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Lafayette Recreation Area is an all-year day-use area for boating, hiking and picnicking, located off Highway 24 in Lafayette, CA. There are two loops around the lake. The shorter loop is along a paved road with gentle grade throughout. The longer loop is on dirt trails and has a few very steep sections.
Park Information: Website — Trail Map — Yelp Reviews
Best Months to Visit: Summers are hot since trails are in the open. For the 2.8-mile loop along paved Lakeside Trail, any season is okay. However, for the 5-mile loop along Rim Trail, avoid rainy season because the trail becomes muddy.
Directions: Google Map for 3849 Mount Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 94549.
Weather: 10-day forecast for Lafayette, CA.
Parking: $6 per vehicle in June 2010. Exact change was required.
Notes: No maps were available at the entrance kiosk in June 2010. For the inner loop around the lake, no map is necessary. For the outer loop, a map would be helpful.
Click image to enlarge.
Click to see full album — 6 June 2010
Trailhead: Main parking area.
Route: Follow Lakeside Trail, a paved road around the lake.
Notes: There are several restrooms along the way. Water is available at multiple places along the route. See trail map for details. Gentle grade all along, no steep sections.
Click image to enlarge.
Trailhead: Main parking area.
Route: Follow Rim Trail around the lake.
Notes: Water is available at Rheem Reservoir, at approximately the half way mark along the hike (see trail map). The hiking route goes up and down along hills throughout. A few of these hills are exceptionally steep. In June 2010, we had to walk really slowly on the way down to avoid slippage.
Length: 8.0 miles
Elevation Gain: ~ 1400 ft
Trailhead: Main parking area.
Route: Combine the short loop and the long loop described above.