Alphabetical List of Trailheads
Alameda Creek (Union City)
Take I-880 south from Castro Valley. Take exit 22 for Alvarado Blvd. Turn right onto Alvarado Blvd. Turn left onto Lowry Rd. Cross Union City Blvd onto Eastin Dr. Immediately turn left into the entrance to Alameda Creek Region Trail. Park at the end of the road. If you put "Eastin Ct., Union City" into Google maps, it will guide you to this staging area. Do not go to 2250 Isherwood Dr., the address the EBRPD has for Alameda Creek Regional Park. This trail is graveled and can be ridden after the hardest rains.
Alamo Women's Club
From 680 south: Take Stone Valley Rd. exit west. Turn right at bottom of exit. Turn left onto Danville blvd. Go .4 miles, 1401 is just past the 7-11 on the right side.
From 680 north: Take the Stone Valley Rd. exit west. Turn right at bottom of exit. Turn left onto Danville Blvd. Go .4 miles, 1401 is just past the 7-11 on the right side.
Black Diamond Mines Regional Park (Clayton Side)
From Walnut Creek, take Ignacio Rd. east. Turn right onto Clayton Rd. After going past the town of Clayton, turn left onto Peacock Creek Dr. Take an immediate right into the graveled staging area. To get to the trail into Black Diamond Mines Regional Park, ride on the sidewalk for a short block towards the town of Clayton. Trail starts at a small parking lot before the golf course.
(You can also go the "back" way to Clayton on Marsh Creek Rd. from Byron but I only do that to avoid weekday freeway traffic. Marsh Creek Rd. turns into Clayton Rd. and you would turn right onto Peacock Creek Dr.)
This trailhead is large but a large part of it may be filled with cars on weekends and holidays.
Briones Regional Park (Reliez Valley Rd./Alhambra Valley Rd.)
From Walnut Creek, take highway 24 west. Exit at Pleasant Hill Rd and go north. In 2 miles at the top of a hill, bear left onto Taylor Blvd. where the road splits. In 2 miles take a left turn onto Grayson Rd. at a traffic light and then turn right onto Reliez Valley Rd at a stop sign. In 2 miles you will go by a couple of stables on the left and see the Briones Park sign also on the left. Turn left just past the second stable onto Briones Rd. Continue to the end and park. The kiosk may be open and charge a parking fee.
This trailhead is large but a large part of it may be filled with cars on weekends and holidays.
Briones Regional Park (Bear Creek Rd.)
Take Highway 24 west from Walnut Creek. Take the Orinda exit, following arrows to Orinda Village, turning right onto Camino Pablo at the bottom of the exit ramp. In roughly two miles turn right at a traffic light onto Bear Creek Rd. After about 3 miles at the bottom of a long downgrade past Happy Valley Rd., turn right into the park entrance. Continue to the trailer parking area on the right.
This trailhead is large.
Briones Reservoir (EBMUD) - Overlook Staging Area
Take Highway 24 west from Walnut Creek. Take the Orinda exit, following arrows to Orinda Village, turning right onto Camino Pablo at the bottom of the exit ramp. In roughly two miles, turn right at a traffic light onto Bear Creek Rd. Close to the top of the first long hill, turn left into the staging area.
This trailhead is larger than average but may be filled with cars on weekends and holidays. Bring your EBMUD permit to ride here.
Briones Reservoir (EBMUD) - Bear Creek Staging Area
Take Highway 24 west from Walnut Creek. Take the Orinda exit, following arrows to Orinda Village, turning right onto Camino Pablo at the bottom of the exit ramp. In roughly two miles, turn right at a traffic light onto Bear Creek Rd. After about 3 miles at the bottom of a long downgrade past Happy Valley Rd., turn left into the staging area.
This trailhead is average sized and may be filled with cars on weekends and holidays. You need an EBMUD permit to ride here.
Brushy Peak Regional Park
Take I-580 from Dublin toward Livermore. Exit at Vasco Rd.; go over the freeway and turn right at the first traffic signal, North Frontage Rd. Turn left onto Laughlin Rd. in less than a mile. Drive to the end of the road and park. No fee. Brushy Peak is a smallish park but has a number of loops. It is a good exercise park with views of the valley. Stay away when the trails are slick.
This trailhead is average sized but a large part of it may be filled with cars on weekends and holidays.
Chabot Regional Park (Grass Valley)
From Dublin, take I-580 west toward Oakland. Exit at Golf Links Rd. near the Oakland Zoo. Turn right at the stop sign and head up the hill on Golf Links Rd. Golf Links Rd. become Grass Valley Rd. Grass Valley Rd. ends where it meets Skyline Blvd. At this intersection there is a trailhead on the right.
This trailhead is small and may be filled with cars on weekends and holidays.
Chabot Regional Park (Bort Meadows Parking Area)
From Dublin take I-580 towards Castro Valley. Exit onto Redwood Rd. and turn right. Go approximately 8 miles on Redwood Rd. (You will go by Marciel Gate trailhead on the left which is another larger trailhead for Chabot park.) You will see sign for Bort Meadow just before the smallish parking area. It is probably crowded on weekends, but I've had no problems parking during the week.
Bort Meadows is huge but must be reserved. The entranced is locked.
Chabot Park (Marciel Gate)
From Dublin take I-580 towards Castro Valley. Exit onto Redwood Rd. and turn right. Go approximately 4 miles on Redwood Rd. Go past the golf course and up a long hill. Marciel Rd. and staging area will be at the top on the left.
This trailhead is smaller than average and it may be filled with cars on weekends and holidays.
Chabot Park (Proctor Gate by the Golf Course)
From Dublin take I-580 towards Castro Valley. Exit onto Redwood Rd. and turn right. As you are leaving the residential part of town, you will go up a steepish hill and then go down. The small trailhead is on the left at the bottom of the hill. Go in the far entrance and swing wide. The entrance is a little narrow. One or two horse rigs will fit parking end-to-end on the road side of the parking lot.
This trailhead is very small. It can accommodate one or two trailers parking parallel to the road. It will be filled with cars on the weekend.
Chabot Staging Area (EBMUD)
Go west on I-580 from Pleasanton to Castro Valley. Take the Castro Valley exit and turn left onto Castro Valley Blvd. Go through several traffic signals and turn right onto Redwood Rd. Go over a hill and past the Willow Park Golf Course. In another 0.5 miles, you will see the staging area on your right. Bring your EBMUD trail permits.
This trailhead is average size but a large part of it may be filled with cars on weekends and holidays. Because you need a permit to ride from here, there is usually room for a couple trailers on weekends and holidays.
Comanche Reservoir South Shore - See Turkey Hill Trailhead
Concord Mount Diablo Trail Ride Association Club House
From Walnut Creek, take Ygnacio Rd. east. Turn right onto Clayton Rd. which becomes March Creek Rd past Clayton. Turn right onto Russelmann Park Rd. Continue up the hill to the horse club grounds. The security gate will be open for events. Large trailers should park just past the entrance. Smaller rigs can park up the hill.
This is a private club. You need an invite or ride when they hold a public ride. There is parking at the entrance though the grass, when wet, will be slippery. There is parking in the arenas below the club house. If not taken by cars, there is parking at the top of the road before and after the club house.
This club allows riders to camp by reservation and a nominal fee.
Del Valle Regional Park (Boat Ramp end)
Take I-580 East from Dublin. Take the Vasco Rd. exit south. At the end of Vasco Rd., turn right onto Tesla Rd. At the traffic light, turn left onto Mines Rd. In about 2.5 miles, continuing straight, you will be on Del Valle Rd and start to climb a long hill. There are three places you can park.
1) Just past the top of the hill you can park on the side of the road. There is a trail gate into the park on both the left and right side of the road. You will probably see other cars parked here. The trail gate on the right side leads to the main area of the park. On weekends and holidays, this area may be crowded with cars, make turning around difficult. No fee to get in here.
