There's a Goldilocks "just right" quality about hiking at Briones: Hills seem to top off just before your workout becomes a wear-out. GPS. Sa magulong, madamong burol at liblib, malilim na canyon, ang Briones ay isang lihim na kagubatan na napapalibutan ng mga bayan ng gitnang Contra Costa County. A lot drier than I thought after 25 days of rain. Fairly low traffic. It tracks a ridge with gorgeous scenery and reasonably gentle climbing. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve Labyrinth. nice and green. Lafayette. Take a right on Bear Creek Road and go five miles to the Bear Creek Staging Area. Parking is located at the Bear Creek Staging Area. Not that crowded probably due to the fact that it was super bowl sunday. Beautiful hike with a beautiful view during the first portion of the hike. Good views of Mt Diablo. Website:BrionesArchery.org. and ascend another hill to the top where all hikers will turn left on an unsigned single track up a small hill to a picnic table to take their rest break and enjoy the views. Difficulty: Easy. To reach the Bear Creek Staging . Detailed maps will be available and the route will be marked with flour arrows along the way. Do not confuse it with Bear Creek Staging Area in Briones Regional Park, reached from the EAST side of Bear Creek Road via park access road just north of the EBMUD staging area.) Trail map of Briones found here. The Reliez Valley Road staging area is a small parking lot off of that road that's located right about where the cities of Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Pleasant Hill meet on the east side of Briones . I saw two rattlesnakes on Bear Creek today. Meet at the Bear Creek Staging Area on Bear Creek Road about 5 miles east of San Pablo Dam Road near Orinda. start at reliez valley staging area and go up the fire road you see another fire road to the right, keep going strait than make a left after a gate onto singletrack. Briones Regional Park Bear Creek Staging Area RSVPs - 57 YES: 24 NO: 24 MAYBE: 9. Welcome to East Bay Hikers. Public information for Sensitive Species is restricted due to potential harmful impact to these birds. Briones Regional Park provides a range of first-come, first-served picnic sites with tables and barbecues in the Bear Creek Staging Area and the Alhambra Creek Staging Area. Really enjoy the briones trail, nice pick to enjoy with friends. There is a course very much like a 9 hole golf course. Within the park, these leash-required areas are indicated by signage. Trail still has some really muddy spots. Great sunny day. When rain hitsit goes from cake mix to all out clay sludge and will become impassable in Winter. We will start at 8:30 am!! The land was originally part of Rancho Boca de la Canada del . Barricades and cones have been posted on both ends of the fire trail to warn park users. Must have seen over 50. Continue left on Russell Peak Tr. View our Picnic page for information on reservations. The Briones Archers archery range is accessible off the Crescent Ridge Trail from Briones' west-side Bear Creek Road entrance. Download the high-resolution version in Hikepack for free and use it completely offline. Fairly easy hike, some traffic on a late Sunday morning. Old Briones Road - Black Oak Trail - Mott Peak Trail. This park has several entry points from the surrounding towns. Excellent moderate hike in Briones Regional Park. I've linked up several trails in Briones and found the riding there to be challenging and steep. The trails reconnect after about a mile, then descend toward the trailhead. The following recommendations are some of the best picnic spots in the East Bay. While Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, and Martinez are close to the park, there are peaks within it from which you can . Fees: Parking - $3 . The dirt is very soft and it becomes like cake batter. The Briones Crest Trail is the spine of the park and offers great views of Mt. Please follow all signage and use caution. Your email address will not be published. Join us for a 9:30 am hike at Briones Regional Park. You'll endure a fair amount of slogging along the way, but the panoramic views in every direction should ease your suffering. left on Briones Road trail, left on Briones Crest top top 1483 feet, drop down to Valley Trail to left on Old Briones Road Trail to Newt Hollow turn around. (credit: ebparks.org) Briones Regional Park. Stay on the Oursan Trail for the next 7 miles as you cross private and public lands with cattle gates that take you to walk within feet of the magnificent reservoir from high on the hills above. Bear Creeks banks are also lined with coast live oak, willow, madrone, and big leaf maple. Beautiful hike. The trail provides a range of possibilities for activity and is available year-round. Site-specific information is visible only to the observer and eBird reviewer(s) for the region.We encourage you not to share specific location information about this sighting via social media, public websites, or email listservs.Learn more about Sensitive Species in eBird. Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve Labyrinth, All of these wonderful points of interest are located just a short distance from our location, conveniently located just down the freeway at. # 120306 in Mountain Biking [+] Local Popularity. There are five major access points, of which the two most developed are the Alhambra Creek Valley Staging Area off Reliez Valley Road near Martinez and the Bear Creek Road Staging Area near Orinda and Lafayette. Rolling hike that lets the mind unspool as you wind along the troughs and peaks. (510) 544-3121Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4508. Green Vibes. This is a moderate one way trail to Alhambra Creek Valley Staging Area in Briones Regional Park. Good trail muddy after the rain in parts. You are looking : bear creek staging area, Your email address will not be published. Briones is accessible from Highway 24, and has five different staging areas spanning from Lafayette to Martinez. 2537 Reliez Valley Rd, Martinez, CA 94553. We will meet at the lower parking lot of the Bear Creek Staging Area up to the right after the entrance kiosk. Only dogs or motorcycles allowed on the trails. This review would be a lot better but I went on a rainy day. Park in the staging area pay your money, Briones- Alhambra Creek Single Track-GoPro Helmet. A pleasant out-and-back using the Bear Creek Trail skirting the south and east shores of Briones Reservoir and ending near Briones Overlook staging area. Bear Creek: To reach the Bear Creek Staging Area on Bear Creek Road, exit Highway 24 at the Orinda/Camino Pablo exit and head toward Richmond. There are five main access points around the park, all of which offer to park. Beautiful. We gave it space and it moved off on its own. There are a couple of muddy spots so its better to wear hiking shoes rather than sandals. Hiked 11/16, clear and dry and calm in the upper 50s, perfect hiking weather. Easy to navigate but lots of Sun exposure so come with water, hats, and sunscreen. Great hike with just the right amount of elevation. Leader: Steve SmithEmail: [emailprotected] really nice place to ride just firetrails if you wana hardtail it. 5/18 Alhambra Staging Area 2537 Reliez Valley Road, Martinez, CA Bear Creek Staging Area 1611 Bear Creek Road, Lafayette, CA To Reach Briones Regional Park: From Highway 24, take the Orinda exit on the east side of the Caldecott Tunnel to Orinda/Orinda Village. Change). J_T. MTB Podcast | Winter is bound to be muddy, but the views are amazing after rains wash smog from the skies. Also, verdant and empty on a Saturday afternoon. Overview. Then follow above info to reach the staging area. Look out for rattlesnakes in spring/summer - one was stretched across the trail! People. Head out on this 10.6-km loop trail near Lafayette, California. But this section is single track, narrow in places and loaded with poison oak. Reservations must be made at least 5 days in advance. Terms | Privacy, HWY 24 take the Orindo exit turn left ontu Camino Pablo then Right on Bear Creek Road. Good for dogs. Massive climbs so bring your lungs, there's something for everyone here. Briones Pilot Project Weekend Restrictions Saturday is an date (April 29) - Bikes (& Hikers) are allowed on designated trails in the Pilot Zone - NO Horses in the Pilot Zone Sunday is an date (April 30) - Horses (& Hikers) are allowed on designated trails in the Pilot Zone - NO Bikes in the Pilot Zone * Review edited 5/27/2009, Can be very steep, had to push the bike-O-fool some, but so did the gearies, Pick up map at kiosk when you pay the six bucks to park. returning to Russell Peak. Trail map (available at trailheads) Turn right to ascend the super steep Lafayette Ridge Tr. But - the newts are out! Alhambra Staging Area: 2537 Reliez Valley Road. You'll be about 4 miles away at the Bear Creek Staging Area (which has bathrooms). don't bother with alhambra creek trail unless you want to be obnoxious and go on a weekday cuz theres a lot