See and Do!
Briones Regional Park
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.
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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, 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. 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, 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.
Click here for public transit information. Back to top
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
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.
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
Podcast
Movie Clip- 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
- All trails are open but muddy after winter rains. Visit now to see the new emerald green grasses of winter. Watch for California newts if it has been raining.
- Grazing Update
- Cows and calves are in the Valley, Homestead, Tabletop, Blue Oak, Seaborg, and Lafayette Ridge trail areas. Goats are in the Old Briones Road corral area. Sheep are in Abrigo Valley.
Please call the park if you have trail or cattle concerns or comments: (925) 370-3020
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