I came here on a Saturday evening in August for my maternity photoshoot and wow this place did not disappoint! I was initially a little anxious that the sunlight would be too harsh since the area is mostly exposed, but the lighting ended up being perfect and really helped create the dreamy, ethereal vibe we were hoping for in our photos! However, even though we went in the early evening, the temperature was still in the high 80s/low 90s, so definitely bring plenty of water to stay hydrated! We drove to the area marked as "Top of the Hill, Del Valle Rd" and there was plenty of parking available along the side of the road, which made it really convenient to get to our photoshoot location. Unfortunately, there aren't any bathrooms at this spot, so definitely plan accordingly before heading up! Overall, such a beautiful location for photos and I'm so glad we chose to come here for our maternity shoot! read more

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This review is specifically for the campground here at Del Valle. We had a arranged for a large family and friends Camping event early October and had booked multiple campsites. The sites were huge and even better there was plenty of flat ground for pitching tents. Showers and bathroom facilities deeper in the campground towards site 39 were very clean and very new. The hot showers were also super warm and the best part is no coins. The bathrooms themselves also seemed to be heated so even in the cold october evenings, you were warm inside the bathroom. We did not go down to the water due to blue algae, but there was still plenty of things to do for the kids as they loved being able to ride all around the grounds on their bikes. Fire pits in the evening were also very clean and had plenty of airflow to make good bonfires. There were regular patrols from the rangers and the east bay regional parks police, it all felt very safe. Just be advised that there's plenty of wildlife in the evenings and they do not seem like they are scared of people. We had a family of four raccoons in the tree at our site and there was also a skunk that visited and got within a few feet away from us one night. Thankfully it lost interest and left, otherwise we would have been in trouble. There were also deer and squirrels to be seen. Please watch out for rattlesnakes as well, we stumbled upon one on the road while biking around the camp ground. Make sure all food including uncooked pasta noodles are stored in a safe location overnight Otherwise, the animals will get into it. No bear boxes at the sites, so may need to store things in your vehicle. All in all everyone had a fantastic time and the kids loved it. We'll be back next year. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Campfire - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

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TikTok started showing me Del Valle Regional Park videos which made me wonder if the universe was trying to tell me I need to go on a hike... well, I did. And it was beautiful so who really won? I don't recall which trail we did, but the views were nice. There's not much shade along the trail we took so I'd say wear a hat if you can and stay hydrated. Once in a while, we saw a random cow walking along which was cool. This place is popular - we saw a lot of families and bicyclists when we were here. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

What a beautiful way to begin the Lunar New Year Yesterday, we hiked 4.2 miles at Del Valle Regional Park, and it felt like the perfect start to my new year goals. The trail was absolutely beautiful, even with a light drizzle along the way. Rain or shine, we still show up and that's something I'm really proud of. I'm so happy to say that my stamina is getting stronger with every hike. Each time we head out, I can feel the progress. The hills feel a little less intimidating, the miles go by a little easier, and my confidence grows a little more. When we reached the top and looked out over Lake Del Valle, the view was breathtaking, calm, peaceful, and completely worth the climb. Moments like that remind me why I keep pushing forward. Growth doesn't happen overnight, but step by step, mile by mile, I'm getting better. And thank you, Hubby, for always motivating me and believing in me. Having someone by my side who encourages me to keep going makes all the difference. Here's to starting the Lunar New Year strong and continuing to chase every goal ahead of us. read more

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4th of July day. We had planned a day to come to this lake and half of our family members were unable to enter the park because the rangers have decided to limit the amount of cars that can enter even when there was plenty of parking on the west side of the lake. Besides the limitations on entry. This lake is heavily restricted. No alcohol. They have a small fenced in swimming location. There's lifeguards constantly making everyone get out the water every 30 minutes. There's lifeguards also in the water. To me that makes me feel very uncomfortable as I'm being watched as I swim. You are not allowed to swim anywhere other than the fenced in area read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Restricted access - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