2) Go all the way down the hill. Pay an entrance fee ($10) at the Kiosk and turn right. You will see a sign pointing to a horse trailer parking area. There is overflow in a huge parking lot on the other side of the road.
3) Go all the way down the hill. Pay an entrance fee at the Kiosk and go straight. Go over the bridge and turn left. You will see a horse parking area past the people campground. There are some pens here and camping is allow with reservations.
There is a group campground, Caballo Loco, in Del Valle Regional Park that can be reserved. It is a well-equipped campground with horse paddocks.
Del Valle Regional Park (Dam end)
Take I-580 East from Dublin. Take the Livermore Rd. exit and go south/right. At the third traffic light, turn right onto Portola Ave. At the next traffic light, turn left onto "L" Street. Go through town. "L" Street will change into Arroyo Rd. After several miles, you will go past Wente Winery. The trailhead will be about 0.5 miles further on, on the left. It is not well marked but it is just short of the end of the road where there is a good turn-around.
This parking lot is heavily used, particularly on weekends and holidays. You may find there is not room for your rig. Best bet is come very early or in the afternoon or weekdays.
Fernandez Ranch Park
Take I-680 north from Walnut Creek. Take Highway 4 west. Exit at Franklin Canyon and turn left immediately going under the railroad tracks and immediately turn left again getting on Highway 4 going east. Get in the right lane. Go by the Franklin Canyon Gold Course - you will see its parking area right by the highway. Directly before another underpass, exit to the right onto Christie Rd. (there is a small road sign.) Go less than a mile and you will see the entrance to Fernandez Ranch Park on the right.
The parking lot is on the small side. I haven't ridden there recently but suspect the lot fills up on weekends. You can likely park there on weekdays.
Five Brooks Horse Camp aka Stewarts Horse Camp see Point Reyes
Hap McGee's Ranch Park
From Walnut Creek: Head south on I-680. Exit at El Pintado. Right on El Pintado and another immediate right onto La Gonda Way. Continue on La Gonda Way to Hap McGee's Park which is on the left.
From Dublin: Head north on I-680. Exit at El Cerro Blvd. Left on El Cerro, go under the freeway, and turn right on La Gonda Way. Continue on La Gonda Way to Hap McGee's Park.
There are a couple of parking spots reserved for horse trailers in the park. Since my trailer is too long for those spots, I turn around under the freeway and park on the street.
The trail to the east begins on the east side of the free way underpass through a gate on the right. The trail to the west crosses a long bridge over the arroyo, crosses Danville Blvd, goes to the end of Camille. You will see a sign on the lefthand side of Camille. This is a great access to Las Trampas park and you can ride to the Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, where they give tours. To make a reservation, call 925-838-0249. The tours were free when I went and there are nearby trees to tie your horses to in the field next to the site.
There are actually two parking spots for horse trailers but cars often park in them. Best bet is to come on the weekdays.
Jack Brooks Horse Camp
From the East Bay cross the San Mateo Bridge to the peninsula. Continue on Highway 92 all the way to coast and Half Moon Bay. Turn south on Highway 1. Turn left onto Highway 84. The turn-off to Jack Brooks Horse Camp is on the right and there is a sign. The road into the camp is narrow with one-way control. You may only drive IN during the first twenty minutes of the hour, e.g. 12:00 to 12:20. You may only drive OUT during the twenty minutes after the half-hour, e.g. 12:30 - 12:50. Obey the rules.
If you arrive and it is not time to drive in, there is a parking area off the right side of the road before you get to the entrance and after the sign, I think. I you come only for the day, drive to the regular park entrance past the horse camp entrance.
The road in is narrow and steep in places. If you have a longer rig, especially with living quarters, you may want to drive the road in a car first. The road gets iffy with rigs over 25', but don't take my word for it.
The steepness of the road will cause difficulties if there is an unexpected rain which causes the road to get muddy and very slippery. The park people have been very helpful in these situations. If the road is slippery, lead your horses down to the park entrance.
