Briones Regional Park

Aggressive cows. We were hiking in the park in April 2024, and saw a number of them blocking the hiking trail (no claves on sight). There’s no way around them unless we jump off the trail and get down to the hill that’s full of cow piles and other unknown vegetations. My partner thought the cows were domesticated and would move away if we approach slowly. They saw us from far away, but started acting agitated and aggressive when they saw us walking close, and started charging at us. In retrospect, we should’ve just turned around or backed off slowly but it’s difficult when animals weighing a couple hundred pounds started running at you (and downhill). It was getting really dangerous and we knew we would be crushed if they reach us, and they eventually would, so we stopped after running away for a bit and started yelling “no!” to them with big arm movement. They were unfazed at first but eventually slowed down after a couple of chase and stop episodes. The lead cow still followed us for quite some distance before leaving us alone. It was a terrifying experience and I would think twice about returning until the park service does something about it to ensure people’s safety. We also saw this sign when existing the park, which tells you to report the aggressive cow’s tag number. Let me tell you, if you can see the tag number in the aggressive cow’s ears, you’re too close!

You want open spaces, they’ve got open spaces. Great place to hike all by your lonesome or with others if you like. Black cows here and there but they mind their own business. It gets hot here in the summer. One path will take you to the Briones archery range.

Briones Regional Park has a lot of different trails that you can walk on with a lot of spectacular views! There is plenty of parking, especially the earlier you go. There is lots of open space and there is not a lot of people on the trails. The trails are well maintained and this place has trails with varying levels of difficulty and distance. You can really soak in all the beauty of nature around you here, which is one of the many things I love about this place. The grass is really green during the beginning of the year until around April or May, which adds to the beauty. I find this place very peaceful and serene. There are a lot of beautiful rolling hills and many of the trails are at a steady incline, which adds to the beautiful views you see that overlook Martinez and the Diablo Valley! There are benches along the way for you to take some time for yourself and this is also a great place to go for a picnic. There are cows in the field at certain times of the year as well as people horseback riding on the trails at times. The trails can be a little narrow at times. For this reason, it is important that you watch your step while hiking so that you don't step in poop and give horses a lot of room so they don't get spooked. I would suggest wearing layers when you go hiking as well as wearing sunscreen. The higher you hike up the less shaded areas you will find. It is also good to bring plenty of water. There is a bathroom next to where you park that is always open that you can use before you start your hike.

Incredibly beautiful space with great trails and wildlife, can't believe it was free the day we went and only $3 if attendant was there! Wasn't crowded on a Saturday either

There are gorgeous vistas, fresh eggs, delicious produce, and fields of gold all around this sprawling, beautiful park. I drove up here during a taxi trip and I loved every minute! Thank you to the great Gods and Goddesses that made all of this possible - is pretty much what I was thinking the entire time. How could you not? WOW!!!! 🌲🌳👋🏽🌻🌞

Briones Rd from Martinez a longish drive up. Some parking on the side of the road. Has standard open pit restrooms. The drinking water fountain was not working. Multiple trails to choose, easy to take a wrong turn. Mountain biking is popular. East Bay Regional is doing a pilot to allow riding MTB legally. Long overdue.

Easy parking, trails of various distances and difficulty, cows and other wildlife, perfect for any skill level!

Amazing place to hike. Diverse landscapes, bovine encounters, and plenty of wildflowers!

I've been mesmerized by the beauty of Briones since early 2008. It became my go-to escape whenever I needed to clear my head--whether before an exam, during the stress of passing classes, or while navigating the transfer process from community college to university. My loyal companion, Raider the dog, and I explored every corner of Briones, venturing off-trail and even discovering a hidden pond a few miles in. Completing every trail is definitely a challenge, but it's absolutely doable--and always a fun adventure. Every now and then, you'll come across cattle peacefully grazing or wandering by as you walk. The people you meet along the way--friendly hikers and nature lovers--add to the welcoming atmosphere. It's also a great place to connect with friends or make new ones. Have I mentioned how much I love Briones? :)

Wow, can't believe this park has been hiding right under my nose this whole time! What a delightful park with lots of hikes. and plenty of parking options. It's got enough elevation to be interesting and offer beautiful lake views (of the San Pablo and Briones Reservoirs), but not enough to be too challenging. But my favorite part was road cycling / biking - there's a fantastic paved loop through the park around the San Pablo Reservoir and Briones Reservoir known as the "Three Bears Loop" - and it's just delightful. (You can find the route maps on Strava, AllTrails, or your favorite fitness app.)

