Lafayette Reservoir and Briones Regional Park earned top honors in Diablo Magazine's 2026 Best of the East Bay: Fitness & Outdoors readers' poll, published Friday, Aug. 14.
Readers voted the two Lafayette-area parks the best hiking spots in the East Bay in a tie, and Lafayette Reservoir also took the top picnic destination honor.
The recognition is not new. EBMUD acknowledged a similar Diablo Magazine honor for the reservoir on social media in July 2025, indicating the 925-acre recreation area off Mount Diablo Boulevard has earned repeat recognition from East Bay voters.
More than 10 miles of trail
Lafayette Reservoir, located at 3849 Mount Diablo Blvd. about a mile from the Lafayette BART station, draws over a million visitors a year, according to EBMUD. Two main loops anchor the trail system: the paved, 2.7-mile Lakeside Nature Trail circling the water (a favorite of dog owners, joggers and Sunday strollers) and the unpaved, 4.7-mile Rim Trail along ridgetops through oak forests and brushland. Connector trails push the total past 10 miles.
The picnic infrastructure matches the hiking. The reservoir has 125 tables and several barbecue grills on a first-come, first-served basis, plus three reservable areas: a small site seating up to 50 ($200) and two larger sites seating up to 150 ($350 each), bookable at ebmud.com.
Visitors should note that EBMUD's $14 million seismic retrofit of the reservoir's outlet tower is underway, with work limited to weekdays. Hiking, fishing and picnic access remain open, though brief delays of 10–15 minutes are possible near the Lakeside Nature Trail and barge ramp area. The tower project is expected to wrap by winter 2026.
August hours are 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Parking costs $7 for the day or $2 per hour (two-hour maximum).
Briones: 6,255 acres next door
Briones Regional Park, managed by the East Bay Regional Park District, spans 6,255 acres straddling Lafayette and Martinez. Two staging areas sit on the Lafayette side: Bear Creek Road (1611 Bear Creek Road) and Reliez Valley (1956 Reliez Valley Road). Parking is $5 per vehicle, cash only.
From a separate Lafayette Ridge Staging Area, the three-mile Lafayette Ridge Trail connects to a spur reaching 1,357-foot Russell Peak for a 7.2-mile out-and-back with views of Mount Diablo, Lafayette Reservoir and Briones Reservoir. Summer hours run through Sept. 5: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
One heads-up for hikers: the Briones Crest Trail/Mott Peak Trail intersection was reported damaged but passable as of July 22, with barricades and cones posted at both ends.
