SUNDAY DRIVE: BRIONES CREST

The payoff: On crystal fall days on the Briones Crest, it can seem you have no limits — you are bound only by what you can imagine. The views extend across miles of rapidly-greening foothills, valleys and across to towering Mount Diablo.

The park: Briones Regional Park is one of the Bay Area’s best parks for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. It’s a big park, 6,117 acres, an island of wilderness surrounded by Martinez to the north, Pleasant Hill and the Interstate 680 corridor to the east, and Lafayette to the south. The park has five staging areas and other trailhead access points. For this trip, the best launch point is at Bear Creek.

Briones Crest Loop: From the Bear Creek staging area, the trailhead for Briones Crest Trail is on the left. It is routed for 3.1 miles up a few hundred feet, bears right past Sindicich Lagoons and to Old Briones Road Trail. Turn right on the road, walk about 200 yards to a junction, then turn left (signed) for Briones Crest Trail. You then climb about 400 feet to 1,483foot Briones Peak for spectacular

views across the foothills toward Mount Diablo. To complete the loop, turn right on Valley Trail and descend to Old Briones Road Trail, turn left and sail back down to the starting point. 6.8-mile loop.

Other favorite spots: Table Top, Mott Peak, Abrigo Falls, John Muir Nature Area.

Trail map: Map/brochure at trailheads (most visitors recycle maps after use); PDF at ebparks.org.

Dogs on trail: Dogs are permitted to run free under voice command on most trails and ranch roads at Briones. But owners are required to use leashes, 6-foot maximum, at all times at on Tavan Trail, Diablo View Trail between Alhambra Creek Trail and Hidden Pond Trail, Alhambra Creek Trail from the Alhambra Creek Staging Area south to the water trough, and Orchard Trail between Alhambra Creek Trail and west to the Briones Road gate. Cost: $3 per vehicle, $2 per dog, when kiosk attended (usually only weekends and holidays).

Camping: Three trail camps for groups are available; reserve at (888) 327-2757, option 2.

How to get there: From San Francisco, take Interstate 80 East over Bay Bridge for 5.8 miles (get in right lane) to split. Bear right on I-580 (stay far right) and go 1.5 miles to Exit 19B for Highway 24/Walnut Creek. Take Highway 24 east for 7.5 miles (through the tunnel) to Orinda and the exit for Camino Pablo North. Take Camino Pablo North for 2.2 miles to Bear Creek Road on right. Turn right on Bear Creek Road and go 4.4 miles to the park entrance on right. Turn right and drive short distance to Briones Park’s Bear Creek Staging Area and continue past kiosk to parking lots and trailheads.

Driving note: To extend a pretty drive, head north on Bear Creek Road and connect to Alhambra Valley Road until it turns into Reliez Valley Road near Martinez, then continue on Reliez to Pleasant Hill Road into Lafayette.