Lafayette
Reservoir Recreation Area,
East Bay Municipal Utility District,
Contra Costa County
Getting there:
From CA 24 in Contra Costa County, exit Mount Diablo Boulevard/Acalanes Road/Upper
Happy Valley Road (exit 11). Drive east on Mount Diablo Boulevard about 1 mile,
then turn right at the Lafayette Reservoir sign. Stay to the right, drive uphill
on the one way street, then bear left, toward day use parking.
Trailhead details:
You can park in metered spaces for up to 2 hours, or pay $6 and park all day in
the lot. Bring exact change for the automated entrance kiosk to the lot, which
is only staffed weekends and holidays. (Should you arrive without appropriate
funds, you can walk to the Visitor Center where staff will change larger bills.)
If you plan on walking the Lakeside Trail, you should be able to make the circuit
in less than 2 hours (so save yourself some money and park in the metered spaces),
but if you're aiming for the Rim Trail loop, you might want to park in the lot.
(To avoid the park fees all together, enter the park from the surrounding neighborhood.
From downtown Lafayette, take Moraga Road south. Turn right on Campolindo Drive.
At the end of Campolindo, make a right onto Paseo Grande. There's side of the
road parking at Paseo Grande's cul de sac.) There are designated handicapped spots,
and Lakeside Trail is paved and wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair-accessible vault
toilets at the edge of the parking lot, more vault toilets around Lakeside Trail.
Drinking fountains near the parking lot and at several other locations along the
trails. Pay phone at west end of parking lot. There is no direct public transportation
to the reservoir, and nearby BART and bus stops are probably too far from the
reservoir for hikers. Cyclists should have no problem riding from the Lafayette
BART station.
Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, stores, and restaurants back on Mount Diablo Boulevard. No camping.
Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 4.7 mile loop hike is moderate, with a total elevation change
of about 700 feet. There are two trails at the reservoir. Lakeside is paved, nearly
level, and easy. Rim is a dirt fire road with dramatic elevation changes.
Rules:
Recreation area is open from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (later in summer and autumn).
No horses. Dogs permitted on leash. Bicycles permitted on the paved Lakeside Trail
(specific hours only on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday, not permitted other days
and hours), but not allowed on Rim Trail.
The Official Story:
Park information: 925-284-9669
EBMUD's
East Bay Recreation Area's page
Map Choices:
• Use AAA's San Francisco Bay Region map to get there.
• Lafayette
Reservoir Recreation Area Map
• Trails of the Easy Bay Hills (Northern Section), by Gerald Olmsted
(order
this map from Amazon.com) is a useful guide to the recreation area.
• East Bay Trails, by David Weintraub (order
this book from Amazon.com) has a good map and a description of the Rim Trail
hike.
Lafayette
Reservoir in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured
hike.
• View photos from this hike.
Should EBMUD ever decide to transform their Lafayette 
Reservoir
into a theme park, they need only to slap down some tracks on Rim Trail and turn
the roller coaster carts loose. Rim Trail is a bucking bronco of a fire road,
constantly rising and falling as it runs along a ridge around Lafayette Reservoir.
The loop is less than 5 miles, and isn't really hard, but it can be a somewhat
tedious trek. Around the 4th mile I felt like screaming, "enough already
with these hills!"
The fluctuating altitude makes Rim Trail a favorite
with local runners. It is a humbling experience to watch experts fly up a grade
that is a challenge for some of us to comfortably ascend at a walking pace. If
you live nearby and are searching for a good exercise circuit, Lafayette Reservoir
might fit the bill. In addition to Rim Trail, there are a few other fire roads
radiating in from the ridge, and a second loop, Lakeside Trail. Paved Lakeside
is a nearly flat 2.7 mile circuit, perfect for gentle walks. Combine Lakeside,
Rim, and the handful of remaining trails for a variety of loops.
The manicured lawns, picnic tables, and ornamental
trees on the sides of Lakeside Trail make great picnic 
destinations.
