Contra Costa's Los Vaqueros Reservoir was completed in 1998, the last
large-scale dam to be built in the 9 counties surrounding the SF Bay. Located
in the grassy hills north of Livermore, the area has been primarily used
for ranching over the past century (and continues still, even in the
reservoir watershed). Over the past 30yrs, Open Space areas have been acquired,
connecting hiking trails to Mt. Diablo State Park to the west. This was my first
visit to the reservoir since it was built, my recently retired cousin
along
for the fun. I was after two unnamed summits on the north side of the reservoir
that were accessible from the trail system within the Los Vaqueros Watershed.
The first of these has no trail or road going to the summit, requiring
about 300ft of cross-country gain to reach the open, grass-covered top.
The second has trails (mostly ranch roads) running along the ridgeline
and the very summit where several view benches are found and, oddly, a
restroom. There are fine views overlooking the reservoir to the south
and the community of Brentwood in the Central Valley to the northeast.
Cloud cover hampered views of Mt. Diablo
to the northwest. We spent about 4.5hrs on the hike, including a half hour stop
atop Peak 1,272ft for a picnic lunch. The marina
on the west end of the lake
where we parked offers rental boats and fishing poles and a well-stocked bait
shop - the place appears to be far more popular with anglers than hikers,
judging by this one visit, but the green hills made for fine
hiking scenery.
Los Vaqueros Reservoir was completed in 1998, the last
large-scale dam to be built in the 9 counties surrounding the SF Bay. Located
in the 
grassy hills north of Livermore, the area has been primarily used
for 
ranching over the past century (and continues still, even in the
reservoir watershed). Over the past 30yrs, Open Space areas have been acquired,
connecting hiking trails to Mt. Diablo State Park to the west. This was my first
visit to the reservoir since it was built, my recently retired 
cousin
along
for the fun. I was after two unnamed summits on the north side of the reservoir
that were accessible from the trail system within the Los Vaqueros Watershed.
The first of these has no trail or road going to the summit, requiring
about 
300ft of cross-country gain to reach the open, grass-covered top.
The second has trails (mostly ranch roads) running along the ridgeline
and the very 
summit where several view benches are found and, oddly, a
restroom. There are fine views overlooking the reservoir to 
the south
and the community of Brentwood in the Central Valley to 
the northeast.
Cloud cover hampered views of Mt. Diablo
to the northwest. We spent about 4.5hrs on the hike, including a half hour stop
atop Peak 1,272ft for a picnic lunch. 
The marina
on the west end of the lake
where we parked offers rental boats and fishing poles and a well-stocked bait
shop - the place appears to be far more popular with anglers than hikers,
judging by this one visit, but the green hills made for fine
hiking scenery.