My wife had an appointment nearby, so I decided to take our dog to this park while we waited. It…read moreturned out to be a great place to spend a few hours! The park is clean, spacious, and has something for everyone. There are basketball courts, plenty of shady grassy areas to relax, picnic benches, BBQ grills, hiking trails, and a playground with a soft surface that's perfect for kids. Our dog enjoyed walking around and exploring all the open space. It was peaceful, well-maintained, and a great spot to unwind. I'll definitely keep this park in mind the next time we're in the area!

Every time I come here, I see more I like…read more Today, I started my running at independence park, ran over to this parking lot and went for a beautiful 5 mile run. Don't forget to say hi to the riendly volunteer at the main entrance to the park

HEMME CREEK TRAIL REVIEW: First time on this trail and it's easily one of my top 10 trails in the…read moreBay Area. You can park at the Ringtail Cat Staging Area, where there's about 8-10 parking spots. This trail is a loop that takes you literally through a stream. It's lush and woodsy, and there's a pretty steep elevation before you get a breather through a meadowy field of trees and grass. It wasn't crowded, so we took our time and enjoyed the Zen-ness of our hike. From the parking area, there's about a 1/4 mile path before you reach a metal gate where the loop begins. If you go right, you'll start with the Shred Wizard Creek part of the loop. If you go left, you'll start with the Ringtail Cat part of the loop. It's about 3 miles with a 720 foot elevation. There aren't many markers, so I recommend using AllTrails to keep you on track. We started with the creek, and it was so fun. The trail zig zags over the stream at least 25 times. There was one part of the trail where you had to walk in the stream, but it's so shallow we didn't get our socks wet at all. It can be a bit muddy. This was our favorite part of the hike. It's so green and lush. Once the creek part is done, there's a pretty steep climb to get to the Ringtail Cat part of the loop. This part is also very nice as you walk through grassy fields and trees. There's less shade here. There's still more hills and valleys along this part. Overall, this was so much fun, the scenery was beautiful, and you get quite a workout.

Went Sunday afternoon to get some exercise and fresh air…read more Paved Rocky Ridge Trail - AllTrails rate it as moderate and steep. Definitely steep, pass by some grazing cows, minimal shade which was fine on cloudy day but I can imagine this to be quite hot in summer. Great view on top of Mt Diablo and SF Bay. Free entry/parking. Pit toilets at parking lot.

Started from Dublin and ended up here! Very nice and well kept trail for dog walking or biking,…read moresurprising amount of vegetation and tree for shade throughout. Not a strenuous hike by any means but more a suburban hike where you end up in a San Ramon neighborhood. It's quiet and not too populated which I appreciate!

The Alamo Creek Trail is a peaceful and scenic walk through San Ramon residential area. Officially…read morethe trail begins behind Dougherty Station Community Center and Diablo Valley College and ends near Piccadilly Square Park. Also, the trail has multiple trailhead access points throughout the many residential areas this trail weaves through. The majority of the trail is concrete and eventually becomes an earthen trail starting east of Japonica Way. There are also lovely parks along the way and dog friendly terrain. Always love going on this trail and seeing where it takes me!

This has been on my want to hike list for a long time and I finally got to do it on a perfect day…read more The weather was great, overcast and cool. We hiked it so fast and the views were spectacular. I can't wait to hike this in the spring with all the flowers in bloom. There are so many surrounding trails and I want to do them all! Lots of bathrooms throughout the trail. There is a visitor center at the top which you can drive to also. Please come and creat your own adventure.

My God-father lives nearby, and he thought this would be a nice little distraction from the…read morebustling cities below. He was right. The drive up was intense. It's been a while since I drove roads similar to this, so it wasn't too bad, up. Hopefully down is OK too. There is a small entry fee (per car), but also a senior discount. So we only had time for the Summit. There are more Yelp! listings for other parts of the park. OK, so I was not prepared for the breathtaking views! It was a slightly hazy, or was it smoggy, day... But the views were still fantastic! If the views were not enough, there is a visitors' center in the light tower at the summit. Inside is lots of information, a Rangers' Station, and several informative and/or interactive displays. And there is camping in Mt Diablo too! To make things even more interesting, we took a different route down. I don't like backtracking, so this was a bonus... And i wasn't too bad.

We had a great time with 7 kids ranging in ages 1-11. All the kids enjoyed themselves. The…read moretrademark stone snake is still here. They removed a ton of trees (bummer) but replaced the entire playground with updated equipment for all ages. We had a great time.

Great park! I appreciate that it's kept clean and maintained. Walking here at night isn't a…read moreproblem. You don't need to be packing if you catch my drift. They have well lit areas for night recreation such as their basketball courts and baseball diamond. Also, they have a great water playground for kids to cool off during the summer. Look out for the serpent that leads to the water fountain above. Thinking of having a picnic? They have BBQ grills and tables. There are plenty of parking spaces well.

Cute area for dogs and there lots hiking trails here that you can go from this area. There is also…read morebathrooms by the front area and dog play area at the front. Perfect for dogs. If you have dogs, take them to this area to play. They will like it.

Easy to access parking lot for dog park and the Tassajara Ridge Trail, which is a very easy, open…read moretrail that gets busy with families of hikers and walkers. Park and be set for hours and miles of trails.

