I love visiting the east bay city of Lafayette. There are so many beautiful outdoor trails and the town itself is adorable. I was looking to get a morning walk in and a family member brought me to this trail which she typically runs. We parked at the community center off of St Mary's road. Just one of many locations that you can catch the trail. Plenty of parking was available. The 7.65 mile trail runs on both sides of St Mary's road through Lafayette and Moraga We decided to cross over to the other side of the street from the community center and walk towards Moraga. The paved trail can be used for biking and horses as well. The trail towards Moraga has quite a bit of inclines and makes for a good workout. I went 2 miles in and turned around at Rheem Blvd for a 4 mile round-trip walk. Beautiful scenery and lots of people walking their dogs. read more

See all

I Have biked and hiked and geocached on this trail numerous times. It's t's one of my favorite places to visit, but I don't think there's any bathroom facilities along the way. If you're looking for a beautiful bike ride, this is a great option. read more

Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail - Informal art sculpture near the Olympic staging area - Hiking Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

A paved neighborhood trail that many people use for walking, running, cycling and more. There are some free parking lots for easy access. Great place for getting away from the cars and busy cities. read more

See all

Neat trail with various versions of scenery along its path - I especially liked the wide cement road that stretched across residential neighborhoods where the trail is literally in between houses. It's sort of interesting watching what others have in their backyard! I also liked that the residential part of the trail is 98% shade. Only complaint is that the entrance/ exit to the trail is not available as often... of course, unless you live in one of the houses where your back gate leads you directly to the trail! :) read more

See all

Paved loop. Good bike trail or walking trail. Some is shaded - most is not. Benches for resting or for the elderly. So you already forgot about your new year's resolution. Eating better, exercising, maybe loose a few pounds that you gained over the pandemic? Well, its time you come here. Its so much nicer than walking on a treadmill in some old stuffy gym. I've been trying to walk for 30 minutes or an hour a day. Sometimes its a drag. I try never to skip two days in a row - thats my only rule. I'm not perfect in walking every day but if I walk in a pleasant place that really helps me reach my goals. Can you tell if the next rain storm is near from the pain in your left knee? Well, its time to get it moving again. Aches and pains - for me - moving a little more is what helps most. Sure the local doctors and pharmacy companies would rather pump you full of pills so they profit but that is just a band aid fix. A walk here isn't a chore. Trust me - I walk my neighborhood all the time -either from Fruitvale to the Alameda beach or from downtown Hayward to Castro Valley. Its not pleasant. Car exhaust fumes. Encountering middle aged damaged goods women who look at all guys like criminals or worse... You wont have to deal with any people here who have encountered enough bad experiences in life to look at the world like its out to get them. Thats probably the best part of this park. read more

Mule Train! (giddyup, pah, giddahh) *whip crack* (heah)...*whip crack* Mule Train! (yeah-ha) *whip crack* Clippity-cloppin' *whip crack* over hill and plain Seems as how they never stop Clippity-clop, clippity-clop Clippity-clippity, clippity-clippity Clippity-cloppin' along Contra Costa County sure has its share of walking paths. Like the much longer Iron Horse Trail (review: https://bit.ly/3xQqkBU), this one is not really a trail but what the park district accurately describes as a "linear park". That's because it's completely paved, crosses over residential streets, and is surrounded by a variety of foliage that provide at least a visual barrier for the adjacent homeowners. It's about 7-1/2 miles long, and I started at the northern point in Lafayette at the Olympic Blvd staging area where conveniently, there was a parking lot. The route was first used by mule trains to carry redwood from Oakland to Sacramento *whip crack*. I could understand how those pack animals must have felt as a certain monotony crept in as I went further south into Moraga. It was basically upscale suburban life passing me by with kids on their bikes and joggers with their AirPods. I decided to turn around when I reached St. Mary's College and retraced the same suburban path in the other direction. It's pleasant enough, but I imagine those mule started to yawn at some point. Time to crack the whip again. Mule Train! (eeh, heahy-ah) *whip crack...whip crack* Mule Train! (weuh) *whip crack...whip crack* RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU read more

See all

It was such Nice quiet clean trail. Loved the walk with my dog . I do recommend going early due to the heat

Walking in it doesn't look ( on a Sunday ) like there's many people but you'll have multiple you'll run into . Many runners with their kids so perfect if that's what you're looking to do! Just a simple walk. I like more of a scenic route instead only reason it wasn't rated higher. I'd come back for a simple walk if in the area. I would recommend if you don't like steep inclines :) ! Many doggos to say hi to also. There are so many pros, just not my cup of tea! It was fairly cold today but I think I was just unlucky with that since it's usually pretty warm! Thanks for reading hope this helps! read more