All that being said, Jack Brooks has great trails and the camping area is the best - showers, refrigerators, pipe corrals, cooking areas, and a gorgeous location.
There are websites that recommend getting to Jack Brooks Horse Camp by driving through Woodside and Highway the other direction on Highway 84. There are a lot of curves between Woodside and the entrance to Jack Brooks.
Las Trampas
From San Ramon take Crow Canyon west. At a traffic signal just before a steep hill, turn right onto Bolinger Canyon Rd. Go five miles and park in the horse trailer parking area on the right.
The parking lot is of modest size but is for horse trailers only. The is other parking available for cars, so they don't use the horse lot.
Lime Ridge
Take Ygnacio Valley Rd. east from Walnut Creek. Turn right on Oak Grove. Turn left on Valley Vista Rd. Go to the end of the road and drive into the country club parking area. At the far end on the right side, go up a road that is marked Walnut Creek Police Gun Range (Keep out). Ignore the "Keep Out." Go straight and you will end up in a great staging area right next to the gun range. The range is used unpredictably so there may be shooting.
The parking area is good sized and I've never seen cars here. It will hold about six trailers. The road up to it is a little steep and overgrown. If there is gun practice going on, it will be loud.
Livorna Rd.
From I-680, exit at Livorna Rd. and go east. (If you are traveling south on I-680, turn left; if you are traveling north on I-680, turn right. Continue on Livorna Rd. for about 1.5 miles. There is a small parking area on the left. It is just after the intersection of Fair Oaks Ln. and Livorna Rd.
This is a small parking lot with room for one or two trailers. It may be full of cars. Plan to arrive early or in the afternoon. Access to Mt. Diablo is up the road a bit and to the right.
Montana de Oro State Park
Google Maps: 3550 Pecho Valley Rd., Los Osos, CA or Montana de Oro State Park
Head south on Highway 101 to Los Osos. South of Madonna Inn take the Los Osos Valley Rd. exit west. Turn left onto Pecho Valley Rd. Just past the last houses, turn left at the "Horse Camp" sign. This road will be Hazard Canyon Rd. - not sure if there is a road sign.
Some navigators will direct you to exit 101 Highway near Atascadero. This is an alternate route that is fine.
Note that Riding Wearhouse is close to Los Osos Valley Rd. and Highway 101. It is a good place to shop for all sorts of riding gear and clothing.
Morgan Territory Regional Park
Take I-580 east from Dublin. Exit at Livermore Ave. and go north/left. In about 4 miles there is a left-hand turn and you will be on Manning Rd. In a half mile, turn right onto Morgan Territory Rd. Go 5.5 miles and the trailhead is on the right.
Be Warned: Morgan Territory Rd. is very narrow in places. Watch out for on-coming traffic. If you see someone, figure out where it is safe/possibly to pass. I quit driving this road when I bought a larger trailer. If I want to ride Morgan Territory Regional Park, I ride in from Round Valley Regional Park and go up the hill to Morgan Territory Rd.
Morgan Territory Park has a good sized parking lot.
Mt. Diablo (Macedo Ranch Trailhead / End of Green Valley Rd.)
Take I-680 south from Walnut Creek. Exit onto Stone Valley Rd. and go east/left. Go about three miles. Just past Monte Vista High School, turn left onto Green Valley Rd. Go to the end of the road and park.
Or, Take I-680 north from Dublin. Exit onto El Cerro Rd. and go east/right. At the traffic light go straight. (You will now be on Diablo Rd.) At a further traffic light, turn left onto Green Valley Rd. Go to the end of the road and park.
This is a popular trailhead into Mt. Diablo Park and there is a fee. There is usually enough room for horse rigs.
Mt. Diablo State Park (Mitchell Canyon Rd.)
Take Ygnacio Valley Rd. east from Walnut Creek. At a traffic signal just before Clayton, turn right onto Pine Hollow Rd. At a stop sign, turn right onto Mitchell Canyon Rd. Go to the end; pay your entrance fee. On weekdays you can park below the bathrooms.
