Briones Peak via Lafayette Ridge Trail- 11 mi / 1,900 ft
Details
Join us for a pre-Spring hike, as the weather begins to warm a bit, this time out in Lafayette. We’ll meet at 9:45 at the Lafayette Ridge Staging Area, and begin hiking at 10:00.
The parking lot is a decent size, but plan your commute well enough to secure parking. The parking lot is located just past Acalanes High School, on the other side of Pleasant Hill Road:
The Route is shown below. The elevation profile doesn’t look very dramatic, but this ridgeline hike does have several rolling ups and downs along its length. There are also some short steep-ish sections with loose soil/fine gravel. We will begin a fairly steep uphill along a regraded section, to the south from the parking lot as shown:
AllTrails:
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/briones-peak-via-lafayette-ridge-trail-696b35c
This is in out and back hike – we’ll stop for lunch at a convenient spot close to the midpoint. The current weather forecast shows a mostly sunny day, cool morning (low in the high 40’s), getting up to around 65 degrees:
Weather:
https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ca/lafayette/37.89,-122.12
Dress accordingly, including layering as needed. The route is exposed – bring sunblock and/or hat, sure to have sturdy footwear. Poles will come in handy for some of you, at the frequent ups and downs. Bringing at least 2 liters of water is recommended, as well as snacks and lunch.
** this is not a beginners hike **
We’ll hike at a moderate to quick pace, in the to 2.5+ miles/hr range while moving. We should finish between around 3:00. Time can vary somewhat, either way, based on the group – consider that for your planning purposes, and know your abilities.
We will enjoy a refreshing adult beverage and some food post-hike in Lafayette, at Headlands Brewing, located at 3420 Mount Diablo Blvd Suite A, Lafayette, CA 94549: