Briones Regional Park
Map of Briones Regional Park
For almost 2 years, Dan Levy has been leading a Tuesday night ride at Briones; only a few short miles from his home.  With its proximity, the stresses of a day at the office are quickly shed as he changes into bike gear and starts pedaling to the “Big B.”

Seasonally, this ride requires lights to complete one of dozens of circuits that can be made through the 6,117 acre park bordered by Lafayette, Martinez and Pleasant Hill.

Briones offers some great shared-use trails that make the ride fun.  The Briones Crest Trail, primarily service road, runs semi-circularly from the southern end mid-park to the western side by Bear Creek.  Typically, Dan accesses this trail from Alhambra Creek by riding south on the A. Creek Trail, turning west on Spengler and then south on Old Briones Rd.

From here, turn northward on Crest.  Along with the stunning views that the Briones Crest has to offer of Mt. Tam and Vollmer Peak, it undulates with steep ups and downs along the ridge.  The western mile of this trail is a sweeping singletrack drop into Bear Creek.
 
For the return trip, ride toward the Maricich Lagoons via OBR and continue back to Reliez.  In all about 10mi / 2000’+ in the park.

If you're in the mood for a more forested route through the park, instead turn southward on Crest from OBR.  After passing Briones Peak at 1483’, turn south onto Table Top and the views of Mt. D towering above the I-680 corridor. 

From there, turn west and follow Spengler as it turns northward to the Blue Oak Shortcut singletrack and Blue Oak trail.

This route exits the park onto Reliez near Gloria Terr, which requires a slight road burn to get back to A. Creek.  This route is also about 10mi / 2000’.

Tuesday evenings have been a great experience for Dan and his fellow riders.  Typically, most of the trails are unpopulated and wildlife abounds.  Especially after dark, a rider is more one of the fauna than a viewer. Glimmering eyes abound from the trail side.  At sunset, egrets can bee seen near the lagoons.  After dark, owls and bats swoop at moths attracted by helmet lights.