Del Valle Regional Park

Ideal for Enjoying the Great Outdoors

When Bay Area residents grow weary of the chilly winds howling across San Francisco Bay, they head inland to Del Valle Regional Park in Alameda County. Depending on traffic and the time of day, getting here is fairly easy and once you arrive, you are greeted with much warmer temperatures, significantly reduced winds and more outdoor activities than you can fit in a weekend or even a week! This park offers:

Swimming – This Park features two swimming beaches, complete with lifeguards on duty during the summer months. Swimming is allowed year-round north of the boat ramp but no lifeguards are on duty out of season. If you want to swim, bring swim shoes, as the lake has a rocky bottom that can be unforgiving to feet at times.
Camping – The Park features dozens of individual, family and group camping sites, many with water, sewage and electrical hookups. Some campsites also offer shower facilities. These tend to be booked up early in the season, so your best bet is to make a reservation at http://www.reserveamerica.com/.
Hiking – The 4,395 acres of Del Valle Regional Park are crisscrossed by dozens of hiking trails of varying difficulty. No matter where your hiking boots take you, you’re guaranteed to see plenty of plants and animals in different habitats and some stunning scenery. Make sure to pack out what you pack in!
Picnicking – There are lots of great places for picnicking for groups of all sizes, many with restroom facilities. The larger and more popular sites tend to get reserved early, so call 1-888-327-2757 and press option number 2 to reserve your preferred site.
Fishing – The lake is stocked with trout, catfish and other fishes regularly and offers some of the best fishing in the Bay Area. However, anglers aged 16 and over will need a fishing license, so make sure to head to http://www.ebparks.org/activities/fishing for more information.
Boating – Boaters can either bring their own vessel to enjoy a day on the lake or rent a paddleboat, motorboat, patio boat, kayak or canoe. For more information on rates, rules, availability and more, visit the boating page at http://www.ebparks.org/activities/boatingsailing#delvalle.
Guided tours – In season, Park personnel offer a variety of different guided tours to learn more about the history of the area, local flora and fauna and other interesting topics. For more information about these tours, call the Rocky Ridge Visitor Center at (925) 449-5201.

Del Valle Regional Park may be a great place to get away from it all but like most outdoor sites, it may be difficult to get away from insects and intense sunshine in the summer months. Make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen and insect repellant and remember to leave the areas where you picnic, camp, and hike cleaner than you found them so the next visitors can enjoy the Park. For more information about the many things to see and do at this great Bay Area natural resource, visit the official website at http://www.ebparks.org/parks/del_valle#about.