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Del Valle Regional Park offers so many activities - hiking, swimming, barbecuing, boating, paddle boarding, camping, etc. In the summer I visit almost every week for lake activities and in the winter I visit for the hiking trails. Hiking at Del Valle is best in the winter, after rainfall, because the hills are green again! If you visit the East Bay Regional Parks often I recommend buying a membership to save on parking costs. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

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On a bright Wednesday afternoon, my partner and I decided to go on a hike, and where better than the beautiful Del Valle. When you arrive, you get to a large staging area that has plenty of parking as well as a bathroom on site. Then the trail starts right up and though it is a little steep, the view you get is fantastic. Once you make it over the ridge, you are able to look out onto the lake and see the rolling green hills. Around this time of the year it wasn't as green as I expected, but still a really beautiful place and though the wind can be very strong, I wouldn't be too afraid of it. read more

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Beautiful lake! Lots of parking and picnic areas! We got here just before it got really busy. We were here for a day hike. Trail is easy but lots of bees and watch out for snakes! Definitely coming back for a family picnic. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

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This was my first time here and did the East shore Trail to Lake Del Valle. This was a very populated trail, but it was a Saturday and a nice day. There were people hiking walking dogs and bike riders all on the trail. My dog and I did 4.3 miles. It does have a steep incline in the beginning and then you get into the rolling Hills, which is just kind of up and down. Because this was so populated I don't know if I would go back, but if I lived closer. I could see where this would be a go two day hike. The parking lot is not big. It does fill up. There is street parking, but the road is very narrow so be careful. I ended up parking about a quarter of a mile down the road. read more

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It's a nice lake where dogs are allowed to swim. There are beach-like access to the lake around .5 mile past the docks on the hiking trail. After play, you can "rinse" at the docks before getting into the car. This is the place we go whenever sf beaches are too cold. The only bad i can think of are the foxtails on the sides of the hiking trail. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

$10 parking/enter fee this is crazy. The lake view is just mediocre, some of the trails are not well maintained. There are other places better than this. No phone service, this is so bad, if you lost and missed the latest update from your friends, you will have to pray hard for them to get hold of you in the park. read more

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We went fishing at lake del valle and caught 10 bass! We used wacky worms and nite crawlers! We have how to fishing videos on youtube for del valle! Just youtube: Fishing with Austin Ca$h! read more

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On a summer day where it's was so hot everywhere. We decided to come to this place to take a swim and to cool down. It's located in Livermore, CA. Parking is only $10 for the day pass per car and I believe depending on the size of the vehicle the price changes, only by a few dollars. They also have a camping ground so you can come with your family to came out by the water. They allow boats and jet skis on the lake. Overall I really enjoyed my time here and wouldn't mind coming back to this place. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Swim area - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

Epic mountain biking options with amazing views. Really happy that we have this as an option in the East Bay. $6 for parking No real solid cell service plentiful bathrooms read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

I nice place to go for camping , hiking , boating and swimming. I stayed in the park from Friday night to Sunday morning with a group of 26 people . The teens and young adults stayed in the tent and 10 of us adults stayed in the cabins . There are 2 free parking lots for each cabin. It is very convenient so that I didn't have to carry my stuffs and walk a distance. In the same camp group we have male And female restroom and hot water showers ( 4 stalls ) . The bathrooms have division with bench for your dry clothes and change . The shower heads are a bit tall , shorter person should bring a pitcher to catch the water to clean the lower parts of body . Places are kept clean and the staffs came to check on the camp area each night . No unauthorized vehicles were found. Someone dumped the garbage daily . The bathrooms were kept very clean . There are picnic tables and build In fire pitch for us to enjoy meals and evening activities. Because we are such big group , we brought 2 of our own Tent gondola to keep the food and people in the shade . The park has programs every day ( weekends ) from the naturalist. They are fun and educational. Overall a great experience. Looking forward to come back soon ! read more

