Briones Regional Park

• About The Park
• Park Features
• Park Activities
• Park Accessibility
• To Reach The Park
• Trail Map
• Interpretive Panels
  

About The Park

With its rolling, grassy hills and secluded, shady canyons, Briones is a secret wilderness surrounded by the towns of central Contra Costa County. Although the park is close to Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, and Martinez, there are peaks within it from which you can see only park and watershed lands for miles in every direction.

From Briones Peak, the highest point in the park, there are panoramic views of Mount Diablo and the Diablo Valley to the east, the Sacramento River and Delta to the north, the East Bay hills and Mt. Tamalpais to the west, and Las Trampas Regional Wilderness to the south.

PLEASE NOTE: Dogs are required to be on leash (six-foot maximum) at all times in the following areas: Tavan Trail (all), Diablo View Trail between Alhambra Creek Trail and Hidden Pond Trail, Alhambra Creek Trail from the Alhambra Creek Staging Area south to the water trough, and Orchard Trail between Alhambra Creek Trail and west to the Briones Road gate. These leash-required areas are indicated by signage within the park.

Listen to Briones Podcast

Park Features

Briones' 6,117 acres are home to many animals and birds, which forage on the grasslands or find shelter among the oaks and bays. You may see black-tailed deer, coyotes, squirrels, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures, and, if you are lucky, other more reclusive creatures. There are gorgeous wildflower displays in season. Park District naturalists often lead walks to view the park's natural and historic features.

Watch a movie clip about California Newts.

See also: QUEST's Briones Regional Park Exploration

Park Activities

Briones is an ideal park for hiking, running, and horseback riding over the park's scenic trails; picnicking, birdwatching, and similar activities; and informal recreation such as kite flying, photography, and nature study. 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.

Group Camping

Briones Regional Park's three group camping areas--Wee-Ta-Chi, Maud Whalen, and Homestead Valley-may be reserved by calling 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2 or by writing to EBRPD Reservations, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, P.O. Box 5381, Oakland, CA 94605-0381. Reservations must be made at least 7 days in advance.

Archery Range

The Briones Archers archery range is accessible off the Crescent Ridge Trail from Briones' west-side Bear Creek Road entrance. For information, visit www.brionesarchers.org.

Picnicking

Briones Regional Park offers a number of first-come, first-served picnic sites with tables and barbecue stands at the Bear Creek Staging Area and the Alhambra Creek Staging Area. The park also has two larger, reservable group picnic areas at the Bear Creek Staging Area: Oak Grove, which can accommodate 50 people, and Newt Hollow, which holds 150. Alhambra Creek Staging Area has a new, 50-person reservable picnic site, Crow, which is fully accessible. For information or to make a reservation, call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2.

Park Accessibility

Trail Accessibility Reports

• Abrigo Valley Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
• Alhambra Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format
• Old Briones Road Trail: Download PDF format | Download Word format

To Reach The Park

To reach the Bear Creek Staging Area on Bear Creek Road, exit Highway 24 at the Orinda/Camino Pablo exit and head toward Richmond. Turn right on Bear Creek Road and travel 5 miles to the staging area on the right.

Click here for public transit information.

Transit & Trails: Briones Regional Park (transit, biking, and walking directions) 

Trail Map

Click the map image below to see an enlarged version.

'Full Expand' icon >

When the 'Actual Size' map is viewable, you can 'Click-Hold and Drag' the mouse button (left on a PC) to reposition the map, as desired.

'Single-Click' on the 'Enlarged' or 'Actual Size' map to return to the park page.

Podcast

• Briones Podcast (duration: 2 min 44 sec): Park introduction, then description of 6.8-mile, moderate-to-challenging loop hike: Alhambra Creek Staging Area to Orchard Trail to Toyon Canyon Trail to Lagoon Trail to Briones Crest Trail (Sindicich Lagoon, great views) to Old Briones Road Trail (Maricich Lagoons) to Spengler Trail to Alhambra Creek Trail to Alhambra Creek Staging Area.

You can also save the podcast to your computer in MP3 format.

Download Podcast (mp3, 2.44 minutes, 1.2 MB)

Movie Clip

KQED QUEST Exploration: Join Naturalist Meg Platt at Briones Regional Park to learn about wildlife.

KQED QUEST: California Newts

Briones Regional Park is home to a wide variety of species - including the charismatic California Newt. Learn more about them and the local habitat - a transitional zone between coastal and central California. Join us and naturalist Meg Platt of the East Bay Regional Park District on QUEST's latest Bay Area science hike.

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Interpretive Panels

Amphibians at Risk (1.5 MB, PDF)

Art on a Grand Scale ( 500 KB, PDF)

Park Info

Address

2537 Reliez Valley Road
Martinez, CA

(Alhambra Staging Area)

Download Brochure

Phone Number

Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4508

Local Weather

Weather Forecast

Podcast

Movie Clip

Panorama

Maps

View Trail Map

Download PDF Map

Yahoo Map:
- to the Lafayette Ridge Staging Area

- to the Alhambra Creek Staging Area

Transit & Trails

Park/Gate Hours - 2011

Alhambra
January
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Feb. 1 - March 13
8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
March 14- April 10
8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
April 11 - Sept. 5
8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sept. 6- Nov. 6
8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Nov. 7 - Dec. 31
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Bear Creek
January
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Feb. 1 - March 13
8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
March 14 - April 10
8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
April 11 - Sept. 5
8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Sept. 6 - Nov. 6
8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Nov. 7 - Dec. 31
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Parking Lot Hours

8 a.m. to sunset

Park Events

Click HERE for upcoming events

Parking Fee

$3 per vehicle (when kiosk is attended); $3 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25/per bus.

Dog Fees / Leash Areas

$2 per dog. Guide/service dogs free

PLEASE NOTE: Dogs are required to be on leash (six-foot maximum) in certain areas within the park. Please see "About the Park" at left.

Grazing Information

Grazing in the Parks

Camping Reservations

1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2

Picnic Reservations

1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2

Emergency Number

911

EBRPD Headquarters

1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757

Park Update

Trail Update

All trails are open. Good all-weather, non-muddy trails are Abrigo Valley Trail, Lafayette Ridge Trail, the first one-half mile of Alhambra Creek Trail, and the first one mile of Briones Road Trail from the Bear Creek Road entrance.

Grazing Update

Cows and calves are in the Tabletop, Spengler, Blue Oak, Buckeye, Sunrise, and Lafayette Ridge trail areas. Yearling cattle are in Deer Creek, Pereirra , Valley, and Briones Crest trail areas. Please call the park if you have trail or grazing animal concerns or comments: 1-888-327-2757, option 3, ext. 4508.