I recently checked out Briones Regional Park in Martinez, CA and was just in awe with mother's nature's beauty I opted for an easy 3.5 mile hike along old Briones Road to Briones Peak. Along the way, you will see, happy cows grazing and basking in the sun. also the rolling Greenhills are simply breathtaking. I felt like I was transported to the Shire in Lord of the rings. Also can definitely use the photo for a screensaver. I would love to do more hikes this spring around the Bay Area.

Briones Regional Park has a lot of different trails that you can walk on with a lot of spectacular views! There is plenty of parking, especially the earlier you go. There is lots of open space and there is not a lot of people on the trails. The trails are well maintained and this place has trails with varying levels of difficulty and distance. You can really soak in all the beauty of nature around you here, which is one of the many things I love about this place. The grass is really green during the beginning of the year until around April or May, which adds to the beauty. I find this place very peaceful and serene. There are a lot of beautiful rolling hills and many of the trails are at a steady incline, which adds to the beautiful views you see that overlook Martinez and the Diablo Valley! There are benches along the way for you to take some time for yourself and this is also a great place to go for a picnic. There are cows in the field at certain times of the year as well as people horseback riding on the trails at times. The trails can be a little narrow at times. For this reason, it is important that you watch your step while hiking so that you don't step in poop and give horses a lot of room so they don't get spooked. I would suggest wearing layers when you go hiking as well as wearing sunscreen. The higher you hike up the less shaded areas you will find. It is also good to bring plenty of water. There is a bathroom next to where you park that is always open that you can use before you start your hike.

easy hike, lovely trails and pretty overlook on the green hills and towns around Benicia-Martinez Bridge. there are a few ponds along the Old Briones Trailhead, the views are magnificent and pleasant. we hike during sunset to enjoy the cool breeze and the orangish sky. It's so peaceful and pretty.

One of the San Francisco Bay areas crown jewels. This regional park has some of the most amazing hiking trails and geology you'll find anywhere. The Lafayette ridge staging area is a perfect jumping on spot for the Briones Peak Trail.

Oh Briones, you are stunning! Not a whole lot to add that hasn't been said about Briones. Beautiful, peaceful, miles and miles of hiking. You don't have to be totally in shape, I am so not. I mean it would help. Not gonna lie. But, everyone can enjoy their time here. I mean you don't have to walk far to be completely surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the bay! Definitely recommend!

Amid the expanse of rolling brown hills we discovered two lagoons, one still filled with water despite the long, hot summer. And ... surprise! A lone cow had found her way through the gate into the enclosed oasis and was happily munching her way through a buffet of tall grasses growing in the water. And then we spotted a tiny movement near her deep within the lush surroundings ....

We hiked the Lafayette Ridge Trail and it was stunning! Plenty of wind to cool you down and - COWS! Watching the sun set over the rolling hills is phenomenal. Nicely steep for a nice low-medium challenge, plus so many clovers!

Great place to take the family on an easy hike. Easy to get to and clean. As the seasons change, get outside and visit.

We are so privileged to have so many East Bay regional parks in such close proximity. Briones is one of the larger ones and you can start from different staging areas from Martinez, Pleasant Hill or Lafayette. On these trails you'll find plenty of wild life including cows and coyotes. Some areas have steep inclines and not a lot of shade so it's best to come earlier in the day or closer to closing to avoid the heat in the summer. With different starting points, there's a little something for everyone. Definitely check this place out as it's one of the more popular East Bay Regional Parks in Contra Costa.

We hiked 2 different trails in one day, so here's 2 reviews. RELIEZ VALLEY STAGING AREA (Blue Oak Trail) - 3/5 - This is a smaller staging area with a smaller parking lot (free) and less people. We looked at the map and decided we wanted to take the Blue Oak Trail to the Spengler Trail. It's a bit of an uphill climb, with grassy fields and not much shade. We missed our cut off to the Spengler Trail, decided to back track and then ended up back in the parking lot. Unless we missed them, there were no trail signs to be found. Feeling a bit frustrated, we decided to try another staging area. ALHAMBRA CREEK STAGING AREA (Alhambra Creek Trail) - 4/5 - This is a large staging area with a large parking lot and quite a bit more people. There's a parking fee but on the day we were there, no one was at the booth so we didn't have to pay (sorry I don't remember what the fee was). We hiked along the Alhambra creek trail. Although the "creek" was mostly dry, it was still a really nice hike under shady trees and beautiful views. There are lots of kids, bikes, horses, and dogs, so if you prefer secluded, this isn't the trail for you. On our way back, we decided to cross over the creek and hike the other side. This was not a real trail, but a path with a few obstacles, but it was nice and secluded. Overall a very, nice, leisurely hike.