See all

St. Mary's Road Staging Area I was in the Lafayette area, and drove by this trail, and decided to give it a whirl. The staging area is across the street from St. Mary's playing field. There is a parking lot. Their bulletin board could use some attention--it was too small of print to catch my attention. The trail is 7.25 miles. Where I walked, it was wide enough for a truck to drive on.  I strolled and took pictures for an hour or so. At one time the trail hosted mule trains; next a steam train moved trees/lumber; and then with collaboration it became a recreational trail for hikers, runners, bikes, wheel chairs, dogs on a leash, and horses.  As I was walking, I heard: the shrill call of two hawks overhead; the sound of a creek below (but very difficult to see); birds chattering; and frogs croaking. I did my best to tune out the sounds of cars, and a tree limbing work crew on the road below. There are lots of trees to see--some from previous homesteads/gardens. The poison oak was starting to leaf out--if you stay on the path, you don't have to worry about it. There are benches along the way for resting. There was even a waterfall that was sputtering. There is a lot to look at, and if you wish take pictures of. Also, I saw two nests in one tree. One seemed like it was almost three feet across, but I couldn't get a picture that really showed it. Oh, well. Wonder what you will find? read more

See all

We parked at Moraga Commons and biked north roughly 8 miles to Olympic Blvd staging area. The ride north was easy as you could feel the slight downward grade of the path. At each road crossing the path is clearly marked and you can tell the local drivers know to watch for trail foot traffic. Take a light snack to refuel because once you head back south, the real work begins! The grade is barely noticeable, but on a warm or hot day, it can be a challenge especially as you approach Moraga Commons. There is water and restrooms at Moraga Commons and one other water fountain near the Moraga pumping station about halfway to Olympic Blvd complete with a water bowl for dogs! Nice touch. Great path for walking, biking or running. Beautiful mature oak trees for shade throughout. I went early morning and it wasn't crowded but I can see it getting crowded in the afternoons. read more

See all

Love this trail. It does have a ton of walkers, strollers, etc on it, so if you're cycling it's best to go during non-peak hours because dodging them all can get old. It is all paved and great for beginner cyclists like me who don't like to go on roads with traffic and avoid major hills. You do cross streets, so you have to slow down to check those before you cross but otherwise a nice trail to ride to avoid cars. It has nice shade along most of it. read more

This trail reminds me of a deep conversation, goes like this: "Hey, where you goin'?" "Nowhere." "Can I come?" "Sure." The Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail is a good place get out and about and go nowhere with your friends. Well, it doesn't go *nowhere*. It starts at the end of Olympic Blvd and goes to and through downtown Moraga, mostly parallel to St. Marys Road. This was once a railroad line, so it's flat. It was paved long ago, and occasionally has a dirt path next to it. Pros: Beautiful atmosphere. Lots of shade and water fountains. Works well if you're jogging or power walking. You remain in civilization, so you're not out of luck if you get in trouble. We found a house in Lafayette where the family is raising chickens, so my preschooler had to stop and take a look. Cons: Not a trail for Joe Sportsman because it's flat. Few restrooms. There's no real destination at the end, unless you consider the Town of Moraga a destination. If you live next to the trail, you have no privacy unless you cover up the fence; trail users can see all of your back yard. A little ways from downtown Lafayette, and not convenient to reach from Mt. Diablo Blvd. Good for an easy jaunt. Especially if you're going nowhere today. read more

I have to say that this trail is wonderful. It's safe, it's beautiful, and it's well-maintained. I would usually run from about the middle of the trail (by the community center), and I've gone both north all the way to Olympic, and south only to the college. Running north is definitely a little bit easier. The slope is NOTHING significant, but it's very slightly downhill going northbound. Southbound, it's slightly uphill. Once you get near the college, there are some pretty steep, but short, hills. The trail is nice and wide, so there is never really a bottleneck to pass other people. The whole trail that's I've done is paved. I ran this trail quite often when I lived in Lafayette. The only thing that could be better would be to have a couple more water fountains spread out along the trail. The only two I ever passed were next to the fire station and one near the pumping station, just a little north of the middle school. There are lots of trees, but there are lots of areas without shade, also. It gets HOT on hot days, which is why I wish there were more water fountains. There are lots of walker, runners, an bicyclists who use this trail. You can even see some people who use the trail to bike to BART for their commute. read more

I had the pleasure of walking a few miles on the Moraga side of the Lafayette-Moraga Trail from Moraga Road to Rheem Road and back. The trail is nice and easy to walk on with very little incline. The whole trail is paved which us very nice for walking or riding on, and it's wide enough that you don't have to move for people coming the opposite direction and you can pass others with plenty of space. The part of the trail that I walked on in Moraga was half shaded under trees (the part next to Moraga Commons) and half in the open air in the middle of the field with some houses. The view wasn't too spectacular, but it was nice watching the sun break through the clouds at 7am. The trail wasn't too crowded when I went, but I did pass by a few friendly folks walking or running who would always say hi and good morning. The perks of living in a small town! There is also a small parking lot for the trail in Moraga as well as poop bags and garage cans for dog waste and trash throughout the trail. If in Moraga again I would definitely come back to the trail and try walking on the Lafayette side this time. It's a great asset to the community and a nice way to enjoy the outdoors instead of just walking up and down the streets in the neighborhood. read more

