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Wild Recovery San Jose, California

December 3, 2011 Briones Regional Park Contra Costa County

The Place

Briones Regional Park  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 populated areas, there are peaks within it from which you can see only park and watershed lands for miles in every direction.

From the peaks and ridges, 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' 6,117 acres are home to many animals and birds, which forage on the grasslands or find shelter among the oaks and bays.

Walking the Walk

We start out on Old Brines Road to a left turn on Briones Crest Trail. We then veer off onto Table Top Trail for some awesome views of Mt Diablo to the east. This takes us back to Briones Crest Trail which we follow to Seaborg Trail and descend down to our meeting spot at Homestead Valley Camp. If this is occupied or if it's raining hard we can continue on and have our meeting under the shelter at Maud Whalen Camp. If it's dry enough we will take the single track Bear Creek Trail with its seasonal creek crossing, otherwise we will bypass on the paved road to Abrigo Valley Trail. This will take us back up to another segment of the Briones Crest Trail which takes us back to Old Briones Road.

Level: 3 - Miles: 9.75 - Elevation change: 1600 ft - Host: Troy & Amy. (925) 785-2238

Directions:

Take 680 North to Concord & take Hwy 4 West. Exit at Alhambra Ave. & turn left.Turn right onto Alhambra Valley Road. At the stop sign turn right again to stay on Alhambra Valley Road. After just a few hundred feet turn left on Briones Road which is hard to see. Follow Briones Road all the way up to the end where we will meet.(1094 Briones Road, Martinez, CA 94553) Travel time from San Jose: 1 hour 30 minutes.

Know Before You Go:

Parking Free
Dogs Allowed On Leash
Dress appropriately for December, Layers are suggested
Restrooms - Available at the Trail Head

Website for Trail Map:    Click Here

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Business meeting following the hike at La Tapatia Restaurant
536 Main Street Martinez.