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Contra Loma Regional Park I wrote about Contra Loma Park in Bay Nature Magazine a couple of years back without a lot of enthusiasm, and it's taken a long time for me to get around to writing about it here, but there's been an important improvement: they now have a lift at the lagoon for disabled swimmers. I haven't been back there to try it out, and I'd like to hear from anyone who has used it. Swimming is permitted only in the lagoon, and only during lifeguards hours. If one doesn't swim but has to look at it, the lagoon is a pretty monstrous
offense against the natural attractions of this small reservoir nestled
in the curving hills south of Antioch. The 80 acre lake isn't big enough
to really allow you to get very far from the developed area of picnic
grounds on mowed grass, and facilities for boating, fishing and windsurfing.
I can imagine Anyway, the trails along the lakeshore are rather short of shade, but
you can expect a nice breeze off San Pablo Bay. They're pretty accessible,
almost level and well surfaced. It's actually in the picnic ground that
you'll find a few steeper paths, though they can easily be avoided.
More are on the surrounding slopes, and these are also pretty rough
(Ridge Trail, Old Ranch Loop, and LakeView Trail). In
summer they'll be very hot, and if it's been raining, good and muddy.
Anybody who doesn't mind steep would probably find it more interesting
to try the Old Aside from steep spots, the picnic ground at Contra Loma is quite pleasant, with many tables situated under large trees on well-tended lawns. If you need to have a level, paved picnic site, it would be wise to call ahead and reserve one clockwise from the lagoon along the lakeshore, in the designated disabled area. Otherwise, though it might be preferable to be in the better shaded areas near the shore and closer to the entry kiosk. Details: Getting there: Take Lone Tree Lane south from Highway 4; turn right on Golf Course Road; right again on Frederickson Lane. The $5 parking fee is halved with a disabled placard; there are additional fees for dogs, boating, windsurfing, swimming, and fishing. Designated parking and accessible restrooms are provided. |
enjoying
the 1 mile hike around the lake (West Shore and East Shore
Trails) as part of a picnic/swim outing, but it wouldn't be likely
to justify a visit on its own. The more strenuous trails that lead up
to the surrounding ridge tops might be useful to work up an appetite
for that barbecue, and heighten enjoyment of the swim, but they didn't
look particularly interesting, and we didn't go far on them. Most if
not all of these are fire trails that are passable though rough and
in some cases very steep.
Homestead
Loop Trail, which is fire road starting near the picnic area, but
actually mostly in the adjacent Black Diamond Mines Preserve.
I haven't been there for many years, but I believe that park's trails
to be steep fire roads.