Get Ready for the Memorial Day Weekend: East Bay Regional Parks Tips

Memorial Day weekend is approaching and, lucky us, we have the East Bay Regional Park system. Our shared lands encompass 120,000 acres in 66 parks across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The parks include over 1,250 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature learning, in addition to swimming, fishing, picnicking, camping and boating.

The parks district has issued some tips and reminders to ensure everyone’s holiday weekend is safe and enjoyable:

• Opt for a less popular park. Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore and Shadow Cliffs Regional Park in Pleasanton tend to fill early in the day and are often closed by noon due to crowds. Many parks in the District are equally beautiful and still have plenty of room for visitors. A few favorites are Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline in Oakland, Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda, Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont and Briones Regional Park in Orinda.
• Remember that parking is extremely limited at the District’s newest park, Vargas Plateau in Fremont. If you visit, please carpool, ride your bike or use a ride-sharing service.
• Beer and wine is allowed in most picnic areas, but is prohibited at swim areas, group campsites, trails and parking lots. Alcohol is banned entirely from Sunol Regional Wilderness, the Niles staging area of the Alameda Creek Trail, Crown Beach, Contra Loma Regional Recreation Area, Shadow Cliffs, Martinez Regional Shoreline, Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline, Don Castro Regional Park and Quarry Lakes.
• Bring water for your dog. Almost every year dogs die in the regional parks due to heat and dehydration. Also, remember the leash laws: Dogs are allowed off-leash on most trails but must be leashed in developed areas and within 200 feet of staging areas.
• Swimming is available at 10 lakes, lagoons, beaches and pools: Contra Loma, Crown Beach, Cull Canyon, Del Valle, Don Castro, Miller/Knox, Roberts, Shadow Cliffs, Lake Temescal and Lake Anza. Quarry Lakes remains closed for swimming due to toxic algae.

--Photo courtesy East Bay Regional Parks

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