San Pablo Reservoir (Starting from Briones Overlook Staging Area)

August 3, 2014
Contra Costa County
Hikers: Cathy, Laura
Miles: 8
Elevation Gain: 977 ft. 



Easy hike (mostly flat, with a few rolling hills in between), but oh so beautiful!

We knew it was going to be a good day when we saw these creatures on our way there.

The Briones Reservoir spillway.

Goats!

My sister spots the coolest stuff on the trails! Laura, your trail name is Eagle Eye. This was in the middle of a spider web.

We found the rest of the duck up the trail. It looked as though just the wing was ripped from his body. Poor duck.

Looks as though this tree imploded.

This bench is at the EBMUD Watershed Headquarters, just off the trail.

There were four or five bees all on one flower.

Delicious berries!

Bunny in the brambles. Brambles. I just love that word, don't you?. :)

The algae was so thick and green, Laura said it looked like the grass of a golf course.

Laura, I just love this shot!

These colorful boulders caught our eye, so we just had to venture down the service road. The next eleven pics are from this road. The view at the end was just stunning. The pics do not do it justice, as beautiful as they may be.

Walked right over this little critter!

Looks like a good spot to have a bite to eat before turning back.

Having a picnic table is always a plus!

Could not ask for a better view while lunching!

Could that be an otter! Um, no. Not in a reservoir! Turned out to be a plastic bag (I think).

The Oakland Strokes Rowing Club's launching ramp.

A couple of birds hanging out.

The last stretch - up the spillway. This is the only real climb of the walk. We could have taken the trail back (the way we came), but we like taking the spillway - a little change of scenery.

Swallow's nests.

Anyone know, what purpose these metal plates on the spillway serve? They were three wide, and about every thirty feet.

Same goats. :)

Trails:

Oursan, Old San Pablo, Service Road, Inspiration (just a tad.. will return to complete).

San Pablo Reservoir

Permit Required

We have hiked on EBMUD property at least ten times before today if not more, and this was a first that we were stopped and asked if we had a permit. We were happy to say, why yes we do! It's only ten dollars a year, and can be printed out at home from the EBMUD website. It's well worth the cost.