Allow me to take you on an adventure. I promise you that there will be action, horror, suspense, danger, mystery, comedy and escapade. Prior to adopting Jaime, our Australian Kelpie, and after losing Maxie, our beloved Yellow Labrador Retriever, I found myself doing a lot of solo hikes. I guess it was my coping mechanism and grieving process. I did bring Maxie's urn with me, so in a way, she was always with me. I've had this on my radar for a while and I finally came here on my day off. My navigation system took me to a side parking lot, and I could tell it wasn't the main lot. There were just a couple of cars parked in a dirt lot and saw a sign and a paved trail so off the trail I went. I should've read the sign first as I headed right when I passed a mini bridge and up a slight hill. I saw some houses and quickly determined that they are all abandoned, which gave me a spooky feeling. I kept going up until the path just went around in circle and I ended up right where I started from. As I was passing all those abandoned houses, I got goosebumps and couldn't shake that fact that someone or something was watching me. Every time I go on solo hikes, I'd always have my bolo knife with me and my sturdy hiking stick just in case. (Check out the video of the of the Utah hiker who was stalked by a mountain lion: https://youtu.be/j0ovbHmOMs0 ) Suddenly, I heard rustling and loud thumps and they got closer and closer. Then I spotted them....3 huge, majestic-looking deers staring right at me. I paused as they stopped in their tracks as they could probably smell me. Then they started stomping their hooves and the I could feel their power as it reverberated on the ground. I told 'em they didn't have to worry about me as I backed away with an elevated heartbeat and heightened senses. I went back down where I came from and decided to read the map so I'd know where to go. I took a left, which I should've done in the beginning, and the paved path ended and became a dirt trail. I went through the back of a neighborhood area and it veered uphill to get my blood pumping and the juices flowing. I kept following the trail as it meandered up and down until I finally reached a couple of gates and an open space clearing. There's a sign posted at the gates that I was entering a cow-grazing area and please to make sure to close the gate behind. It's a good thing I took a photo of the sign and read it. This is foreboding. After going through the second gate, it was a nice clearing and I saw how expansive this park was. The rolling hills looked so picturesque as I strolled up another hill to get a 360 degree view. I took some photos, but they don't do it justice to how beautiful the place looked in person. It's something that you must really see with the naked eye. It was in April of 2019, so the grass was green and lush, and a smell of fresh air and cow manure. There weren't too many people here at that time as I could make out a small group of hikers in the distance and a couple of people on horseback, but there were far and few in between. I kept following this trail for about a mile or so, until I reached another parking area complete with picnic tables. This must be the main parking lot so I turned around and took a lower trail to head back. In the middle of the trail was a nice tree and I decided to stop here and had a snack underneath the nice shade and breeze that it provided. Ahead of this trail, I noticed a pack of cows in front of me and I didn't pay them no mind initially. As I was packing up and getting ready to go, I noticed that one of the cows, a big bull, was in the middle of the trail. This bull was snorting and thumping his right hoof, similar to what the deer was doing earlier, but this mofo is a lot bigger and could do some serious damage to me. This scared the heck out of me as it obviously wanted me to move and didn't want me there in his path. As it lunged forward, I bolted up the side of the hill to get away from them. It was approximately 20 - 30 yards away and I was hauling my ass up that hill as quickly as I could. I stopped as I got up high enough and saw his group pass underneath me. But they all stopped in the area I was at a began grazing there. I guess I was at their favorite buffet area. This gave me a shot of adrenaline though and I could me heartbeat was still beating fast. Weary, I stayed on top of the hill as I continued to slowly walk back on the side of the hill, which was a challenge due to the fact that the ground wasn't even and full of holes from the tracks of the cows. Approximately 80 yards after the cows were behind, I decided to head back down the main trail. I finally calmed down once I reached the gate knowing I was safe, and I gave my self a good laugh and a huge sigh of relief. I've been here a couple of times since, but didn't have quite the adventure as my first. But there will be plenty more to come as I bring Jaime along with me. #YelpChallenge2020 review No. 19

This is one place I go over the years but I try not to go when it's hot because you're gonna be sweating your a** off LOL. Unless that's what you want while hiking then this is perfect for you! Just try to go here when there's a slight breeze so you're able to survive LOL. I don't see many people hiking when it's really hot out so I don't think it's just me that feels that way just be careful and make sure you bring lots of water because there's lots of space to get lost at night. There's always many animals like little ground squirrels mini frogs dogs horses etc. definitely a good place to go hiking with your family check it out when you get the chance!!