Perhaps unfairly, but as an outsider, I tend to view this part of Contra Costa County as, how do I…read moreput it diplomatically...snooty. There are tract homes that are really mansions in gated communities here. You get a pretty good indication when you take the Livorna Road exit off 680 and head toward the hills. There's a convenient parking lot at the staging area, and the walk begins along a tree-laden path that leads into the Shell Ridge Trail. This is where the open rolling hills provide some challenges to the calves. You eventually make it to the most picturesque portion of the hike on the Mokelumne Coast-to-Crest Trail. This is where the residential areas disappear and you're at one with nature...except for the occasional mountain biker. Small mouth was warranted during such disturbances, but they didn't prevent me from a scenic view of Mt. Diablo (photo: https://bit.ly/3hZ96M1). Now I could've gone deeper into Mt. Diablo State Park, but hey, I'm not a rugged mountaineer. Instead I made a turn and precariously made my way downward to the Alamo Trail. I didn't realize I exited the park until I saw distracted people on the path yelling into their mobile phones as they let their dogs do their business. Hey, where's your scooper, sister? I think with more thoughtful planning, you can probably avoid the ritzy people with their ritzy homes. Maybe not. RELATED - Exploring this part of Contra Costa County? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2x1rlsD

This review is for the trail starting at the livorna road staging area…read more I really liked this trail. It's a lot of up and down. The map on all trails leaves out a few mountain top options, so I went off trail a few times and followed an alternative route. This is definitely a trail that you will need your map in order to stay on. I hiked on a cloudy September day, temperature around 75 to 80°. On a hot day with direct sunlight this would be potentially unbearable.

Perfect, relaxing, fun, members for 14 years. Come join us and will see why we love this place.read more

Sequoians is an inclusive body-positive space for all ages, genders, and body types (including…read morepost-surgery or modified bodies)! It's an overall pretty chill space with a clubhouse, bocce ball, hiking, and pool/hot tub. It's member-only, and the community is tight-knit and welcoming. We have been members for the last year, and my girls (9,7,5) love going. They are treated with incredible love and respect by all the members and there are currently several families with kids, ranging from 5-14 years old. Yes, it's naked. Yes, you will see naked people. Yes, you will be naked! Kids under 18 do not have to be naked if they don't want to, but adults are expected to be clothes-free most of the time. Let me tell you why Sequoians is walking the walk on inclusivity, and why it isn't creepy. 1) Creepiness is gross and bad for all ages; sexualizing kids is wrong, full stop. 2) Creepiness is bad for business! Getting accused of improper activities is bad for business! Sequoians, and nudists in general, have a vested interest in keeping their spaces safe for everyone. 3) Inclusivity is more fun! More people can be included and feel safe, and that feels good. Therefore: Sequoians makes a big deal of vetting potential members, and everyone is educated about body positivity and etiquette. You see consent engagements in real life, in terms of playing with the kids, hanging out in shared spaces, keeping spaces clean, and working together for the benefit of everyone. Everytime we do out there, my kids say "ohhhhh we love it here!" and I do too. If you are interested in learning more, please read the website. And come visit!

Hap Magee's Canine Corral was a wonderful experience for my gentle-tempered pup. I went in the late…read moreafternoon on a Saturday and there were a decent amount of dogs in the large and small dog areas. Every owner in the small dog area was very respectful and carefully watching their dogs to make sure every pup was behaving well with one another. I really appreciated their etiquette and all the dogs were so sweet. My pup had the best time here and we'll definitely be regulars!

Great little park on the border of Danville and Alamo. It has lots of parking, shade, a nice…read moreplayground, sand pit and splash pad. The other parents and kids are also very respectful. We had a blast playing here today and we will be back!

STAR JASMINE, MONARCH RIDGE LOOP TRAIL REVIEW: I found this short, easy trail on All Trails. There…read morewere no signs anywhere, so if it weren't for the navigation on the All Trails app, I wouldn't have known this existed. It's a 2.2 mile, easy walk/hike behind some homes and loops you back to Red Willow Park. The walk is fine, but there's nothing interesting to view, and you can hear the cars nearby so you don't get that out-in-nature feel. The park itself looks nice. There's a little playground with a slide and some swings. There were a few picnic tables with a bbq grill. Looks very clean, and there was no one around on a Saturday morning. We only passed by the park, so this rating is strictly for the trail.

Red Willow Park is a sweet little park at the end of a cul de sac that could be easily missed!…read moreThere a few parking spots and the park is fully loaded with a playground, picnic benches, and bathrooms. I came here to participate in one of the San Ramon hiking challenges, unfortunately there aren't clearly marked signs for the trail, so you kinda just have to follow the trail. The SR hiking challenge has it as a 2.24 mile hike starting at red willow park and then descending with hidden crest loop. Apparently hidden crest loop was really hidden since I couldn't find it! Haha. There were different trails in different directions, but without clear markings and the higher grass like trees it didn't feel like a good idea. You can find the short trail and back right after passing the bathrooms. You start with a steep incline at first, but nothing too major. Once you get to the highest part of the incline, remember to turn around and take in that beautiful view! Along the way you'll see flowers and wildlife such as unique birds. Spring is the perfect time since everything is so green and in full bloom. A word of caution, stay in the middle of the path since getting too close to the outside with high trees, you may find some other wildlife! I did run into a couple of tiny garden snakes when I wasn't on the middle of the path, but they were harmless and merely trying to get away into the bushes. The mantra I kept repeating was that they are more afraid of you then you are of them! Regardless, stay on the path! Definitely a park that should be explored if you're ever in the area!