On weekends you may have to park in the equestrian area. To do that, turn around below the bathrooms and head back out. Just before the kiosk where you paid your fee, turn right which leads to the equestrian parking. Some short rigs may be able to turn left at the kiosk, but my rig is way too long.
The equestrian parking area is large. The parking area below the bathrooms is good sized and will handle several rigs. It may be crowded with cars on weekends and holidays.
Mt. Diablo State Park (Castle Rock Rd.)
From Walnut Creek, take Ygnacio Rd. east. Turn right on Walnut Ave. (not Blvd.) Take a right at the traffic circle onto Castle Rock Rd. Go past Castle Rock Arabians which is on your left.
Park in the small parking lot of the left side of the road. Long rigs will find it difficult to turn around especially if cars are in the way. There is also a very large parking lot on the right side of the road which is open on weekends but may be closed during the week.
Olompali State Park
Take Highway 101 north from Novato. Take exit 463 and turn left. Go over the highway and make a quick right onto Redwood Blvd. Drive 2.5 miles to the park which is at the end of the road. Park on the gravel area of the very large parking lot.
If you put "Olompali State Historic Park" into Google Maps, it will guide you to the park. The trail to Mt. Burdell is a easy, but steady climb for five miles - good single track trail. It starts on the far side of the old dairy barn, going over a short bridge. Great views.
Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park
Take I-680 south from Walnut Creek and go past the I-580 interchange staying on I-680. Take exit 25 for Sunol Blvd/Castlewood Dr. Turn right onto Sunol Blvd at the bottom of the exit ramp. In 400 ft bear right onto Castlewood Dr. (It is almost straight.) Turn left onto Foothill Rd. Go 1.7 miles and turn right into the parking area.
Horse trailer parking is in the upper area on the right. No parking fee but the parking can be crowded with cars on weekends.
Pacheco State Park
From Tracy take I-5 south. Take CA-152 west at exit 403B. Go 18 miles and turn left into Pacheco State Park. You will be on Dinosaur Point Rd. Turn right through a green/turquoise gate onto the access road just past Whisky Flat Road which is locked. Park at the staging area ahead on the left. Best to turn in at the first entrance by the toilets.
This is a horse camp with bathrooms, picnic tables, and sun shades. There are some old corrals across the road. There may be a reservation system but usually you can just go there and pay a $20 camping fee.
Peoria Flat
From Oakdale, take CA-120 east past Knights Ferry. Turn left at the traffic signal onto Obyrnes Ferry Rd. Take the next right onto Peoria Flat Rd. Continue until you see a large parking lot on your right and just before the entrance to the Conservation Camp. Turn right and go into the very large parking lot.
Point Reyes, Five Brooks Horse Camp aka Stewart's Horse Camp
There are three ways to get from Highway 101 to Five Brooks Horse Camp.
1) From Novato west. This route has the best roads, little elevation gain or loss, and is best for large rigs. It is the longest route by 10 miles.
2) From Highway 101, west on Lucas Valley Rd. This route is windy, has a large hill to go over, and one sharp right-hand turn going west. On this turn, I need to swing wide for my 16' trailer to keep my trailer wheels from going over the edge.
3) From San Rafael west on Sir Francis Drake Rd. This route goes over city streets and some of them are a bit narrow. There will be a lot of traffic. This route is tricky but doable for large rigs. There are a couple of good hills.
Route 1: Go north on Highway 101 and take exit 463 west onto San Marin Dr. Turn right onto Novato Blvd. Turn left onto Point Reyes - Petaluma Rd. Then follow the direction in the last paragraph
of Route 2.
Route 2: Go north on Highway 101 and take exit 456 west onto Lucas Valley Rd. Going up hill there is one sharp right-hand turn that you want to go a little wide on if you have a long rig. On the other side of the hill at the bottom you will come to a stop sign. Turn right on Nicasio Valley Rd. At the next stop sign, turn left on Petaluma Point Reyes Rd. At the next stop sign, turn right continuing on Petaluma Point Reyes Rd.