After many hours of preparation for a beautiful kayaking day with all of our children in celebration of our daughter graduating high school, not to mention an hour drive and paying up to $50 in fees, we were sorely disappointed when being turned away because we had washed our kayaks the night before and a few drops of water fell out. They had been sitting under a cherry tree in our yard so as a courtesy we washed them to not bring any debris into the water. Didn't realize being courteous was going to result in a major disappointment to our kids not to mention money loss for paying for an inspection for each kayak. They didn't even inspect each one!!! We paid for the inspections, didn't get our money back and the day resulted in an utter disappointment to our kids. NEVER GOING BACK AGAIN. We've heard they have leeches and major algae growth anyway. BYEEEEEE! read more

This place is always beautiful and in recent times has been less crowded which I love!!! The fishin continues and the car entry fee is now $6 from $5 few years ago! This spot has so much to do with kids and so many open picnic tables and grills. It's absolutely gorgeous in spring and fall. Quick drive from Tri Valley! read more

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I visited Del Valle a few months ago and I've been meaning to leave a review, but life has been busy. I had a great experience there camping. First, a guy named Marj greeted me at the main kiosk. He was very friendly. A ranger named Nathan seemed super knowledgeable and cool, like the kinda guy you wanna have a beer with on a Friday night. The star of the show, however, was Patrick at the campground kiosk! He was nice, helpful, and gave me great information and trail recommendations! There was a long line of cars, but Patrick handled everything with grace. I would totally go back! read more

The fish are here for sure. Never seen so many large fish jumping in a lake. The fish were literally swimming away from the shoreline as I walked by. This one was about 18 inches. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - The fish are here for sure - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

Wow beautiful views. We came to fish along the bank. A lot of people were catching a few trout. We didn't catch any --- but hopefully we will one day. There's a very small store that has some fishing essentials and little bit of snacks. I recommended buying snacks and what not before you come here. You can rent boats but I think they're a little pricey if it's just for the two of you. No in and outs ( which sort of sucks because I forgot to bring snacks) read more

I didn't snap a million photos as it's nice to just live in the moment sometimes, especially at such a peaceful and scenic park. The water has a nice blue tint to it. Entry is $6 to park and there's a full hiking loop that goes around the reservoir. I avoided the crowded main beach and marina area as it was very busy over the weekend. A 10-minute stroll east of the marina will provide you with beautiful views and a private spot along the water to relax. There's plenty of shade to be found along the shoreline, so it's easy to escape the summer heat with a nice book in hand. The water temperature was much warmer than any mountain lake, yet still cold enough to be refreshing. If you're into paddleboarding or kayaking, this is a great spot for it. They also rent motorboats. We're truly spoiled in the Bay Area with parks. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

Great campsites with clean bathrooms, good lake for trout and bass fishing. Lots of activities you can do such as boating, hiking (including off leash trails for dogs), picnic, bbq pits for fire, and beautiful sunsets! read more

I can not begin to describe the serenity I felt in this park. It's currently screaming FALL. Still plenty of wildlife around including dear and a variety if birds. I went on a easy flat walking trail that is a 14mile total out and back (7miles each way). You basically can walk as far as you want. This is a paid park, plenty of parking, walking trails, and picnic areas. There are also boat rentals available, however the last rental I believe is at 1:30pm. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

"100 Cars, 1 Attendant." I love the East Bay Regional Parks. Today, however, they really dropped the ball. On a beautiful Saturday morning, with lots of campers trying to get in the park, they only had one person staffing the entrance. I am not making this up-- there were literally 100 cars in line waiting to get in. Think of all the wasted time and gas of 100 cars. On the other hand, this is a huge park with a ton of activities. Today we rented a party boat for a few hours and had fun finding geocaches around the lake. One of them was submerged, and one member of our group had to dive in to get it. On prior visits, I have hiked the famous Ohlone Wilderness Trail. You have to get a special permit to be on the trail, but it's just a few dollars and it's worth it. So while I love this park, management needs to get their act together. Less time bragging about conserving natural resources, more time actually doing it. read more