** The following review reflects my hiking experience prior to the shelter-in-place order currently in effect. ** As the COVID-19 pandemic surges, public officials have had to make the difficult decision to shut down certain parks that continued to draw congregations of people. Toward that end, the Bear Creek staging area has been closed, and even though I entered at the end of Springhill Road, I can see why they would need to start closing the parking lots to avoid overcrowding in neighborhoods already challenged by density and capacity in our new six-foot-apart world. Hard times still ahead of us as I consider myself lucky to discover this area just before the pandemic engulfed us all. Same as the Lake Chabot Loop (review: https://bit.ly/2UOOOso), I came upon the Briones Crest Loop Trail from a Thrillist article entitled "The East Bay's Most Incredible Hikes". I can see why it made the cut, but be forewarned that there is a lot of elevation variation involved. In fact, it was a lot like being on an endless elliptical screen with no steaming video screen option and on this late afternoon, a big fan blowing on you that you can't unplug. Even dealing with nature at its most blustery, the experience was enthralling with panoramic views at most every turn. When I was there, I ran into people walking in the opposite direction only twice because you have to have a certain stamina to trod these gravel trails. They were in their 70's. I have to admit I got confused by some of the forks along the way when the signage raised more questions than answered them. I ended up following the cows who remained insouciant and relatively stationary as I maneuvered around them on my way back to the lot. I hope to return soon free and clear. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and subsequently reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

*The following review reflects my experience during shelter in place* Briones Regional Park is huge! And cannot believe this is close to my place. We parked at Bear Creek Staging Area, plenty of spaces out there even on a weekend. We started with the Old Briones Road trail but halfway through we decided we want to see the Briones Reservoir. Hence, we went back and walked to the Oursan Trail hehe. People are respectful, everyone is wearing a mask and make sure to keep a distance! This park is also bike and pet friendly!

What a gorgeous place to hike. Be sure to go early if the day will hot, as the temperature can go high here. We hike the briones overlook via bearcreek trail which was about seven miles and one way out and one way back in. Very pretty views and it meandered around the lake. The lake had local rowers out training which could be heard yelling from up on the trail. A single lane trail with room to step aside if someone else comes by. The level of workout can be easy or hard depending on how fast or slow you go. At the end of the trail we saw a coyote roaming the fields. And, we saw pelicans! White pelicans on the lake. Super cool. Fish jumping too. Definitely a good place to hike, walk or run. Use the restroom at the trail head as there are none along the way. Very nice place to go. Enjoy.

This park is one of the largest parks in the East Bay Regional Park District. I think it's also one of the most wildest parks, with tons of wilderness Trails. There's many different ways to get into the park. Today, I answered to the long winding road called Briones Road. You finally get to the staging area, which has room for perhaps 20 cars or so. There's also a restroom at that point. When you get up to the Briones Crest Trail, the views are magnificent! Keep in mind that there are few water sources in the park, so be sure to bring plenty of water.

Love this trail you can take a easy or hard or intermediate route dog friendly and today was perfect weather for a walk with Molly we parked in parking lot coming from Martinez ca.

We hiked Briones regional park during the dead of summer, lured by pictures of lush rolling hills. Alas, most of the grass was brown when we came and there was very little shade. Wear sunscreen and bring water!! They do have a nice human/dog water fountain near the entrance. Overall easy hike, with some good panoramic view of the surrounding areas of the bay area. We passed by some big lagoons. There was plenty of parking, and only $3 if there's staff. Will try this place again during spring or fall time.

What a great place for hike or bike. Hill and trees are absolutely beautiful. Lots of parking places and trails with different levels of difficulty to hike or walk. I recommend this place highly.

I'm almost embarrassed that I've lived in Berkeley for almost 6 years and this was my first time going to Briones Regional Park! It is open during shelter-in-place! As far as East Bay hikes go, this park is tops. It was a beautiful and hot Sunday in late April when we stopped by for a hike at Springhill Trail. There is a very small parking lot at the trailhead, in which we got the last parking spot at 3:30pm. There's a park map, garbage can, and small bathroom at the trailhead. Springhill Trail is a mostly unshaded and steep trail with tremendous reward. Once you get up to the ridge, take in the beautiful views of Walnut Creek and the surrounding hills and towns. At this time of year, all the hills are a beautiful green color and vibrant wildflowers are in bloom. When we came upon a fork in the road we decided to turn left and go down the Lafayette Ridge Trail for a bit, which is a gorgeous and uniquely photogenic trail. Watch your step going down! Looks to be very bike and dog-friendly, as we saw quite a few of both on Sunday.

Despite seldom rain this year, the grass is amazingly bright green. Filled with windy roads, rolling hills, and herds of cows, this makes for an entertaining hike or bike ride. Parking is only $3 if the kiosk is staffed. I came on a Saturday and no one was at the kiosk. I did the Briones Crest Trail, which is a loop of about seven miles around the park starting from the Bear Creek parking lot. There were quite a few birds here, mainly turkey vultures. I also encountered quite a few cows along the way. Some of the cows had some intense stare down contests with me. I definitely did not win, but ran away as fast as I could. Lots of cows means lots of cow poop. Watch where you're stepping on the trail! Also, trails tend to be narrow. Some parts are pretty steep, but it does go up and down, so you won't be straight ascending. Views are pretty good and the rolling hills make for a great backdrop. You can see Mount Diablo, the Carquinez Straight, and surrounding area. Get yourself to the highest point, Briones Peak!