of people on sat and sun. Martinez, CABear Creek Staging Area: 1611 Bear Creek Road, Lafayette, CAReliez Valley Staging Area: 1956 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette,, CA. There are gorgeous wildflower displays in season. Calories: 450 Trails can get very muddy in winter. A wide range of trees , shrubs, and flowers make this an excellent hike for research into nature. Briones Overlook via Bear Creek Trail is a highly trafficked 11.4 kilometer back and forth trail located near Orinda, California, which features a lake and is graded as moderate. Not as many wildflowers as Id hoped in bloom yet. Briones Regional Park--Bear Creek Staging Area. Reachable from the Hampton Staging Area at the end of Hampton Road, the wide trail through open landscape is your fast track to the trails that circle the Briones Reservoir. Meet: Bear Creek Staging Area . Flowers are out in force. A bit challenging for my foot in surgery recovery but oh well A good portion of it was in the exposed sun so you dont want to do it on a hot day. But very muddy and slow going in many spots. Wildflowers! Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species. 14-Apr. Hello Fellow Hikers! Old Briones Road Trail to Toyon Canyon Trail, Contra Costa County, CA, USA . This is a nice spot to pause for a few minutes. There are gorgeous wildflower displays in season. Absolutely wonderful spot for getting in contact with nature and be completely in peace. I know I sound confusing but it's really easy to follow the trail keeps going and going and about a mile from the top of that hill you'll come to a massive downhill immediately followed by a massive uphill, just past this a singletrack rides up the side of the hill, and that takes you to the beginning of our singletrackyou have to hop a gate at the top and you'll see a bench and a little cement thing announcing that you're at the highest point in Briones if you're sitting on the bench you will see a singletrack to your left that's it. the path down is easy to follow, there's one point where it crosse another trail and you'll hit one fork turn left, this puts youon a fire road for a little bit, but keep your eye out cause just before you cross the creek a singletrack will branch off to the right, and that's were you want to go.. this is a fairly advanced technical trail, few good steep sections, and some roots and rocky parts, you will be riding on narrow, high trails, and look out for low branches lots of fun, and the first "real" singletrack I rode the singletrack brings you right back to the parking lot and you're set *WARNING* DO NOT DO THIS TRAIL WITHOUT A CAMELBAK OR LOTS OF WATER, THE CLIMB UP IS RIDICULOUSLY TIRING You can make this ride as long or as short as you want, so its a great 30 min ride or a strenuous 2 and a half hour ride. Exit Highway 24 at the Orinda/Camino Pablo exit 9 and head toward Richmond on Camino Pablo for 2.2 miles. About a half mile later you will reach the Crescent Ridge Trail. Trail Highlights: You may see black-tailed deer, coyotes, squirrels, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, and if you are lucky, other more reclusive creatures. Lots of slipping and sliding today. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Menu. Rain damaged the trail a bit with ruts on the hills, but nothing too bad. Too muddy virtually all the way after recent rains. easily marked trail with some strenuous but brief uphill sections and a final slippery decent. With the above information sharing about bear creek staging area on official and highly reliable information sites will help you get more information. 37.927116, -122.159284. From the creek you will ascend into a forest of mostly California Bay Laurel trees a cousin of the Mediterranean Bay tree whose leaves are used in cooking. Orinda, California 94563, United States. I do hikes. #2 hike out of 33 in Briones Regional Park | MODERATE. The park is also accessible via public transportation. These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s). Plenty of bootlegged single track that doesn't appear on the park's maps. From State Route 24, take the Upper Happy Valley Road exit and follow Upper Happy Valley Road north. Briones Regional Park is a 6,117-acre (24.75 km2) regional park in the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) system located in Briones Hills, central Contra Costa County, San Francisco Bay Area, California. Tick one off and the ranger will be waiting for you. Christian Lenci. Briones Regional Park is a 