Mt Diablo Silverado Council
Mt Diablo Silverado Council
Celebrating 98 years of Scouting

Highlander - An Ongoing Quest
Briones

Highlander Home | Anderson Marsh | Bald Mountain | Black Diamond | Boggs Mountain | Briones | Mt. Diablo | Dorn Trail | Fages Trail | Goat Rock | Mt. Konocti | Las Trampas | Redbud Trail | Snow Mountain | Mt. St. Helena | Patch Order Form


Click on the links above to see a description of each individual hike. Patches can be obtained at the Pleasant Hill Scout Shop or by sending in the patch order form.

Hike Information

Briones Regional Park
Lafayette and Martinez, CA
(510) 562-7275
Online: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/briones

Trail Length - varies, 2 to 6 miles
Average Elevation - 400 to 1500 feet
Elevation Change - varies, 500 to 2000 feet
Hiking Level - Easy

Overview

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.

Briones' 5,756 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.

How To Get There

Bear Creek Staging Area: From Highway 24, take the Happy Valley Road exit and go north. Turn right at Bear Creek Road and drive a short distance to the staging area (on the right).

Lafayette Ridge Staging Area: From Highway 24, take the Pleasant Hill Road exit. Drive north on Pleasant Hill Road about 1 mile to the second traffic light (Springhill Road), make a u-turn, then drive south on Pleasant Hill Road and take the first right into the parking lot.

Alhambra Creek Staging Area: From Highway 4 in Martinez, take the Alhambra Ave. exit. Head south on Alhambra for about half a mile, and bear right onto Alhambra Valley Road. Continue on Alhambra Valley for 1.5 miles, then turn left onto Reliez Valley Road. Drive half a mile and the staging area will be on your right.

Camping Facilities

Reservable campgrounds are available near the Bear Creek entrance. Call (510) 636-1684 for more information or to make reservations.