Walnut Creek

This is a nice and casual hike through the meadows and rolling hills, dotted with cows and hawks and sometimes goats or foxes. As you head up Lafayette Ridge, you'll be rewarded with the beautiful vista spanning from the Oakland Hills to sparkling Lafayette Reservoir. The hike is mostly through the hills but, if you decide to take a side tour to the top of peaks like Briones Peak, you can see ...

Located near Walnut Creek, the trail is easily accessible from anywhere in the Bay Area. The trail is kept open year-round, and happens to be part of the American Discovery Trail and the Coast to Crest trail. If you are not done hiking, connecting trails allow you to summit Mt. Diablo.  This trail is dog friendly - but when you reach Mount Diablo State Park, please note that the park does not a...

Continue by car down Castle Rock Road until it dead ends at the beginning of the trail. Parking is usually easy to find. If full, there is another overflow lot about 500 ft back the way you came in.You'll walk a good half mile down the trail before getting the main gate. As you're walking, you'll see a swimming pool, baseball diamond, volleyball courts, basketball courts, restrooms and picnic t...

Lafayette Reservoir is perfect for canoeing, mountain biking, trail running, and hiking. The Reservoir trail system is also used for nature walks and birding. The loop has several high points that have amazing views. The trails become very muddy after wet weather - so tread with caution.  The Lafayette Reservoir is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to sunset. On Sunday mornings, the Reser...

Take time to stop in the first area, Rocky Ridge with it’s grassy knolls to enjoy views in all areas. Head up the Eldeberry Trail, which will take you up the muddy or sunny (depending on the time of year) side of the ridge. Once you’ve made it through the mud, the trail returns to grassier open space for your enjoyment. Just short of 2-miles, you’ll come across Upper Trail, which you’ll start t...

Turn right on Rocky Ridge Trail for .38 miles and turn left on Elderberry for 1.67 miles mostly through the woods. At the bottom where there are picnic tables, turn left for .37 back to the parking lot. The trail begins at the end of Bollinger Canyon Road at the Las Trampas Staging Area. Parking is free.  Start with the Rocky Ridge View Trail for the first .8 miles, this trail is paved. At the ...