See and Do!
Briones Regional Park
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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.
Listen to podcast. Back to top
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. Back to top
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, then 1, 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. Back to top
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.archeryweb.com/briones. Back to top
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. For information or to make a reservation, call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1. Back to top
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.
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Trail Map
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.
This is a place holder for Briones podcast.
You can also save the podcast to your computer in MP3 format.
Download Podcast (mp3, 2.44 minutes, 1.2 MB) Back to top
Park Info
- Address
- 2537 Reliez Valley Road
Martinez, CA - (Alhambra Staging Area)
- Download Brochure
- Phone Number
- 925-370-3020
- Local Weather
Podcast- Maps
- View Trail Map
- Download PDF Map
- Yahoo Map:
- to the Lafayette Ridge Staging Area - - to the Alhambra Creek Staging Area
- Park Hours
- 8 a.m. to 10 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 Fee
- $2 per dog. Guide/service dogs free
- Camping Reservations
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
- Picnic Reservations
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
- Emergency Number
- 911
- EBRPD Headquarters
- 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757
Park Update
- Trail Update
- It is a spectacular wildflower year at Briones. CA poppies are abundant and visible on most of the ridges. The best wildflower trails are Abrigo Valley, Old Briones Road especially the Martinez end of the trail, Toyon Canyon and Briones Crest trails. Yerba Buena trail is always a good late season flower area.
- Grazing Update
- Cattle will be mostly on the west side of the park from Briones Crest trail west to Bear Creek Road. Cattle are being moved out of Alhambra Valley, Briones Crest and Sunrise/Buckeye area effective early April. Please keep gates closed to keep cattle in their appropriate area. Please call the park office if you should notice trail or cattle issues 925-370-3020.