May 13, 2004

Since Contra Loma Regional Park was only a few miles away from our Carquinez Strait hike, we decided to hike this trail on the same day.

Our path alternated between ridge trail and shoreline trail as we circumnavigated the reservoir.

We started at the swimming area. It was a great contrast to the reservoir just below. The other interesting part of the swimming area was the sand beach around its border.
We started our hike in the picnic area beside the swimming pool. The trail immediately climbed the hill behind the reservoir to show the panoramic views or the Sacramento Delta as well as the Contra Loma Park.

Then it was down to the shoreline and across the dam. The views of the golden hills with their  sparse cover of oaks was a nice contrast to the lake.

Near the end of our hike we got a look up a pretty valley away from the lake. The trail skirted a muddy pond with cattails and a pair of ducks huddled along the shore.
The hike around Contra Loma Reservoir is also part of the American Discovery Trail. Hiking here turned out to be a good scouting expedition for a future long hike.