The Los Vaqueros Reservoir from the Vista Grande Trail
The Los Vaqueros Watershed is a huge property in the Diablo foothills that’s mainly used for fishing and boating. It also has an extensive network of trails that are little-used, probably because of the $6 entrance fee ($4 for Contra Costa Water District ratepayers).
Overall the trail system is a bit too sprawling, with a lot of wide, dusty dirt roads over open grassland with few or no trees and not many interesting destinations. Some of the roads are surfaced with gravel, and others are rough from being trampled by cows.
The Greasewood Trail from the Rancho Trail
Click any photo to enlarge
Many of the trails are unfortunately closed from March through June, which is when the watershed is most attractive. Sometimes only a few trails along the shore of the reservoir are left open.
The entire watershed is heavily grazed by very excitable cows that almost always start following hikers around, sometimes galloping to get in front of them. It seems like they’re looking for handouts, since they usually give up after a few minutes.
The trails are surprisingly hilly and include plenty of steep climbs. The most challenging climb is the Black Hills Trail to Morgan Territory, which climbs 3000 feet over just 5 miles.
The Black Hills Trail climbs 3,000 feet to Morgan Territory
The watershed’s north entrance, near Brentwood, is not connected to the south entrance, near Livermore, except by a long drive on Vasco Road. There are some really nice facilities, including a shiny new visitor center in the north and a marina in the south.
A hike of big vistas and wide-open spaces along two ridgetops, with superb views of the rolling, oak-sprinkled hills around the reservoir and the endless plain of the Central Valley.
A quiet, little-used hike to the Los Vaqueros peninsula with a nice backcountry feel and lots of wide open spaces. One of the few all-day hikes in the watershed that’s usually open in the spring.
A walk on a busy gravel road along Los Vaqueros Reservoir to an attractive blue oak grove with some nice views of Los Vaqueros Reservoir. Usually open in the spring.
A climb to a ridge with some really nice views over the Livermore Valley.
© 2015, 2022 David Baselt