I went on a hike here. The parking is nice and big. Most people we're going to the left do I went to the right. These trails are very kid and dog friendly. There was a lot cow and horse poop but besides that it was good. The hike was not to hard and it did not take a long time to get to the top. The views are very beautiful and great pictures. I will definitely return but will try the other side.

Hot DAMN, Briones! I didn't know you had it like THAT! Rolling hills, challenging inclines, tons of trails, and beautiful views?! Yes, yes, yes, AND yaaaaasssss!!! Briones Regional Park is located in the backwoods of Martinez off of Reliez Valley Blvd, but can also be accessed through staging area in Lafayette and Orinda. Yes, the BACKWOODS... when you start seeing cows and horses grazing the hills, you've made it to the right spot. Yeah, I was slightly shocked too, but I mean it IS Martinez! There are some really cute Farms still around in the area and it's located on the Lafayette and Martinez border. The staging area is actually located about a half of a mile in from the main street. You will reach the parking lot which has lots of parking spots available. I came on a Tuesday evening around 5:30 and the lot was practically empty. Not sure if there's regularly a parking fee, but there was no attendant manning the entrance, so I didn't have to pay anything. You should note that there is no phone reception (well, if you have AT&T at least) when you reach the parking lot. Coming into the park, you will see a big gate that remains unlocked but closed. If you open the gate and go to your right, you will find a nice picnic area with benches, barbecue pits, restrooms, and an open field. They even have little doggie fountains for your dogs and dishes where they can drink out of. The restroom is disgusting... it's basically a portable restroom. There's tons of toilet paper but it reeks of pooh and urine. There's no way to "flush" anything and no place to wash your hands. Bring hand sanitizer with you if you decide to use it. Hold your nose and be quick! Next to the picnic area, you'll find the beginning of the Alhambra Creek trail and the Orchard trail. The Orchard trail goes behind the picnic and the Alhambra trail ascends uphill. I didn't take either of these trails this time around, but I plan to explore them later. If you go to your left at the entrance, you will start on the Diablo View Trail. I took the Diablo View trail all the way to its' end and then veered left and continued down the Spengler trail. The Diablo View trail starts on a gradual incline and then those hills start attacking! It's about a mile and a half until it's end. A great little workout if you like hiking hills. There's lots of horse pooh and those damn flies were following me everywhere because of it. When you get to the end of the Diablo View trail, you will reach a point where you can see beautiful Mount Diablo (hence the name). I continued to the Spengler trail which was mostly downhill but had lots of fallen trees right in the middle of the paved path. I stopped at the intersection of the dead end where it started to go back up hill and then turned back around. There's lots of rolling hills and beautiful views of Martinez and Mount Diablo! There are so many different trails here! If you like to explore, you will love this park! I came on a windy day, so it wasn't too bad although it was super sweaty. There aren't many shaded areas, so lots of water and sunscreen is recommended for those super hot days! All in all, I'm super impressed with Briones and I can't wait to explore all of the other trails!

We did this hike clockwise on a Saturday in October: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/briones-regional-park-loop-from-bear-creek-trail-head--2 STATS: 7.14mi, 1,214ft, 2hr 51min of moving time according to my Strava. PARKING: Plenty in the Bear Creek Staging Area. The trails were fairly empty. DOGS? Yes, on-leash. There are also mountain bikes on trail. Horses as well - though we only encountered their manure. WEATHER & VIEWS: Clear, with views of Mt Tam, Mt Diablo, and the Carquinez Strait to the north. The hills were very yellow, but I can imagine this is much more beautiful & green in the spring after some rains. COVERAGE: Very little, except for maybe the last mile or so of our route. This meant plenty of views throughout! DIFFICULTY: Moderate. A steep climb at the start and a gradual descent at the end. There weren't too many ups and downs in between, so you mostly stay in higher elevation with views after that first climb.

Briones is a huge Regional Park and the trail difficulty depends on the entrance that you choose, your trail voice, and your experience with hiking. Today I took the Reliez Valley Rd entrance trails. Diablo View, Spengler, Old Briones Road, Lagoon, Toyon Canyon, Pine Tree and Orchard Loop is a 5.4 mile moderately trafficked loop trail that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as difficult on All Trails. Elevations - You will hike approx 1,200 feet up on this trail and go 3/4 up the hill. The first couple miles are fairly flat but the next couple miles head up the hill. As you make it up the trail, deviate from the trail and head up to the open field to the peak on the right. Great views of the East Bay at the top of the hill. Bring sunscreen and water! Terrain- Most of the terrain on these trails are on a fire road that is muddy in the spring. Parking - Good luck parking at the end of Reliez Valley Rd. Dogs - Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash per park regulations. FYI - Most dogs were off leash. Bathrooms and water are available at the park entrance but not available on the trails. If you want to avoid the crowds, head to the right and start on the Orchard Trail.

