Briones Regional Park
Approximately 5 miles north of Orinda off Highway 24, Briones Regional Park is a secret wilderness surrounded by the towns of central Contra Costa County. Although the park is close to Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, and Martinez, there are peaks within it from which you can see only park and watershed lands for miles in every direction.
Near the Bear Creek entrance are three reservable campgrounds for organized group camping, and an archery range.
Activities: Camping, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding, Archery
For information about the archery range, visit www.archeryweb.com/briones.
Camping
There are three group camping areas. The sites are .5 miles to 1.3 miles from the nearest road, near the Bear Creek staging area, and therefore require some backpacking in. Detailed descriptions and pictures are available at http://www.classweb.ebparks.org/eConnect5.2/Facilities/FacilitiesSearchResult.asp?PrevPage=What
Maud Whalen Camp has a capacity of 75 campers and three vehicles on site with equipment (no shuttling of campers). It is a primitive camp site, 1-mile walk in from the Bear Creek entrance, with a shelter, a fire circle, & storage. nine picnic tables, 3 BBQs, 4 chemical toilets and a drinking fountain with a spigot. The site is available by reservations only and open April-October.
Information website: https://www.ebparks.org/parks/briones
Map Link (beta): https://www.google.com/maps?q=37.5180512,-121.8900933
Bookings: Call 1-888-EBPARKS or (1-888-327-2757), press option 2