Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area

3849 Mt Diablo Blvd
Lafayette, California 94549
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Local Phone: (925) 284-9669
E-mail: lafres@ebmud.com

Lafayette Recreation Area is an all-year day-use area ideal for hiking, jogging, fishing, boating and picnicking, located off Highway 24 only one mile from the Lafayette BART station. Lafayette Recreation Area is open every day. Bicyclists and people on roller skates, roller blades and scooters are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until closing and on Sundays on the paved Lakeside Trail and roads. You will see beautiful views of the Reservoir and Mt, Diablo amidst oaks and grassy slopes, so take your time and enjoy the scenery. Please help to keep dogs welcome by picking up after your dog. Please note that dogs are not allowed in the water.

Parking: Lot available
Fee: two hour metered spaces or $6.00 parking all day.
Water: Bring your own
Best time of year for this hike: Year round
Distance: 4.7 miles.
Degree of difficulty: Moderate with continuous elevation changes.
Hours of operation: 6:30 AM to 5:30PM (summer and Fall hours longer)
Leash rule: Dogs must stay on leashes at all times.

Dog-friendly EBMUD: What is It?

Lafayette Reservoir / Photo: EBMUD

While many visitors to the Concord/East Bay are familiar with the expansive East Bay Regional Park District, the preserves managed by the East Bay Municipal Utility District are off-the-grid for most. Yet two recreation areas surrounding reservoirs offer plenty of sights, sounds and sniffs to keep your tail-wagger engaged, although she’s not allowed in the water. more »

Lafayette Reservoir Dogs

What's up with this closely guarded secret of Lafayette locals--aside from its iconic tower?

First, the bad news: there's a big lake and you can't go in. It's a water reservoir, so swimming isn't allowed. Boating and fishing are big attractions here, but dogs have to stay ashore (for the sailing dog experience, you'll have to go to Del Valle).

But neighborhood dogs in the know have been shrugging off these limitations and bringing their peeps to the Lafayette Recreation Area for decades. The place offers sights, sounds, and sniffs galore for the active and the more contemplative, with trails, vistas, and conveniently located benches. It's a great place to spend a day or a lunch hour; you'll find lots of canine-human teams joining with joggers, bike riders, and the stroller set along the two-lane, 2.7-mile paved path that winds around the reservoir. If you'd like a more strenuous hike, head to the ridgetop for the hilly, unpaved 4.5-mile trail; you can also explore many side paths, and reserve picnic areas, barbecue pits and other amenities. more »

Lafayette Reservoir Recreation Area

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