Lafayette-Moraga Trail by bike

I've walked some of the way along this trail before, and have always fancied cycling it. This year we were able to borrow bikes from the place we stayed, and so accompany Leonie, Brian, Eilidh and Aneurin.  

We rode from the entrance near 4th Street as far as Moraga Commons and back again - a total of around 12 miles of easy cycling.

The trail corridor has a rich and varied history. This trail was once used by mule trains to carry redwood from Oakland to Sacramento. Later, when the mule trails had passed into history, the lumber was carried by steam trains, including the Oakland-Antioch and Eastern Railroad, the San Francisco-Sacramento, and the Sacramento Northern, for which the easement was historically named. With the abandonment of the railroads the corridor became a utility easement, and, ultimately, with the cooperation of local communities, utility districts and the East Bay Regional Park District, a paved multi-use recreational trail was established serving hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. 

from  Rails to Trails.



It was a very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline and later Mount Diablo

12 August 2017 - another short hot, but less strenuous wander near(ish) Lafayette. 

We followed the track for a there-and-back walk of just under 5 miles. The track runs alongside the Carquinez Strait, but between 100 and 200 feet above sea level. This is near Martinez. We were rewarded with views of a ship being guided in by tugs, and trains on the railway line some way below us.

Grabbing the shade while we can!

Serious discussion

The strait

Quite late on, we realised it was peak time for the Perseids and Mount Diablo Astronomical Society had an event on Diablo, so we dashed east to see a fabulous sunset, but not many meteors.

A 'Brocken Spectre' effect - the shadow of the mountain cast on the incoming fog.

Quite a day!

Las Trampas, EBMUD

9 August 2017, 5.3 miles, though it felt further.

Quite a view

A short hot and strenuous walk in Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, in the East Bay Regional Park District.  For part of this walk you should have a permit from EBMUD (East Bay Municipal Utility District).

Great views, but not a lot of shade, and very dry when we walked it with local residents, Leonie, Brian and family.

Photographer at work

Hello, lizard!

The route

Over 1000 feet of climbing.

Lafayette Reservoir Shore Trail once more

Map and details


The weather out here is even hotter than usual for September - it makes any outdoor activity more than a little more effort. The shore trail at the reservoir last Tuesday was very hot, without the high level breeze. All the same there were runners and dog-walkers even just after midday - probably not the pleasantest time of day to be out.

Lafayette Reservoir, Rim Trail

Map and details part 1

Part 2

Leonie warned us this walk was not flat, in fact"almost vertical in places". Taken with a pinch of salt, but certainly in one or two spots I could have done with the faithful trekking pole. It's travelled with me, but I left it in the cottage. It was a case of put your feet sideways and don't slip on the dry sandy sections.

A great walk, from the town centre out on the Mt Diablo Boulevard for a good half mile or so to the reservoir, then up to the Rim Trail, and follow it anti-clockwise on its undulating course well above the water.

There are fantastic views of distant mountains, towns, woodland and the reservoir below. Wall to wall blue sky, a crowd of chickadees, turkey buzzards and one or two homo sapiens.

6 to 7 miles in all, including the walk from Lafayette centre.