We enjoyed a beautiful hike up and down rolling hills and the trail we chose was fairly easy and shaded. We did take a detour that seemed to be a mountain bike path and had some steep slippery areas. So many trails to choose from and I'm enjoying hiking at different bay area parks!

I'm a faithful hiker. I love waking up on a Saturday morning, put on my earbuds and take in the morning views. Briones Regional park has quickly become one of my favorite hikes for the following reasons: 1) It immediately kicks my butt 2) Beautiful views of Mt. Diablo 3) Spaced out so it doesn't feel too congested with people It was about 4:00 p.m. on Saturday evening when I first tried this place out. I'm usually a cautious person when it comes to new hikes because one of my greatest fears is getting stuck and locked in right before sunset. It terrifies me. I decided to take the steep incline (Diablo Trail) which was super challenging but got through the first half rather quickly. I started to see a decline down the mountain so I decided to just walk back where I came from since I wasn't familiar with the rest of the trail. I passed by a sweet lady and she asked me if I was giving up. It made me laugh because I honestly felt like I was giving up! But she encouraged me to turn back since it wasn't much longer until I would hit the main staging area. I looked at my clock and gambled with the next 20 minutes before sunset. I took her word for it and completed the trail right before dark and I'm so glad I did! Thank you stranger lady for encouraging me because I would have missed out on some beautiful views of the sunset. I've been back on a daily basis and I'm starting to discover new and challenging trails. TL:DR - Gorgeous views, friendly people, challenging inclines.

Great lovely place to hike. After all the rain we've had, I was afraid it was going to be muddy. There was a creek with water flowing. Some cows. Nice views. Not too difficult. I recommend staying on the path vs on a bike trail. And I recommend putting bug spray on. I got a few mosquito bites.

Grey and cold in Oakland = 80 degrees and sunny in Briones. What a gorgeous park. Few people, lots of open space, rolling hills, soaring hawks. TONS of flies because of all the cow poop. Wear hiking boots that you can hose off afterwards (see above re: cow poop). Wear layers! Bring sunscreen! And power bars. And more than one bottle of water. Check the map, know your route. Most trails are well-marked, others just kind of split and meander in two different directions. Incredibly beautiful vistas. Relatively empty on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Behold the beauty of the Bay Area!!

I love trying out to hiking spots but there's always the worry that you won't like the hike or there won't be enough parking. This was not the case here, I thoroughly enjoyed the hike and though the lot was pretty full, we quickly acquired parking. Lots and lots of dogs (& some off leash) so I would definitely only recommend bringing your dogs if they are friendly. Almost every person we passed said good morning, love those vibes. The uphill is fairly steep so you'll definitely work some glutes but there are plenty of trees for shade rests in between. On the way back we took a little bit of a different path on the way up, which is always nice because new views for us and new smells for the dogs. Would definitely return after I finish my conquest of East Bay hikes.

First of hike of the year 2016! I can't believe this trail has been only 8miles away from home. I've had this bookmarked for a year? Fail on me!! Anyhoot starting the year off right, no resolutions but goal focused! Beautiful scenery as wilderness guides your aura. Many trails on site so my advice is to grab a map. We decided to take the Diablo trail and follow it through. Be aware of plenty of cows and their stare downs! Lol we saw many but don't look them in the eyes else they will come after you haha Hills for days as nature hits it's beauty.

Great place to hike only drawbacks are the cow poop and coyotes. Other than that a superb place to hike on Saturday afternoon or early evening

Tip #1: Bring a friend, whether it be human or canine. The first time I came here, I came alone for a run and I was scared out of my mind. There is little to no cell service in most of the areas, not that a cell phone would really help me in the case of a true emergency. I generally access from the Alhambra Creek staging area. The drive up is remote, the trails are remote, and did I mention to bring a friend? Weekday access seems to be free. From what I understand, they collect $3 on the weekends. There is a fenced off area with picnic tables near this entrance. Tip #2: If it has rained anytime in the near past, expect mud. The trails are just dirt and a lot of it collects water easily. Tip #3: Bring something to carry your valuables. Don't leave them in your vehicle. Tip #4: This place is hilly. 90% of it. There are numerous amazing views; Carquinez bridge, Mt. Diablo, Alhambra Valley, Briones Reservoir, etc. In order to take in these views, you will have to make the hike up. To the peak it's a 1,000ft elevation gain. Tip #5: If you head out on the trail in the afternoon, make sure you have plenty of time to get back to your vehicle before sunset. We made the rookie mistake of calculating incorrectly and not only did we have to make it nearly 2 miles on dirt trails via cell phone flashlight, the park ranger was not thrilled with us. He couldn't close the gate with trapping our vehicle in the lot. The bottom line is this place is great. It truly is a magnificent gem of nature, easily accessed by multiple outlets in the Bay Area. Just come prepared & enjoy!