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We camped here this past weekend and it was a great stay. Very clean campground with great clean bathrooms and showers with hot water. They even have a small store for a few things you might've forgotten to bring like stuff to make s'mores drinks and icee's The lake was also very nice, water was perfect! Great camping experience for us being that this was are 1st time at this location. I gave it a 10+. FYI there's no service at all. There's pay phones to call out (bring quarters) this is a great way to spend quality time with family and put phones and internet away read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Our camp site #138 & 139 - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

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Beautiful and easy hike right before the turnaround at the end of the road. We were just out for a drive and when I saw the parking lot and it looked free as well, I said let's check it out! Pros- Free parking Easy hike- wasn't prepared and did a partial hike in my UGGS, 2 seat stroller, and boba lol Port-a-Potties at entrance Woodpeckers! Cons- None really About the place: There is a bridge over a small lake and then it opens out to a larger hill, which I didn't do. But many families were walking the hike and with their children and dogs in tow. Even if you're not trying to do a hike but just wanna stretch your legs and get some fresh air, this is a great spot. Check this place out for a fun and easy hike. Bring mosquito repellent in the summer or on warm days. read more

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I come here for camping and lake trips! It's fairly easy/simple to maneuver through the entire park. There is no service but they have pay phones on site if you need to call home and let people know you've arrived safely. The campsites are evened out for setting up tents. For campers there are free showers and full functioning bathrooms (no outhouses) One thing to keep in mind if to bring your own hand soap or hand sanitizer because there is no hand soap available. The biggest downside is the WASPS! It's BAD. No matter where you are located. I believe the park is trying to get them under control but I'm not entirely sure what that process looks like. If you're gonna bring food, bring it at your own risk and be weary of wasps because they will swarm. read more

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Good memories of family outings and birthdays. Clean, well maintained and clean water.

This so called cheaper substitute for Switzerland does look very fabulous from far away. The hills are all tender green in the sunny spring day. But the parking lot is so small and the tourists are so many, which makes it impossible to find a spot to park. Many people just park along the road with the sign "No parking any time". And there are three police cars across the road, the police officers literally put a ticket on each car. This is ridiculous. This place is beautiful but the parking problem makes the visit here a horrible time. We waited for about 45 minutes but still can't get a spot so we just left. Maybe we can come back on a weekday to enjoy the dupe Swiss scenery. read more

T H ERE Was helpful staff and useful rangers for the most part. Good place to take the kids to the visitor center and read a book by the water. Expensive 10 fee to get into the park but like it enough deer jaw trail is a standout thanks for the recommendation by patrick read more

Visited Del Valle Regional Park this week and enjoyed a hike with my wife. We've taken our dog before and he loves it too. Great uphill/incline trails with a view of the lake in one direction and Livermore Valley in the other direction. Lots of folks hike or bike here and everyone seems kind. There is a porta-john at the entrance near the parking lot and, even though it's popular on the weekend, there always seems to be space to park. Hint: If you drive out there and don't find parking (which hasn't happened to me) Sycamore Grove Park is just down the road as a good fall back. Enjoy. read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

I was looking for a easy hiking place to get some fresh air and I found Del Valle Lake on the maps, so we decided to drive over and take a look. When we arrived, I couldn't believe there was so many parking spaces, since parking is hard to come by near nice hiking trails these days. This might be one of those hidden gems in the Livermore area. The views were amazing, especially on a day with a blue sky! I think I found a new easy trail where I could get a really nice trail. read more

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Apart fr the foxtails, a few trail paths to select from. Go early mornings in the summer months or just in time to catch a beautiful and peaceful sunset in the evenings. Super easy trails for all fitness levels. read more

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Came here in the beginning of April 2022 for a short hike. You'll have to drive through few wineries to get to the parking and once you reach, there is a big lot with free parking. They have bathrooms which may have been under repair but had the porta potties nearby in the meantime. The hike up to the views up the lake can be strenuous for some who aren't as in shape. It's about a 450-500 ft elevation gain. It's all up hill to get to the view of the lake. There really isn't any shade on the trail so I would recommend going in non-summer months. When we went it was about 72 and there was a bit of a breeze. The views from the top are very nice. You can continue to go further on the trail kinda around the lake. Maybe another .75-1 mile more or just turn back around and go down. We did about 4 miles round trip and it took us under 2 hours. read more

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Pretty fun. I would go again. Nice easy trails to walk around. Great for a picnic. Fun place for kids.