Some group areas are reservable, and boats are available for rent. Fishing is
permitted, but no swimming is allowed. Maybe when I visited it was the breeze
blowing off the water that made the temperature feel a good 10 degrees cooler
at the trailhead than on the sunbaked ridge, but regardless, expect to sweat on
Rim Trail in the summer. There are some black and valley oaks to admire in autumn,
but I would elect to visit in spring, when the east bay temperatures are more
hospitable to outdoor activities.
Start the Rim Trail loop at the west edge of
the parking lot (if you're standing facing the reservoir, west is to the right).
Just in front of a flight of steps, look for a sign "West Rim Trail Access."
Walk up the stairs, and pass (or go through) a small playground. Tall pines
give the area an alpine feel. On the far side, all casual paths converge as Rim
Trail heads uphill. A fire road feeds in from the
right after about 435 feet. The hiking-only fire road starts a moderate climb
through valley and coast live oak, with yellow star thistle, coyote brush, and
poison oak in the understory. Highway 24 is audible and occasionally visible to
the right. Look back over your shoulder for increasingly broad views of Mount
Diablo. Rim Trail levels out, and grassy slopes drift downhill to the left, revealing
the reservoir. Soon enough the easy hiking is over, and the trail takes the first
of many sharp drops, followed by an equally steep ascent. At 0.79 mile, Westview
Trail begins to the left at a signed junction. Continue straight on Rim Trail.
As Rim Trail continues a pattern of rising and
falling along the ridge, the fire road draws near to the reservoir boundary. Houses
are occasionally visible on the right, and sounds of domestic life (as well as
traffic) filter over to the trail. At 1.33 miles, an unsigned fire road breaks
off the left at the crest of a hill. Continue straight on Rim Trail.
A nasty bit of steep up and down hiking ensues.
A few fruit trees can be seen mixed 
through
black and other oaks. Diminutive shrubs of bush lupine grows close to the ground
on the sides of the trail. At 1.65 miles, Canyon Trail sets off to the left (you
can shortcut the steepest sections of Rim Trail by taking Canyon to Rheem Trail,
which ends back on Rim Trail). Continue straight on Rim Trail.
The trail temporarily settles on a steady and moderate
grade, climbing along the ridge. Take a few moments to admire the reservoir, and
further to the east, Mount Diablo. The hills of Briones are also visible to the
north. A few buckeyes cling to the hillside on the left, along with some shrubby
creambush. You might see quail on the sides of the trail. Rim Trail approaches
Rheem Reservoir at 2.40 miles. Stay to the right, then to the left as a service
road heads downhill toward Rheem Boulevard. (Thirsty hikers, note that there's
a drinking fountain on the east side of the water tank.) Walk uphill on a short
paved stretch which soon switches back to dirt. A reasonable climb through a treeless
stretch 
of
grassland will bring you to an unsigned split at 2.50 miles. Either fork is fine;
they soon rejoin. Ignore a well-worn shortcut heading downhill to the left. From
the hike's high point at about 1038 feet, you'll have sweeping views south to
Las Trampas, as well as Mount Diablo to the east. Suddenly, Rim Trail plummets
downhill. The Olmsted Brothers map shows this stretch as a hogback, and it is
certainly a challenge to hikers with tender knees and/or hips. The descent ends
at an unsigned junction at 2.71 miles. A path heads right out of the preserve
to Campolindo Drive, while a fire road sets out to the left. Continue straight
on Rim Trail.
The fire road heads uphill again. Look for a large
California coffeeberry shrub on the right. At 2.93 miles, Campolindo Trail begins
on the left at a signed junction. Continue straight on Rim Trail.
A reasonable downhill section is a welcome respite. There
is very little shade as coast live oaks and an occasional blue elderberry tree
linger well off the sides of the trail. At 3.37 miles, 
Big
Oak Trail offers a last chance to divert your hike from Rim Trail, as Big Oak
Trail heads downhill to Lakeside Trail from a signed junction. (The mileage is
about the same regardless of your choice, but there is less elevation wobble if
you take Big Oak.) Continue straight on Rim Trail.