6,117-acre (24.75 km2) regional park situated in the Briones Hills of central Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) system. From there, jump on Bear Creek Trail and follow it along the water's edge heading west. Beautiful and green after our recent rains! At the Bear Creek Staging Area, the park also has two larger, reservable community picnic areas: Oak Grove, which can host 50 people, and Newt Hollow, which holds 150. This is a great spot to hang out and have a snack or lunch, especially with kids or maybe a picnic dinner in the summer. Only dogs or motorcycles allowed on the trails. Not many people, some runners and hikers, some groups of MTBs. Fees, etc. Family Friendly While most kids won't be up for the full 9.5 mile loop, you can park at the Bear Creek Staging Area to shorten the loop to a kid-friendly distance. There's a Goldilocks "just right" quality about hiking at Briones . Change time period. At the end, turn right on Russell Peak Tr. Horses are also able to use this trail. Steep climbs and fortunately steep downhill. Every pond was overflowing. Mountain Bike Deals, Copyright 2023 Blue Spruce Ventures LLC | Good, harder than I thought, but I loved the extra work. When you depart this clearing you will cross a little seasonal stream and reach the Seaborg Trail. From the picnic area, the Bear Creek trail descends down to the creek. The path provides a range of events, and is open throughout the year. Note: 8:30 am Start Time!! That was true on this trail as well, which caused me to take numerous detours in search of nice Narrow trails. Both routes are about the same length and difficulty, but the Bear Creek route is . 85 in Mountain Biking [+] Seaborg trail starts mellow and then goes to a strong climb to connect to Briones Crest. Whether you're hiking with a meetup, or on your own, please review these hiking safety tips. This amazing kid-friendly park is just one of the many must-see parks you dont want to miss in Orinda, California: All of these wonderful sites are located just a short distance from our location at 3369 Mount Diablo Blvd in Lafayette! Amazing views of the reservoir from high above as well as serene views of the surrounding hills, among other wildflowers, dominated by California poppies, purpleheads, lupines and redstem stork's bill. Continue for 1.6 miles before turning left onto Brookwood Drive and proceeding less than a mile to the staging area. All are welcome. This hike is from Bear Creek Staging Area for EBRPD, not the Bear Creek for EBMUD!! Briones Overlook via Bear Creek Trail is a highly trafficked 11.4 kilometer back and forth trail located near Orinda, California, which features a lake and is graded as moderate. Elevation gain: About 500 feet (trail to falls is mostly level with slight uphills) Fees: $3 day use fee for parking. Then continue to the Bear Creek staging area. Beautiful hike overall!! Another idea when poison oak is a concern is to wear long pants and long sleeves and then wash them when you get home. Be careful of holes and obstructions. | Dogs: $2 per dog. Turn right on Bear Creek Rd/Wildcat Canyon Rd and travel about 4.5 miles. From Walnut Creek/Danville: Take 24 west to exit 13 toward Central Lafayette/Moraga. Experience the beauty of Briones Regional Park at dusk during a short hike from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, led by naturalist James Wilson. Checklists submitted within the last hour are not shown. Time: About 2 hours. After passing the archery range, you will reach a three-way junction with Seaborg Trail. Trail use permit required. Provisional: Either: 1) member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2) rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible. There are gorgeous wildflower displays in season. Hills are beautiful! Extended the loop by taking Seaborg to Homestead Valley then Bear Creek Trail. In 1829 Felipe Briones built a home near the Bear Creek entrance, cultivating the land and raising cattle. Doesn't fling off the tire, builds and builds until your tires lock due to mud jammed in between the frame and tire. Explore Briones Bear Creek Staging - view hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. DOGS welcome. From the Bear Creek parking lot, take old Old Briones Road northeast and turn left on Black Oak Trail -- an old wagon road. Martinez, CA 94553. From the Oak Grove picnic area in the Bear Creek Staging Area, get on the Abrigo Valley Trail. The path provides a range of events, and is open throughout the year.