In brief:
Nearly 5 mile loop hike up and down and around reservoir.

Distance, category, and difficulty:
This 4.7 mile loop hike is moderate, with a total elevation change of about 1160 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.

Exposure:
Almost totally exposed.

Trail traffic:
Moderate.

Trail surfaces:
Dirt fire roads.

Hiking time:
2 1/2 hours.

Season:
Hot in summer. Best on a cool spring day.

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.

GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude 37°53'6.91"N
Longitude 122° 8'26.38"W
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)

Gas, food, and lodging:
Gas, stores, and restaurants back on Mount Diablo Boulevard. No camping.

Trailhead details:
You can park in metered spaces for up to 2 hours, or pay $7 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.

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:

• Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area Map
• Bay Area Trail Map: Carquinez Strait and Berkeley Hills, published by Redwood Hikes, is a fantastic guide to Lafayette Reservoir and surrounding parklands.

Lafayette Reservoir in a nutshell -- a printable, text-only guide to the featured hike.





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