Hike at Briones Regional Park -- Bear Creek Trail Head

Overview: Briones Regional Park covers more than 6,000 acres in the rolling East Bay hills between Berkeley and Walnut Creek. Hikers gravitating to Tilden Park to the west and Mount Diablo to the east often overlook Briones, so you'll have plenty of time alone on the the trails.

There's a Goldilocks "just right" quality about hiking at Briones: Hills seem to top off just before your workout becomes a wear-out. The spring wildflower display is big enough to justify a visit from February to May, but not so spectacular that it attracts big crowds you might find at more popular parks. And it's only a few miles off Highway 24, the main route connecting Berkeley and Walnut Creek.

The hike below represents a small sampling of the trails available from Briones' five trailheads. The park is prettiest in mid-April -- when the grassy hills turn a shimmering green, with the wildflowers providing dollops of orange, yellow and purple -- but it's also worth a visit in autumn, when the hills are still golden but the summer heat is fading. Winter is bound to be muddy, but the views are amazing after rains wash smog from the skies.

Tips: Poison oak is common along narrow trails.
Watch for mountain bikers on wide trails.
Cattle graze at this park; give them plenty of distance, don't alarm them, and don't get between cows and their calves.
Trails can get very muddy in winter. Give the trails a few days to dry out after major rains.

What to bring:
Layers -- temperatures can vary widely
Water, snacks
Trail map (available at trailheads)
Sunscreen -- much of the hiking is unshaded

Fees, etc.
Small fees for parking and dogs collected at Alhambra and Bear Creek staging areas when kiosk is staffed.