Lafayette Reservoir

Summer Fun

From pedal-boating on cool waters to grilling an outdoor feast, Lafayette Reservoir offers great summer-time activities.

Take some "me time" (or bring your dog, stroller, or friends and family) to walk the 2.7 mile paved trail along the lake's edge. For a harder hike, head to the 4.7 mile rim trail where challenging climbs are rewarded with spectacular views.

Bring a fishing pole to tempt the catfish and bass. Dust off those binoculars and try to identify the diverse birds, animals, flowers and trees that live at Lafayette Reservoir. Visit the playground, enjoy a shady picnic, bring a book, stretch out on the lawn, and have a great summer!

Park Details

Lafayette Recreation Area is an all-year day-use area ideal for hiking, jogging, fishing, boating and picnicking, located off Highway 24 only one mile from the Lafayette BART station.

Location: 3849 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette, CA

Hours: Open every day. Hours: approximately sunrise to sunset (please see Fees and Hours below.)

Fees: Parking is $7 per day. Annual parking passes are available at the Lafayette Reservoir Visitor Center. For a list of other fees, including boat rental, fishing and annual passes, see Hours and Fees below.

Dogs: Dogs are allowed. Animal leashes may NOT be longer than 6 feet in length.

Contact

email: lafres@ebmud.com
phone: (925) 284-9669

Things to Do

Kids
A children's playground is located on the east lawn.

Picnicking
Picnic tables (125) are available on a first-come, first-served basis; 44 have barbeques for cooking your favorite outdoor meals. Two group sites available for reservation; the large site accommodates 250 people and the small site up to 75.

Fishing
EBMUD plants trout during the fall, winter, and spring months, and plants catfish in the summer. Come to the Visitor Center to pick up basic fishing tackle and bait to get a line in the water. A daily fishing access permit is required.

Boating
Rent rowboats, pedal boats and kayaks at the Visitor Center. If you bring your own boat, there is a launch area (fees apply), and you will need to have your boat inspected to keep EBMUD waterways safe from Quagga mussels. Gasoline engines and trailers are not allowed.

Hiking
There are two main trails at Lafayette Reservoir. The Lakeside Nature Trail (paved, 2.7 miles) and the Rim Trail (unpaved, 4.7 miles). Additionally, there are 928 acres of open space for hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, and enjoying beautiful vistas.

Biking
Bicyclists and people on roller skates, roller blades and scooters are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon until closing and on Sundays from opening until 11:00 a.m. on the paved Lakeside Trail and roads.

Lafayette Reservoir Parking Lot Improvements

Beginning August 2012, EBMUD will be upgrading the main parking lot at Lafayette Reservoir to provide more short-term parking spaces and improve traffic flow.

Invasive Mussel Prevention

Learn about requirements for boaters that help prevent the introduction of this invasive mussel into EBMUD waters.

Park Information

The document below is a PDF file which can be viewed and printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free software.

Resources

Fish Advisory for Eating Fish from Lafayette Reservoir
Recreation Fees