Walnut Creek hikers looking to escape summer crowds on popular trails can access 57,000 acres of East Bay Municipal Utility District watershed land for $10 a year, according to EBMUD.
The permit program, spotlighted in a KQED report published Thursday, July 16, opens miles of less-trafficked routes bordering reservoirs across the East Bay and Sierra foothills. One highlighted trail system runs along Briones Reservoir near Orinda, just west of Walnut Creek.
"For a very small fee, just so that we know who's there, we can fund the maintenance of these trails," EBMUD spokesperson Nelsy Rodriguez told KQED. "There's worlds of trails to explore out there."
What the permit covers
The $10 annual permit includes access for the holder, their entire immediate family and up to three additional guests. A single-day pass costs $3, and multi-year options run $20 for three years or $30 for five, according to EBMUD's permit page.
Permits can be purchased online at trailpermits.ebmud.com. EBMUD asks hikers to carry the permit and sign the trail register at the start of each hike so the agency can verify identity in an emergency.
Rules on watershed land: stay on the trail, carry water, check for ticks after hiking, keep dogs on leash and never start a fire of any kind.
Two hikes worth the permit
Oursan Trail to Bear Creek Trail, Briones Reservoir: A 13-mile loop along unpaved fire trails with reservoir views, meadows and oak groves. Ten miles of the route are dog-friendly (leash required). This is the closest highlighted trail to Walnut Creek.
Pinole Valley Watershed loop: A 6.6-mile route with expansive valley views but little shade. Best on cool days. No dogs allowed.
A free option nearby
Lakeside Nature Trail, Lafayette Reservoir: A paved, family-friendly loop that takes about one hour. Features picnic areas, a playground and boat rentals. Dogs allowed on leash. No trail permit is required for this route or the Lafayette Reservoir Rim Trail, according to EBMUD. Parking costs $7 (or $1 per half-hour).
Good to know
EBMUD reservoirs are open for hiking, fishing, boating and kayaking but not swimming. The water supplies drinking water to 1.4 million Bay Area residents, so body contact is prohibited.
Rodriguez said the fee helps the agency monitor how many people are using its trails. For permit questions, contact [email protected] or call 209-772-8204, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
EBMUD also provides an interactive trail map at webapps.ebmud.com/trailmap where hikers can filter routes by difficulty. The permit program is available year-round.
