I like that there is free parking. I came here on a Sunday, a little before 12 PM, and it was easy…read moreto find parking. This is one of the biggest outdoor public play structures in the Bay Area that I've been to so far. There are picnic tables available for rental, and it's a great place to host a kids' birthday party. There is some shade in the play structure area, but I wish there were more. There are public restrooms, but they need more frequent cleaning during the weekend. I came here on a hot Sunday, and there were a smoothie/shave ice truck and a soft serve truck parked nearby in the swim center parking lot for purchase.

Very open well maintained park with beautiful playgrounds and picnics places, green grass, shade,…read moreexplosive rose garden free parking, good easy hiking trail.

First let me say that this trail is far from uniform from one part to another. The northern portion…read morenear Concord COULD be scenic if all the encampments and trash was cleared out. This portion, miles 0-4, was recently repaved However there are no restrooms along this section. Miles 4-8 can be very congested with people walking dogs and pushing strollers. Even sections with "pedestrian only access" are largely unused and the multi purpose trail has most of the traffic. Miles 8-14 are not very scenic. Mostly backyards. Lots of cross streets making cycling less enjoyable. Miles 14-20 are more backyards and several more cross streets. There are a few narrow bridges over small creeks. Miles 20-24 are fairly industrial. The trail is much cleaner and better patrolled from Walnut Creek south. North is a totally different story. One park employee told me he thought I was brave to ride on that section of the trail. Not a place for families for sure.

I absolutely adore the Iron Horse Trail. Been walking and running this trail for many years now,…read moreand it's still just as beautiful as the first time that I stepped upon it. The entire trail measures roughly 32 miles one way and stretches from Concord all the way to Pleasanton. I've only been on the Concord/Pleasant Hill/Walnut Creek side, but my dream has always been to traverse the entire trail in increments over time. The trail is a flat paved path that will take you through a plethora of parks, connecting trails, under freeway overpasses, and through a few tunnels. There is always greenery on the trail, no matter what season it is. It's not particularly challenging and there aren't any inclines, but it's perfect for a casual stroll or a long distance run. At any given time, you'll witness people walking their dogs and pushing strollers. Many people train for marathons and long distance running here. It's a wonderful family friendly and community driven trail that feels very safe. What I enjoy most about traversing this trail are the stunning views that I'm graced with every single time that I'm here. This trail has truly exposed me to the beauty of Contra Cost County. So many gorgeous wild flowers and lush vegetation. An ample amount of rampant wildlife. The most beautiful and peaceful community parks. Entrancing Views of the nearby communities. You will get to experience all of this along the Iron Horse Trail. People are so friendly on this trail. You tell get a sense of community here. There are also many bikers that use this trail too. There are several rest benches and doggie pooh pickup stations. You always see a trash can nearby to encourage cleanliness. There are mile markers on the main trail, and a second path that also runs parallel to the main path for most of the duration. It's a great place to clear your mind and to breathe in the fresh local air. Walking down this trail has gotten me through some tough times in the past, and it's filled with so many memories. So grateful to have this local gem practically in my backyard.

"Secret gem with beautiful gardens."…read more I had no idea this park existed until recently. I had a pleasant time walking around the grounds and checking out the trees and the other plants. There's also a community garden, very close by. I had a nice chat with a gardener there. You rent out a space for a small amount per year. There doesn't appear to be many facilities. But parking is plentiful. I would've liked some brochures but I did not see any. I guess they're online only

I love this park- I spent a lot of time walking and doing yoga here during Covid. This park helped…read morekeep me sane during that period I haven't been in a while, but I wanted a nice place to walk my foster dogs. I love that it's cooler and shaded here verses going on walks at other places. I always find something new and stunning when I go. We usually go during the week and never have trouble parking