Quiet and beautiful park near Martinez. The vast prairie with golden sunset. Watch out for rattle snake though, especially if you are taking a hike on the small trail beside the main trail, along the dry small stream waterway.

Briones is a beautiful, peaceful place to hike or walk the dog. The rolling hills are a lovely place to get lost in. I do wish there were more flat walks- most of the trails include a pretty significant climb. But overall it's a quite and calm place to be. Be sure to keep your pup close when around the cows that roam the lands here and there.

Brought my two dogs here today. Got there in the very early morning so there are not a lot of people. We went for the Briones Hills Loop trail. Total distance is around 6.5 miles. I followed the allTrails route. The view is awesome when you reached the top. On the trail, it's not shaded. But luckily, it's not that hot today. Also, there are a bunch of cows on the grass. kind of interesting

This has recently become my favorite park to visit. With a large variety of trails of varying degrees of difficultly, each time I come back here there is always something new to explore. The park is really large! The trails are well maintained. Most are pretty exposed to the sun, so be sure to wear sunscreen and a hat(plus lots of water) if you're coming on a hot day. I love that this park is very dog friendly. My pup can go off leash and has lots of room to roam around. Just keep an eye out for cow pastures and be sure to put your dog back on leash in those areas.

Omg I love this place. Seriously, one of the best hikes I have done so far and relatively easy minus a few hills (don't worry it's nothing like mission peak). The views are spectacular, you can see all the way to the fields of wind turbines in Livermore, Benicia and Vallejo in the distance, and of course in infamous Mt. D. Each corner you take there is a new surprise, a couple of lagoons, ponds and watering holes. Cows all over the place, careful though cause they don't seem to like people in their little slice of heaven. Plus there are hardly any people and there are places to fill up your water bottle, toilets and benches to rest at along your hike. Many paths to explore but I took Abrigo Valley -- Briones Crest -- Old Briones Rd I wish I owned this land so I could build my house right next to the lagoon!

Love this spot and so does my little buddy! My dog has so much energy, normal walks don't do him justice. Parks like Hidden Lakes and Paso Nogal aren't big enough to satisfy his walking needs. Briones, phew... Poor dog couldn't even jump into the car he was so tired after an hour and a half of hiking up and down huge hills! This spot has some great shady spots to sit down and grab some water and nice wide paths for people and other dogs to pass by. Plus I love all the side trails that branch off he main trails. Found a hidden keepsake box under a tree off one of the trails, it made me smile. :D This place is a bit of a drive but so worth it! It's a little bit of country in the middle of our Suburbs. Supposedly you're supposed to pay? I haven't ever had to but I only go during the week. Update: I had to pay. It was $3 for car, $2 per dog, but I wasn't charged for my dog and they even gave him a cookie! When I left, the attendants and signs were gone... So it really depends on when you go.

Pretty view with green undulating hills. From the top of the hills, such as Mott Peak, Russel Peak, you can see Mt.Tam, Mt.Diablo, 360 view. I started at Bear Creek Stating area, and wnet to Mott Peak, Lagoon trail, and Russel Peak and back to the trailhead via Bear Creek trail. total 10 miles.

GPS led me to a private road called Echo Springs Road. It definitely felt like I was in the wrong area, but I proceeded to walk up this private road and ended up finding the trailhead for Spengler Trail. The trail was kind of overgrown, yet my curiosity got the best of me and I continued on! Soon I encountered close to a dozen cows grazing on the trail and at first it was quite amusing although I soon realized I wouldn't be able to get around them. We decided to take a mini-detour to get a better view, and did we find one! Managed to see all of the Concord/Pleasant Hill area and also Mt. Diablo from afar. I had started hiking around 3pm, aiming to reach the peak near sunset, but then I realized how ridiculously cold and windy it would become, forcing me to turn around. I'd highly recommend NOT going the way I went because it was neither a normal route, nor a very safe one. The experience was overall very positive since I had an adventurous mood that day.

