambra Valley Road if your coming from Hwy4. There is a park fee of $3. Not bad. Near the parking/staging areas is where the bathrooms are. There are also first come first-served picnic tables and simple BBQ grills. I hear they even have an archery range off of the Bear Creek entrance. Bring water and wear sunscreen! OH and bring your camera! Awesome views of Mt Diablo in the distance and surrounding hills. Bikes are allowed!! read more

I cheated on yelp and went with a group from meetup. I'm putting a review here to alleviate my guilt. Great hiking area. We did the 13.4 mile loop (started at 10, ended at 3:30) and there was enough variation in the landscape to keep me from getting bored. That and I almost stepped on two snakes (one I actually stepped over before my companions pointed him out). None were poisonous, but keep an eye out regardless. There was actually a third snake in the bushes who we caught mid-swallow of a poor field mouse. Not a day to be a rodent---saw another one get carried off by a raven. Great day for wildlife in total. It helped that we got pretty far away from everything. Not to strenuous, just long. Plenty of tree cover at the beginning. Some areas are on fire roads, and it crosses some paved areas at times (mainly near the water). It was a busy Saturday with a triathlon going on at the same time. Gave me a complex about my athletic ability, but I got over it once we moved far enough away from it all. Horses use this area pretty heavily, and they do get right of way. Also, there were rowing teams, which I've never come across on any hike I've gone on. Overall, great day. Water and sunscreen. Water and sunscreen. read more