Perhaps unfairly, but as an outsider, I tend to view this part of Contra Costa County as, how do I…read moreput it diplomatically...snooty. There are tract homes that are really mansions in gated communities here. You get a pretty good indication when you take the Livorna Road exit off 680 and head toward the hills. There's a convenient parking lot at the staging area, and the walk begins along a tree-laden path that leads into the Shell Ridge Trail. This is where the open rolling hills provide some challenges to the calves. You eventually make it to the most picturesque portion of the hike on the Mokelumne Coast-to-Crest Trail. This is where the residential areas disappear and you're at one with nature...except for the occasional mountain biker. Small mouth was warranted during such disturbances, but they didn't prevent me from a scenic view of Mt. Diablo (photo: https://bit.ly/3hZ96M1). Now I could've gone deeper into Mt. Diablo State Park, but hey, I'm not a rugged mountaineer. Instead I made a turn and precariously made my way downward to the Alamo Trail. I didn't realize I exited the park until I saw distracted people on the path yelling into their mobile phones as they let their dogs do their business. Hey, where's your scooper, sister? I think with more thoughtful planning, you can probably avoid the ritzy people with their ritzy homes. Maybe not. RELATED - Exploring this part of Contra Costa County? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2x1rlsD

This review is for the trail starting at the livorna road staging area…read more I really liked this trail. It's a lot of up and down. The map on all trails leaves out a few mountain top options, so I went off trail a few times and followed an alternative route. This is definitely a trail that you will need your map in order to stay on. I hiked on a cloudy September day, temperature around 75 to 80°. On a hot day with direct sunlight this would be potentially unbearable.

Alhambra Creek Trail - we came back again and had to minus 1 star from our previous review for the…read moreamount of animal droppings along the trail. It attracted a lot of flies, gnats, and mosquitoes. Every few feet, there'll be a swarm of bugs circling. It's a nice trail with a little bit of elevation, but the swarms of bugs made the hike very unpleasant.

Absolute gem! We are so lucky to live minutes away from this incredible park. My husband and I have…read morebeen hiking from Lafayette to Martinez and back for years and the hike never gets old. It is beautiful in all seasons and such a reprieve.

This is a this is one of the smaller wilderness parks in the city of Walnut Creek. This particular…read morepark is in divided into several sections. Some of them are very close to the East Bay Mud water treatment plant. I don't believe there are any facilities in this park, and I did not see any drinking water. The trails are well maintained however. And the signs appear to be correct. While this is not one of my favorite parks, it's a decent place to go hiking. I enjoyed my visit.

My daughter's choir was practicing nearby. While I waited for her to finish I decided to take a…read morehike and that's how I arrived at Acalanes Ridge. This is a nice hike near downtown Walnut Creek. Residential parking is easy, as is finding the trailhead. This path seems well-worn by hikers and dog walkers alike. If I find myself in Walnut Creek with time to kill in the future, I'll come here!

I Have biked and hiked and geocached on this trail numerous times. It's t's one of my favorite…read moreplaces to visit, but I don't think there's any bathroom facilities along the way. If you're looking for a beautiful bike ride, this is a great option.

I love visiting the east bay city of Lafayette. There are so many beautiful outdoor trails and the…read moretown itself is adorable. I was looking to get a morning walk in and a family member brought me to this trail which she typically runs. We parked at the community center off of St Mary's road. Just one of many locations that you can catch the trail. Plenty of parking was available. The 7.65 mile trail runs on both sides of St Mary's road through Lafayette and Moraga We decided to cross over to the other side of the street from the community center and walk towards Moraga. The paved trail can be used for biking and horses as well. The trail towards Moraga has quite a bit of inclines and makes for a good workout. I went 2 miles in and turned around at Rheem Blvd for a 4 mile round-trip walk. Beautiful scenery and lots of people walking their dogs.

Lafayette Reservoir is a beautiful local park! And there is so much parking and bathrooms with…read moretoilet paper and soap! That's honestly way more than I was expecting. The parking lot we parked in had a max 2 hour limit, which isn't enough time to walk the entire perimeter of the reservoir but it looks like there are other lots that don't have as much time restrictions. Beautiful little walk - not much of a hike because of the paved path, but it's a nice distance and has beautiful views. We would definitely come back again.

The Lafayette Reservoir is the perfect place for a family walk or hike, especially with dogs!…read moreThere's lots of shady areas around and benches along the trail to stop if you need. Parking is easy to find and pay for, and is cheap ($4 for 2 hours on weekdays). There's multiple bathrooms along the trail too. We've been coming here for years and always come back to it. If you're looking for a great hike to go on with family, friends, and pups, check out the Reservoir!