Briones Regional Park ranks highly on my list of favorite hiking locations in the East Bay. We have enjoyed a few trips from the Bear Creek Valley entrance, off of the Orinda exit (Highway 24). Three of the reasons this park ranks so highly for me include: -- Gorgeous views. Worth the climb for sure, especially on a cool and clear day. -- Reasonable $3/car parking fee and only required sometimes. Bring cash in case someone is at the entrance kiosk. -- Lots of trail options, of varying distances and difficulty level. You can get a great workout here for sure. The first time we ventured here, we intended to do the Briones Crest Trail, as described in the East Bay Trails book. It is just under 7 miles. However, it was SO muddy (our fault for going right after a huge rain) we opted to take a short cut back down to the trailhead. That trip involved a lot of mud and swearing. During our visit yesterday, we did the Briones Crest Trail hike. We moved at a quick, steady pace, with a few short water breaks, and did it in right around 2.5 hours. To do the 6.8 mile Briones Crest Trail, drive past the kiosk directly ahead to the last parking lot. From the trailhead just past the parking lot, you will take a counter clockwise journey along the Homestead Valley Trail, Briones Crest Trail, Table Top Trail, back to the Briones Crest Trail, Mott Peak Trail, Black Oak Trail, and finally returning to the parking lot via the Old Briones Road Trail. Be sure to grab a trail map since cell service is difficult to come by. The beginning and end are paved, although most is unpaved, well marked dirt paths. There is a great deal of climbing and not a whole lot of shade, so I recommend going early in the day and when the weather is a bit milder. Oh, and watch out for cow poop.

Ever since I moved out here this hiking trail/park has been my favorite so far. It's dog friendly which is the reason why I started taking my dogs for hikes. I know a lot of the trails around this area don't allow dogs so I was stoked to find this place. There are all different trails that go around the Martinez area looking over the Benicia bridge and the Diablo hills. If you make it all the way to the top they have 1 bench that you can sit, relax and catch your breath while looking over the Walnut Creek, Concord, Benicia and I'm sure some other cities. I've seen so many cows and foxes just roaming around makes you kinda feel 1 with nature lol. You can sometimes see people riding their horses on the trails too. The trails are pretty clean because most people pick up after their dogs and the parking lot is pretty big so you don't have to worry about finding parking. Sometimes they charge a $3 fee to get in but for the last 3 years going here I've only paid like 5 times. The gates have a sign stating they close at 5 but I notice people are still hiking up the trails around 430 so not sure if they really do close the gates at 5 like they say. I like to find the hard secluded trails so I can let my dogs off the leash and run with me. I love this place check it out if you are ever in the area.

Beautiful park, over 6,200 acres of open space, dog-friendly trails (most are off-leash), with ridge top views as well as a few shady trails lined with oaks. This is the best time to visit, when everything is green and there's some water in the park. There are a few ponds and a creek, although mostly dry, it has a few spots filled with newts. You can hike to the peaks without too strenuous of a climb, and there are also quite a few easier, flat trails. There's plenty of parking at the 4 staging areas, and 3 of them charge a fee on busy days, but there's no fee at Lafayette Ridge. I'd recommend paying to start in the more scenic heart of the park, unless you're up for a long hike on the Lafayette Ridge Trail. Cattle roam freely in the park, but they didn't bother my dog or I. I even saw another dog run right up to a group of them, but they didn't seem to react much.

What is there to complain with nature's beautiful rolling hills, wondering cows and California poppies. Can't believe I live so close by and never knew about this park. Came through the Bear Creek Staging Area from Lafayette entrance and parked at the end of the road. $3 entrance fee. A group of us did the Briones Crest Trail and the beginning of the hike kicked a few people's booties! 7 miles round trip. Straight up for about a good 25 min but it was worth the view and workout! Excited to get my bike tune for the season and check out Briones for some nature ride! There are about three different entrances so make sure you check and confirm with folks if you're meeting up.

I've been here many times. Sometimes I take the entrance from Lafayette and sometimes from Martinez. One is close to work and the other is close to home. Here are some pictures of wildflowers that I took yesterday.

This was my fourth or fifth visit to Briones Regional Park, so I figure it's time to write a review. Apparently if the entry kiosk is manned, there's a $3 entry fee. But if there is no one in the kiosk it's free. We got in for free today! We parked in the Bear Creek Staging Area. The parking lot was rather large, and we didn't have any problems finding a space. But all the spaces closest to the trailhead were occupied as one might expect. The amenities are very basic. A short walk back from the trailhead are separate toilets for men and women, but both are pit toilets. Trails exist for every aerobic level in Briones Regional Park. There is everything from short, flat walks, to long hikes going up and down hills. My calves are telling me we did the latter. I suggest consulting the trail map to determine difficulty and distance. The views are beautiful if you are high along a ridge. Even though it was a nice day today, we did not see very many people on the trail. Some parts of the trail were very muddy (the shady areas) due to the recent rains. I recommend hiking boots!