Home Contra Costa County Memorial Day Tips for East Bay Parks

Memorial Day Tips for East Bay Parks

by ECT

Memorial Day is among the busiest weekends in the East Bay Regional Park District as thousands of visitors kick off summer with barbecues, hikes, picnics, swimming and other activities.

Here are a few 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.

The East Bay Regional Park District is a system of beautiful public parks and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties east of San Francisco Bay, established in 1934. The system comprises 120,000 acres in 66 parks including over 1,250 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding and nature learning.

For information, please contact Carolyn Jones, Public Information Supervisor, (510) 544-2217, [email protected].

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