This review is only for hiking, I have not camped here. The hiking trails are very well maintained, easy to traverse. A few segments get very narrow, which honestly adds to the fun. It was not busy at all when I went. Parking is free at the main trailheads. Im knocking off one star because I couldnt open one trailhead gate and I had no idea how to unlatch it...probably my own fault but ive seen gates that are easier to open LOL read more

Del Valle Regional Park - Zoomed out view of the popular photo spot - Parks Near Me - Livermore, California

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Such a gorgeous view! If you have the time to take a trip here I would encourage it. We stopped by very early in the morning so there were hardly any other people there. read more

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The bees and wasps were out of control during our visit! They were extremely aggressive. We planned a Saturday picnic with our family, fully expecting it to be crowded since it was the weekend. However, the bees made it impossible to enjoy our time. They were even by the water, chasing my kids, and unfortunately, my 3-year-old daughter got stung. We couldn't eat lunch at the tables because the bees were all over the food. I felt terrible for the family next to us who were barbecuing-- their marinated food was swarmed by bees. We ended up packing up and leaving early. Sadly, we won't be returning. The beach area was disappointing as well--dirty, smelled and littered with old hooks and rocks. I don't usually write reviews, but want to warn people with small children this place is a skip. read more

One word: DEET. So, I guess we'll start with the bad. Within seconds of arriving, we felt swaths of bites manifesting across our entire bodies. This only marked the beginning. Ultimately, we experienced a relentless barrage of mosquitos throughout our three days at this park. Definitely the most severe bout of mosquitos I'd ever experienced. DEET is the only ingredient that works. My friend tried a non-DEET spray, which did jack squat. A Thermacell may have been effective, but we didn't have one at the time. Just bring everything you have because it'll be a full-fledged war against mosquitos. Another drawback: many campers were excessively noisy. There was raucousness past midnight, dogs yelping all day, loud music, etc. But it was a holiday weekend and the campground seemed popular. It may be quieter on off days. I mainly accepted the noise given the holiday weekend, except when it extended late into the night, since it made it hard to sleep. Now, on to the good!: Friendly staff! Loved Park Ranger Jeff geeking out over eagles and sharing history and stories about the area. There was parking right at your campsite. Extremely convenient. The campground overall was very spacious, with lots of flat ground, trees, and shade. There was no running water, but the porta-potties were as clean as one could hope for. We were allowed to make a fire and enjoyed some grilling. It was pretty easy to navigate and get here. Lots of families with kids. Overall, this campsite seemed great for groups, as long as you expect some noisiness. I wouldn't return if I wanted a peaceful experience in nature. read more

This park is in Livermore. There are two entrances one it's off Mines Road which takes you to the main entrance where you can find the swimming beaches and the marina. There is a fee of six dollars per car, two dollars per dog, and if you are also planning to fish, there's an additional five dollar fishing permit specific to the lake. This means that as a fisherman you also need to have a California fishing license in addition to the lake permit. In May 2023 the campgrounds, the visitor center, and the marina are closed due to damage from the recent floods. The park gets extremely hot in the summer although if the swim beach is open, it's still a nice place to go to my favorite times are winter, spring and fall. If you're going this summer you need to arrive extremely early otherwise it would be too hot. The park opens at 6 AM in the summertime and closes at 9. Their opening and closing time changes depending on the sunset so check their website for their hours. read more

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