At the next stop sign, turn left onto Highway 1 and go through the town of Point Reyes Station turning left to go down "main" street and right at the end of "main" street. (If you like wonderful bakery goods, stop at the Bovine Bakery.) Continue on Highway 1 past Olema. In 1.8 miles you will see the sign for Five Brooks Horse Camp on the right.
Route 3: Just past the north end of the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge take the exit to Sir Francis Drake Blvd. This route has enough turns and road name changes that I will suggest using a navigator to get to Olema CA. Then turn left onto Highway 1. In 1.8 miles you will see the sign for Five Brooks Horse Camp on the right.
Presidio Horse Club
Navigator Address: 901 Bunker Rd, Sausalito, CA 94965
Head south from Mill Valley on Highway 101, take Alexander Ave exit #442. Turn right onto Alexander and follow it around. Take a left onto Bunker Rd. and go through the tunnel. There is one lane in the tunnel and a traffic signal controls which direction can proceed. Go about a mile after the tunnel. You will see the Presidio Riding Club on the left. Just past it on the right is a parking lot.
To get back on Highway 101 north from the Presidio Horse Club, go back through the tunnel. Turn right onto Alexander Rd. Just before it goes under Highway 101, turn left onto the entrance ramp to 101 North.
There is a large parking lot here and more places to park on the road. I have not parked here in a few years, so I do not know what weekend parking is like.
Red Hills BLM
From Oakdale, take 120 east past Knights Ferry. Turn right onto La Grande Rd. Turn left on Red Hills Rd. Staging area will be on your right.
The parking lot is large. The park is quite rocky.
Redwood Regional Park
From Dublin, take I-580 west. Take the CA-13 exit and take the next exit, Carson St. Go strait at the stop sign at the end of the freeway exit onto Mountain Blvd. At the traffic signal, turn right onto Redwood Rd. Go up the hill and stay on Redwood Rd. past Skyline Rd. Go down the hill. Turn left into the park entrance past McDonald Gate Trailhead.
There is an entrance fee on weekends. Park in the overflow parking area. The parking lot is narrow and of modest size. I turn around in the lot before I park. Usually, there is enough room to swing my gooseneck trailer around. I turn around to avoid going out the other end of the parking lot where there is a sharp turn. You can also drive through the line of trees over low parking berms to exit the lot.
Parking here will be a problem on weekends.
Remington Loop
If you are very careful and polite, you can park your trailer on Remington Loop near the southern entrance to Las Trampas. Be quiet and pick up all horse poop and shavings. There is room for one or two trailers. Park next to a yard fence, not in front of a house.
Exit from I-680 at Sycamore Valley Rd and turn west. (If you were traveling south on I-680, turn right; if you were traveling north on I-680, turn left.) Continue on Sycamore Valley Rd. which turns into Remington Dr. Turn left on Remington Loop after you pass Sheri Ln. This left turn will have you going the correct direction on Remington Loop. Park where there is a fence blocking the house's view of the road.
I suspect this loop will be blocked on weekends.
Stewarts Horse Camp - now Five Brooks Horse Camp see Point Reyes
Sunol Regional Wilderness
Take I-680 south past Pleasanton. Take the Calaveras Rd./Dunbarton Bridge/84 exit. Turn left at the stop sign and go under the freeway. Continue on Calaveras Rd. past the nurseries, gravel operation, and water pumping plant. Turn left onto Gary Rd. (You will see a sign for this turn directing you to Sunol Park.) Continue on the road to the park. Pay at the Kiosk if you don't have a yearly pass to EBRPD parks. The Kiosk is often not open during the week. So, no fee.
If you ride on the Ohlone Wilderness Trail, you will have to have a wilderness pass which costs $2 and is a great map. You may be able to find a worker to sell you a map in the workshop buildings.
