Welcome to Briones

East Bay Regional Park District2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605-0381 1-888-327-2757 (1-888-EBPARKS) (TRS 711) www.ebparks.org Rev. 6/2020

Alhambra Creek Staging Area2537 Reliez Valley Road, Martinez, CA

Bear Creek Staging Area1611 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. Go north on Camino Pablo about 2.5 miles to Bear Creek Road and turn right. The Bear Creek Staging Area is about five miles ahead, on the right.

Several staging areas on the park’s east side are acces-sible from Reliez Valley Road in Martinez and Pleasant Hill, and on the park’s north side from Alhambra Valley Road in Martinez.

HISTORY Most of Briones Regional Park was once part of Rancho Boca de la Canada del Pinole, popularly known as Rancho San Felipe. In 1829, Fe-lipe Briones built a home near what is now the Bear Creek entrance to the park, cultivating the land and raising cattle. In 1842 Felipe’s widow, Maria Manuela Valencia Briones, petitioned Governor Alvarado for a grant to the land the family had occupied. The grant, covering three square leagues, was issued in June 1842. Later, much of the rancho was purchased by Simon and Elias Blum. In addition to Rancho San Felipe, the current park includes small portions of Rancho Canada del Hambre y las Bolsas, and Ran-cho Acalanes.

In the 1850s and 1860s, Alhambra Valley was de-veloped into rich orchards and vineyards. It became Contra Costa County’s most important fruit grow-ing area. Cattle grazing is also a major industry. Hay and grain have been produced in the valleys inter-mittently for some years, as well as truck crops.

IRON HORSEREG. TRAILTo I-80 &

Richmond

To Antioch

To Benicia

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LAS TRAMPAS-BRIONES REG. TRAIL

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To Oakland

To Pleasanton

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POLICE, FIRE, MEDICAL EMERGENCY ................................9-1-1 PICNIC, GROUP CAMPING RESERVATIONS .................................................................................................. 1-888-327-2757, option 2PARK OFFICE .......................1-888-327-2757, option 3, ext. 4508

In 1906, the People’s Water Company began purchasing land in the San Pablo and Bear Creek areas for watershed lands. The East Bay Municipal Utility District acquired People’s Water Company in 1916 and built San Pablo Dam in 1923. In 1957 Contra Costa County and EBMUD agreed to a land conveyance that established a large open space park in the Bear Creek watershed to be called Briones.

In 1964, when portions of Contra Costa County were annexed to the East Bay Regional Park District, the County and the Park District agreed to a transfer of county land to the Park District, with the District to carry out additional land acquisition. Since 1966, watershed lands and other acquisitions have combined to form today’s parkland.THE PARK TODAY This park is a popular destination for many recreational activities:Picnicking A number of first-come, first-served picnic sites with tables and barbecues are located 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 (capacity 50), and Newt Hollow (capacity 150). Crow, (capacity 50), is lo-cated at the Alhambra Staging Area. Archery Range The Briones Archers archery club range is accessible off the Crescent Ridge Trail from Briones’ west-side Bear Creek Road entrance. For information, visit www.brionesarchers.org.Group Camping The three group camping areas – Wee-Ta-Chi, Maud Whalen, and Homestead Valley–must be reserved at least 5 business days in advance.

BrionesRegional ParkMartinez, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette

Year opened: 1967 Acres: 6,256Highlights: hiking, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, picnicking, archery range, group camping, wildflowers in season.Did you know? From 1,483-foot Briones Peak, hikers can enjoy 360-degree views of the California Delta, Mount Diablo, Mount Tamalpais, and Las Trampas Regional Wilderness. • Naturalist John Muir, a resident of nearby Martinez, hiked these hills in the late nineteenth century.Fees: Check website.

Dogs must be on leash (six-foot maximum) at all times on the Tavan Trail, 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.

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For trail continuationsee inset at bottom, left.

To San Pablo Dam Road/Camino PabloTo Orinda/Richmond

Las Trampas-to-BrionesRegional Trail. See CentralContra Costa Regional Trailsmap for detail.

ACALANES RIDGE OPEN SPACE

City of Walnut Creek(925) 943-5860

Park Of�ce

To AlhambraValley Road

LAFAYETTE

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HOMESTEADVALLEYSeasonal

creek crossing

To Hwy. 24

To Hwy. 24

10.4 miles to Orinda Staging

4.3 miles to Orinda Staging

Briones Horse Center (Private)

JOHN

MUIR

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To Hwy. 24

MEMBERSHIPSThe Regional Parks Foundation offers Memberships to park users. For information, see www.region-alparksfoundation.org, or call (510) 544-2220.

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Hikers, Horses & BicyclesIvan Dickson TrailAmerican Discovery Trail / Mokelumne Coast-to-Crest TrailHikers and HorsesHikers OnlyParkingEquestrian ParkingRestrooms (circle indicates disabled accessible)Drinking WaterHorse WaterInformation PanelPicnicReservable PicnicReservable Group CampingArcheryPondGate, No Access

North

Rev

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Mileage Between Markers With Trail Post NumbersDead End; Private Property Ahead RoadCreek

.2812 25BRIONES REGIONAL PARK Our to Explore, Enjoy and Protect

Please enjoy the Regional Parks safely, and help protect and preserve the parklands by complying with park rules and regulations.

SAFETY and ETIQUETTE• Stay on trails. Shortcuts are dangerous and damage natural resources.

• Carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

• Be prepared for sudden changes in weather conditions.

• Trails can be slippery, rocky and steep. Proceed carefully at your own risk.

• Keep the parks clean. Pack out what you pack in.

• Inform someone where you are going and when you will be back.

• Store our 24/7 Dispatch Center number on your cell phone: Emergency (510) 881-1122; Nonemergency (510) 881-1833.

RULES• Pets must be leashed in parking lots, 200 feet from any trail or park entrance or as posted, in picnic areas, developed areas such as lawns and play fields, on some trails, and where grazing animals are present. Pets must be under voice control at all times. Clean up after your pet; bag it, bin it.

• Bicycles are permitted on designated trails only. E-Bikes on designated paved regional trails only.

• Horses have the right-of-way on trails.

• State law requires that all bicyclists under age 18 wear an approved helmet while riding on trails and roadways. Equestrians and bicyclists are also strongly encouraged to wear helmets at all times.

• The following are prohibited: o Wading and/or swimming in undesignated areas o Consuming alcohol in non-designated areas/parks o Feeding or approaching wildlife o Releasing animals into parklands o Damage to plants, geological or archaeological features o Smoking o Drones

Visitors are responsible for knowing and complying with park rules (Ordinance 38). See www.ebparks.org/rules.