A few tall eucalyptus, pines, and oaks line the
trail, which placates hikers with a level stretch. Narrow Lafayette Reservoir
Trail heads out of the park at 3.67 miles, on the way to Moraga Road from a signed
junction. Continue straight on Rim Trail.
Rim Trail persists, rolling up and down at a moderate
pace. Ignore an unsigned fire road to the right at 4.17 miles. There are
nice views to the left of the reservoir. Finally, at 4.29 miles, Rim Trail runs
out of steam (and hills), and you'll reach a signed junction with Sunset Trail.
Turn left to stay on Rim Trail.
The fire road descends evenly through oaks and California
bay. At about 4.56 miles, Rim Trail ends at Lakeside Trail. Turn right.
Although you will never have been far from civilization, the lush grass and park
atmosphere might be a bit disconcerting. Paved Lakeside, open to hikers and cyclists
(hiking only Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday) drifts easily downhill along
the reservoir, ending at 4.69 miles at the east end of the parking lot. On the
way out of the recreation area, be sure to admire the grove of mature pear trees
on the right side of the road.
Total distance: 4.69 miles
Last hiked: Friday, August 3, 2001
Go to Bay Area Hiker Home page
Reservoir
into a theme park, they need only to slap down some tracks on Rim Trail and turn
the roller coaster carts loose. Rim Trail is a bucking bronco of a fire road,
constantly rising and falling as it runs along a ridge around Lafayette Reservoir.
The loop is less than 5 miles, and isn't really hard, but it can be a somewhat
tedious trek. Around the 4th mile I felt like screaming, "enough already
with these hills!" 
destinations.
Some group areas are reservable, and boats are available for rent. Fishing is
permitted, but no swimming is allowed. Maybe when I visited it was the breeze
blowing off the water that made the temperature feel a good 10 degrees cooler
at the trailhead than on the sunbaked ridge, but regardless, expect to sweat on
Rim Trail in the summer. There are some black and valley oaks to admire in autumn,
but I would elect to visit in spring, when the east bay temperatures are more
hospitable to outdoor activities. 
right after about 435 feet. The hiking-only fire road starts a moderate climb
through valley and coast live oak, with yellow star thistle, coyote brush, and
poison oak in the understory. Highway 24 is audible and occasionally visible to
the right. Look back over your shoulder for increasingly broad views of Mount
Diablo. Rim Trail levels out, and grassy slopes drift downhill to the left, revealing
the reservoir. Soon enough the easy hiking is over, and the trail takes the first
of many sharp drops, followed by an equally steep ascent. At 0.79 mile, Westview
Trail begins to the left at a signed junction. Continue straight on Rim Trail.
through
black and other oaks. Diminutive shrubs of bush lupine grows close to the ground
on the sides of the trail. At 1.65 miles, Canyon Trail sets off to the left (you
can shortcut the steepest sections of Rim Trail by taking Canyon to Rheem Trail,
which ends back on Rim Trail). Continue straight on Rim Trail.
of
grassland will bring you to an unsigned split at 2.50 miles. Either fork is fine;
they soon rejoin. Ignore a well-worn shortcut heading downhill to the left. From
the hike's high point at about 1038 feet, you'll have sweeping views south to
Las Trampas, as well as Mount Diablo to the east. Suddenly, Rim Trail plummets
downhill. The Olmsted Brothers map shows this stretch as a hogback, and it is
certainly a challenge to hikers with tender knees and/or hips. The descent ends
at an unsigned junction at 2.71 miles. A path heads right out of the preserve
to Campolindo Drive, while a fire road sets out to the left. Continue straight
on Rim Trail.
Big
Oak Trail offers a last chance to divert your hike from Rim Trail, as Big Oak
Trail heads downhill to Lakeside Trail from a signed junction. (The mileage is
about the same regardless of your choice, but there is less elevation wobble if
you take Big Oak.) Continue straight on Rim Trail.