Briones Regional Park
Encyclopedia
Briones Regional Park is a 6117 acres (24.8 km²) park maintained and operated by the East Bay Regional Park District
(EBRPD) in the U.S. state of California
. The park is located in the rolling, grassy hills between the eastern and western regions of Contra Costa County near Lafayette
, Orinda
, Pleasant Hill
and Martinez
. The western end of Briones Regional Park is adjacent to EBMUD’s Briones Reservoir
, across Bear Creek Road.
Briones Peak is the highest point in the park with an elevation of 1480 ft (451 m), and offers panoramic views of Mount Diablo and the Diablo Valley
to the east, the Sacramento River
to the north, and the Berkeley Hills
and Mt. Tamalpais to the west. The park is also home to many animals and birds, such as turkey vultures, black-tailed deer, cougars, coyotes, squirrels, and redtailed hawks. Cattle, sheep, and goat ranchers still use portions of the park for grazing purposes and hold a one hundred year lease that is effective until the 2060s.
made to the widow of Felipe Briones. The Briones began the tradition of cattle ranching in the region, which continues to this day. In 1870, the Briones family sold their lands. In 1909, the Peoples' Water Company, the precursor to the East Bay Municipal Utility District
purchased the land for the watershed. In October 1967, Briones Regional Park was established.
In addition to ranching and water, portions of the park were also valuable for other purposes. By 1850, Happy Valley Road, which runs along the edge of the Briones property, was the main thoroughfare from Martinez to San Jose and then on to San Francisco. Additionally, the park is a place of study. Since 1966, the University of California has maintained a 283 acres (1.1 km²) parcel of land known as the Russell Reservation as a research center.
East Bay Regional Park District
The East Bay Regional Park District is a special district operating in Alameda County and Contra Costa County, California, within the East Bay area of the San Francisco Bay Area...
(EBRPD) in the U.S. state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The park is located in the rolling, grassy hills between the eastern and western regions of Contra Costa County near Lafayette
Lafayette, California
Lafayette is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 23,893. It was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero of the American Revolutionary War...
, Orinda
Orinda, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Orinda had a population of 17,643. The population density was 1,389.5 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Orinda was 14,533 White, 149 African American, 22 Native American, 2,016 Asian, 24 Pacific Islander, 122 from other races, and...
, Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hill, California
Pleasant Hill is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 33,152 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1961...
and Martinez
Martinez, California
Martinez is a city and the county seat of Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 35,824 at the 2010 census. The downtown is notable for its large number of preserved old buildings...
. The western end of Briones Regional Park is adjacent to EBMUD’s Briones Reservoir
Briones Reservoir
Briones Reservoir is an open cut terminal water storage reservoir owned and operated by the East Bay Municipal Utility District . It is located in the hills northeast of Orinda, California. The earthen dam was completed in 1964...
, across Bear Creek Road.
Briones Peak is the highest point in the park with an elevation of 1480 ft (451 m), and offers panoramic views of Mount Diablo and the Diablo Valley
Diablo Valley
The Diablo Valley refers to a valley in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, to the west/northwest of Mount Diablo. The valley contains the cities of Clayton, Concord, Martinez, the unincorporated area of Pacheco, and Pleasant Hill , and most of Walnut Creek. The southern end of Walnut...
to the east, the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
to the north, and the Berkeley Hills
Berkeley Hills
The Berkeley Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges that overlook the northeast side of the valley that surrounds San Francisco Bay. They were previously called the "Contra Costa Range/Hills" , but with the establishment of Berkeley and the University of California, the current usage was...
and Mt. Tamalpais to the west. The park is also home to many animals and birds, such as turkey vultures, black-tailed deer, cougars, coyotes, squirrels, and redtailed hawks. Cattle, sheep, and goat ranchers still use portions of the park for grazing purposes and hold a one hundred year lease that is effective until the 2060s.
History
The area which includes what is now Briones Park and the Russell Reservation is part of the 1842 Mexican land grant Rancho Boca de la Canada del PinoleRancho Boca de la Cañada del Pinole
Rancho Boca de la Cañada del Pinole was a Mexican land grant in present day Contra Costa County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to María Manuela Valencia. The name means "Mouth of the Pinole Valley" in Spanish...
made to the widow of Felipe Briones. The Briones began the tradition of cattle ranching in the region, which continues to this day. In 1870, the Briones family sold their lands. In 1909, the Peoples' Water Company, the precursor to the East Bay Municipal Utility District
East Bay Municipal Utility District
East Bay Municipal Utility District , colloquially referred to as "East Bay Mud", provides water and sewage treatment for customers in portions of Alameda County and Contra Costa County in California, on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay, including the cities of Richmond, El Cerrito, Hercules,...
purchased the land for the watershed. In October 1967, Briones Regional Park was established.
In addition to ranching and water, portions of the park were also valuable for other purposes. By 1850, Happy Valley Road, which runs along the edge of the Briones property, was the main thoroughfare from Martinez to San Jose and then on to San Francisco. Additionally, the park is a place of study. Since 1966, the University of California has maintained a 283 acres (1.1 km²) parcel of land known as the Russell Reservation as a research center.
The Lafayette Ridge
The ridge is a part of Briones Park and runs parallel to the city of Lafayette, CA. The ridge is approximately two miles long and begins at the parking lot of Springhill Elementary School and extends to Russel Peak at 1357 ft (414 m), where it diverges into the Russel Peak and Briones Crest Trails. Several trails branch off of the Lafayette Ridge Trail, most notably the Springhill and Buckeye Ranch Trails. The ridge offers terrain for mountain biking enthusiasts with periodic gains of up to 200 ft (61 m) elevation.External links
- East Bay Regional Park District website
- Briones Regional Park Trail Map
- Regional Parks Foundation website
- Regional Parks Association website
- KQED Quest Science Exploration of Briones
- Horror in Briones An independent film that takes place in Briones Regional Park.