A walk adjoining San Pablo Reservoir with a few miles on paved road.

Location: San Pablo Reservoir

» Official Trail Map: Good map showing various trails.

Permit: Hiking requires an EBMUD Trail Permit (only one person in a group needs the permit).

Route in brief: Orinda Connector Trail (0.3 miles) → Oursan Trail (0.4 miles) → Old San Pablo Trail to junction with Inspiration Trail (1.0 miles) → Old San Pablo Trail to San Pablo Launching Facility (0.4 miles). You may walk 0.3 to 0.4 miles to explore the launching facility — restrooms and water available here. Old San Pablo Trail to junction with Eagle's Nest Trail (2.6 miles) → Old San Pablo Trail to latched gate that marks the boundary of San Pablo Reservoir (0.9 miles) → unnamed trail to Kennedy Grove Regional Recreational Area (0.3 miles). Return by same route.

Kennedy Grove: The hike terminates in Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area lies to the north. Trail maps: Part I, Part II and Part III.

Whopper Trail: During our last visit, midway through the hike, we reached an intersection with two paved roads. We took the left road. We reached a picnic area with restrooms, then the lake shore. We then discovered a trail that went through the forest and meandered parallel to the lake shore. The trail terminated in San Pablo Reservoir, where there were a couple of big signs labeling it as Whopper Trail. We crossed over the picnic areas and found an unnamed trail that ran parallel to lake shore. We followed it as long as possible — it eventually joined Old San Pablo Trail.

Location: near the interesction of San Pablo Dam Road & Bear Creek Road, Orinda, CA 94563 . No street address. Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Directions: From CA-24 East, take exit 9 toward Moraga and drive for 0.3 miles. Turn left onto Camino Pablo and drive for 2.3 miles to reach Orinda Connector Staging Area, which is quite close to the intersection of San Pablo Dam Road and Bear Creek Road.

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: None (last visited: September 2010)

Capacity: About 10 cars may be parked here.

Latitude: 37.899527     Longitude: -122.210476