The parking lot was under construction when last I saw it and there were just two places for rigs to park. There is plenty of spaces where cars normally park and a rig can fit. There is also an overflow parking lot which is large.
Sycamore Grove Park in Livermore
Drive I-580 east from Dublin. Take the Livermore Ave. exit and turn right(south). Turn right onto Portola Ave. Turn Left at the next traffic signal onto North L Street. Go through town. North L Street turns into South L Street and then into Arroyo Rd. Turn right at a stop sign onto Wetmore Rd. Turn left into the park entrance. Parking is $5 - have ones or fiver.
There is a large parking area just for trailers. You should have no problem parking even on weekends.
Tennessee Valley Trailhead, Marin
Take 580 north across the Richmond-San Rafael bridge. Just after the bridge, take the exit to Sir Francis Drake/101 South. Go past the Ferry Dock and enter 101 South. Drive several miles south on 101 and then take the Highway 1 North/Stimpson Beach exit. In less than a half-mile, turn left on Tennessee Valley Rd. Drive to the end.
You need to arrive early to get a place at the end of the road. I strongly advise turning around to park facing out. The later in the morning you arrive, the further away from the trailhead you will have to park at a wide spot on the side of the road. I've always been successful parking here, even on weekends.
Tilden Regional Park (by the Steam Trains)
Take highway 24 west from Walnut Creek. Exit at Fish Ranch Rd, turn right and go up the hill. Turn right at the stop sign onto Grizzly Peak Blvd. At the top of the hill, turn right onto Lomas Cantadas, AND AN IMMEDIATE LEFT to the staging area.
The staging area is often full, even during the week. The park has kept open a circle at the end of the lot to turn around, but it is small and there is a sign in the way. On the weekends, the parking lot is open for the steam trains and I have parked there if there are not too many cars. Once, I parked past the steam train parking lot toward the corporation yard. It was a weekday, and we could turn around.
It is difficult to park in this nice location. Don't pull forward any farther than you are willing to back up after that last turn.
Tilden Regional Park (Wildcat Canyon Rd.)
Take Highway 24 west from Walnut Creek. Take the Orinda exit, following arrows to Orinda Village, turning right onto Camino Pablo at the bottom of the exit ramp. In roughly two miles, turn left onto Wildcat Canyon Rd. Go up the hill past Inspiration Point. The right side of the road has been cleared and offers a number of good parking places starting at Quarry Picnic Area. You can also park in the Mineral Springs Picnic Area on asphalt - don't block the gate. There is also a large wide spot opposite the entrance to Es Anderson Horse Area. After this spot, there are limited places to turn around and the road gets steep.
You can find a place to park here, even on weekends.
Turkey Hill Trail Head (Comanche Reservoir South Shore)
TakeFrom Highway 99, take either highway 12 or highway 88 east. They will merge west of Lockford. Continue east on Highway 12. (Highway 88 will split off to the left west of Clements.) Turn left on South Comanche Parkway at Wallace. Continue straight for five miles to the South Shore gate. Paw at the kiosk; you need an EBMUD trails permit. Take the first right to Turkey Hill Campground. The day parking will be first on the left. Navigator address for the kiosk is 11700 Wade Lane, Valley Springs.
The parking lot is large, though it can fill up on weekends or when there is an event.
Valle Vista Staging Area (EBMUD)
Go to the Orinda exit of Highway 24 and head south on Moraga Way. Continue to the town of Moraga (about five miles) and turn right on Canyon Rd. Continue about a mile and you will see the EBMUD Valle Vista Staging Area on your left.
For some people, going through Lafayette will be shorter. Here are those directions: Head east on Highway 24 from Walnut Creek. Take the Central Lafayette exit and go under the highway onto 1st Street. Turn right onto Mt. Diablo Blvd. and left at the next traffic light onto Moraga Rd. Continue on Moraga Rd. for about five miles. It turns into Canyon Rd. Go another mile and turn left into the staging area.
Bring your EBMUD Trail Permits
On weekends, this large parking lot can be full. I've always been able to park here during the week.