area with warm water and soap. While tick-borne illnesses are rare in the Bay Area, monitor bites for any suspicious changes in appearance.
Seeing a rattlesnake is also rare but still possible—especially in warmer months when snakes are more active. People have been bitten by rattlesnakes in East Bay parks, so pay close attention to your surroundings. Try to look at the ground ahead of you as you walk, look carefully around logs and rocks before sitting down, and avoid putting your hands or feet in places where you can’t see clearly. If you encounter a rattlesnake, keep your distance, and if you can’t go around it, turn around and walk the other way. Stay on marked trails and avoid brush where snakes may be hiding during the day. If you do get bitten, stay calm and call 911 as soon as possible.
Cows are a common sight on East Bay Regional Park District trails.
PERMITS, REGULATIONS, AND PARK FEES
Most of the hikes in this book are operated and maintained by the East Bay Regional Park District, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, and various cities. Most city parks do not charge an entrance fee. The same goes for EBRPD trails; however, some parks charge parking fees and fees for dogs that are not service animals. Most EBMUD trails require permits, available at www.ebmud.com/recreation/buy-trail-permit. You can choose from permits that are valid for one day, one year, three years, or five years.
Many people (myself included!) enjoy bringing their dogs with them on a hike. Some EBRPD parks allow dogs off leash and under voice control, while others require dogs to be on leash (six foot maximum length). A few parks don't allow dogs. For EBRPD parks that allow dogs, they must always be on leash in areas such as parking lots or staging areas, picnic areas, and areas signed accordingly. To learn more about the EBPRD’s dog rules, visit www.ebparks.org/activities/dogs/default.htm.
Dogs are prohibited in many EBMUD parks, but are allowed on the two EBMUD routes featured in this book, Lafayette Reservoir Rim Trail (Hike 26) and King’s Canyon Loop Trail (Hike 27).
Dogs are prohibited in most California state parks, including Mount Diablo State Park (Hikes 39 and 40) and some areas of McLaughlin Eastshore State Park (part of Hike 10 along the Berkeley Waterfront). For that last hike, I offer a dog-friendly workaround, so feel free to bring Fido.
For all routes, refer to each individual hike writeup to determine whether permits are required, if dogs are allowed, and if there are fees for cars or dogs. Fees and regulations can occasionally change, so it’s always a good idea to double-check with local agencies before you hit the trails.
ROAD AND TRAIL CONDITIONS
New trails are added to parks from time to time, and current trails can experience closures due to fallen trees, erosion, and washouts. Please refer to park websites (see Appendix II) to ensure the trails you want to visit are open.
Another option is to visit websites like www.alltrails.com to read recent trail reports and see if hikers have encountered trails that were muddy, impassable, or otherwise unpleasant.
OUTDOOR ETHICS
At the core of outdoor ethics is the principle of leave no trace, which means that you should leave the trail (and park) as good as or better than you found it. If you bring something into a park, pack it out. And if you find litter on the trail, pack that out too. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics “protects the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly.”
Views from Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline (Hike 3) stretch from Richmond to San Francisco.
Their seven Leave No Trace (LNT) principles help people reduce their impact on natural areas:
1.Plan ahead and prepare.
2.Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3.Dispose of waste properly.
4.Leave what you find.
5.Minimize campfire impacts.
6.Respect wildlife.
7.Be considerate of other visitors.
And while some of these principles apply more to overnight trips, it is helpful for outdoor enthusiasts to be familiar with and follow them. Learn more at: https://lnt.org/why/7-principles.
TRAIL ETIQUETTE
Observing proper hiking etiquette keeps you safe while hiking and also ensures that future generations can enjoy trails, parks, and natural areas. Here are some general guidelines:
Obey park rules. This one is pretty simple. If a park isn’t open to dogs, keep your pup at home. If bicycles are not allowed on a trail, don’t bring your bike. If you find yourself with a bike on a trail that prohibits bikes, walk while pushing your bike instead of riding it.
Stay on trails. Don’t take shortcuts or unofficial trails that cause erosion or harm sensitive environments.
Observe the right-of-way. When you encounter cyclists or horseback riders, move to the side of the trail and let them pass. Hikers are more nimble and able to move off the trail.
Keep dogs under control. If you bring your dog on a hike, follow the park’s leash rules. If dogs are allowed off leash, make sure they stay on the trail and are under voice control.
Halt for horses. As mentioned above, when you see a horseback rider, step to the side of the trail. You don’t want to catch a horse off guard. Make yourself visible so the horse sees you, but also crouch down to make yourself look smaller. If you encounter a horse on a slope, try to step downhill of it; if spooked, horses tend to run uphill, and you don’t want to be in the way if that should happen. Don’t raise your voice around a horse, although talking calmly to its rider can help reassure the horse that you don't pose a threat.
Leave wildlife alone. Giving wildlife a wide berth can keep you and wild animals safe.
Don’t roll rocks off cliffs. You never know who or what is below you, and falling rocks can cause serious injuries.
Don’t bring things you find in a park home.