See all

I'm not usually a fan of paved trails, but this one is quite nice. The whole path is 7.65 miles from the Valle Vista Staging Area to the Olympic Blvd Staging Area (though the painted signs on the ground only go up to 7.25 miles, FYI). I've run this trail twice, once starting in Lafayette and once in Moraga. I definitely recommend the Lafayette side of things -- there is more shade and less stop lights. You're basically running through residential neighborhoods and the cross streets are generally small and controlled by stop signs. There's a false flat from Lafayette to Moraga -- meaning that it seems flat, but is actually a 300+ foot climb over 2 miles. Nothing horrendous, but just in case you start wondering why your pace is slower than normal. The one thing I don't like about this trail is the lack of water fountains and bathrooms. There is one water fountain about 1 mile from the Olympic Blvd Staging Area and one at Moraga Commons. For bathrooms, there are flush toilets at Moraga Commons and one porta potty at Valle Vista. Surprisingly, there are no porta potties at Olympic Staging Area. The map says there is also a bathroom at the Lafayette Community Center; however, I tend to forget that it's there because it's a little off the trail and looks like it's private property. As for navigation, it's pretty easy to follow. The places that I found slightly confusing were (1) crossing St. Mary's Road; (2) Moraga Commons; and (3) the slight detour at School St. read more

Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail - near the Olympic Blvd Staging Area - Hiking Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

See all

Beautiful walking and biking trail that hugs the contours of Las Trampas Creek and San Leandro Creek, as it wanders through the Moraga Valley. We parked at the staging area at Lafayette Community Center, which has water fountains and nice restrooms. Then biked along the trail for about 4 miles to the Valle Vista terminus. It's a very pleasant trail, passing by horse stables, the creeks, and cows on hills. The only reason it doesn't get five stars is that you can hear and see the main streets with cars for a good portion of the time (though not most of the time). And the bike path turns into surface street sidewalks by the Safeway in downtown Moraga. Other than that - a great way to spend the day! Check out the pleasant scenery in my picture of Valle Vista. read more

Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail - Walking path at Valle Vista, the terminus of the Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail. - Hiking Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Enjoyed the bike ride in this beautiful setting. There were moments of heart pounding uphill climbs, but loved the challenge! Took a detour on to St Mary's campus which was well worth exploring. The trail is paved, at times a bit crowded in spots, but overall worth the trek up to the East Bay! read more

This is a great connecting trail between Lafayette and Moraga. Once you get through the residential area leaving from Olympic Boulevard, you enter into Grassland and Oak Savanna plant communities. It's a slight ascent from Lafayette to Moraga - somewhat imperceptible if you're walking, but if you're running, cycling or skating like I often do, you'll definitely feel it. If your cycling and have the time, head all away up to Moraga Way where the trail ends and make a left. Within a mile, keep looking on your left and you'll see a huge Pear orchard that is open to the public for picking. They start to get ripe sometime in August. Stay on the road bike trail until you see on your right a little gate (easy to miss - right before a bridge) which is the other part of this trail. Hop on this trail for a bit of a climb and when it levels out you're in beautiful countryside and you'll feel like you're in the wilderness. This trail comes back to Canyon Road. Cross the road and you're at Del Valle staging area. Or continue all the way down to Canyon Road and you'll hit a T. If you go left, you'll climb Redwood Road and if you go right you'll climb Pinehurst Road through second growth redwoods and you'll feel like you're out along the North Coast. Mileage from the Olympic road start of the trail in Lafayette to Moraga is about 7 miles one way. If you do an out and back on your bike, head on over to Paxti's Pizza in Lafayette afterward for a Blue Bottle Coffee or an Ale on Tap. Happy Trails! read more

Very boring. There is no one here and there is also no scenery -- just pavement and the benefit of few cross street interruptions. There are also no bathrooms along the route, one water fountain that I saw, and poor signage. This trail is better described as an exaggerated sidewalk through a boring suburb. I think its best use would be for a beginner cyclist who needs space, not too much distance, and parking. read more

After running here for 4 months i'm just bored running on this trail. So i don't recommend coming here every day like i did. Change up your run/hike spots. Because i don't want to come here anymore just because i did it too many times read more

This trail is one of the best I've ridden. We started from BART and worked our way thru the neighborhood on School Rd until we reached the trail. The trail is a very gradual climb and it's great for beginners. I just began mountain biking again but my gf is a beginner so this trail fit her needs. We rode past Lafayette Community Park since we didn't stay on the paved trail and decided to explore some of the dirt hiker and horse trails behind the park. We rode thru a series of trails until we reached Grizzly Creek and then came back. WeI loved it! Next time, we'll stay on the paved trail and ride all the way past St. Mary's College and up to Orinda. I hear that is also a great ride. read more

There's always parking. Trail is gorgeous no matter the weather- be that scorching hot to brisk and cold. This trail has "resting areas" also known as stretching areas or areas u can stop and do resistance training such as push ups or even triceps on the double bars along the way/ I can also take my Yorky for a walk on this trail as it's never too crowded. read more