Two or three times a week I take my buddy Baxter up to the Lafayette Reservoir just off Highway 24 near the Lafayette BART station. No matter what the weather, there are plenty of great sights to see as you walk on the lakeside or high country trails. While you're strolling around with Spot you'll see a wide variety of wildlife as well. I've seen turkeys, deer and even a bobcat! The bird life is incredible as well, with blue herons, a bald eagle in winter and once a year the rare sight of white pelicans.
The 2.7 mile paved trail is well maintained and the EBMUD rangers are always friendly and helpful. The trail starts in the parking lot and winds around the reservoir, with dips and hills that get the blood flowing. Bicycles are only allowed on Sunday, so traffic jams aren't problem while walking your dog.
If you're the adventurous type with a passion for cardio hiking, the Upper Rim Trail is just right for you. Plenty of steep climbs and breathtaking vistas await you, including a panoramic view of Mount Diablo from the West Ridge Trail. The total distance on this journey is 4.7 miles. Winter hiking can be tough, as the dirt trails turn to muck.
The best thing about the "Rez" is its ever-changing face. As the seasons shift, the landscape goes from green to gold. There are some deciduous trees that show brilliant color changes. The water can be calm and mirror-smooth or choppy, with whitecaps rolling across the surface. In the Fall and Winter the early morning mist makes you think you're walking through a Tolkien novel.
While the entire park is dog-friendly, it's important to remember it's all on-leash. There's a hefty fine for letting your pup run unleashed, and it's just bad manners as well. The next thing to bear in mind: Bring a pooper scooper bag! Even if you forget them in the car, there are three separate dispensers where bags are available free of charge. These bags cost the EBMUD eight cents apiece, but it's a small price overall to keep from tap-dancing around the piles. And yet people still leave poop along the trail!
To get to the Rez, take Highway 24 West from Walnut Creek and get off at the Central Lafayette exit. Turn left on Deer Hill Road and follow it to Upper Happy Valley. Left there and then right on Mt. Diablo Blvd. The entrance is less than a mile on the left. Turn left at the top of the driveway to park at the metered spaces. Metered parking costs a dollar per hour with a two hour maximum. If you find the Rez to be your kind of place like I did, you can buy a yearly parking pass for $120. That entitles you to unlimited parking time in the main lot. Hours are seasonal, so click here to check them out.
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