Del Valle Regional Park

There is a parking area near the top of the hill along Del Valle Road. If you park at this parking area and then walk alongside Del Valle Road about one-fifth of a mile to the east, you should see a gate on your right and a trail beyond it. If you follow this trail, it follows the contours for some time before intersecting with another trail and beginning a steep descent into a canyon below. If you continue deep into the canyon, you will go past several ranches and have excellent views of the mountain ranges around the Del Valle Park. The trail then passes an abandoned cabin before reaching some interesting forested country. You should eventually reach a trail called the "Cedar Camp Trail". If you take a right onto this trail, you will go about one-third of a mile along a valley until you reach the Cedar Camp. There are picnic benches and restrooms at the campsite. It is an approximately 2-3 mile hike to the Cedar Group Camp, and if you come back the way you came, it should be approximately 4-5 miles.

Only the southern portion of Del Valle's western shore has any trails, but once you get away from the swimming section and the Rocky Ridge Visitor Center, the western shore trail is peaceful and gives you a better understanding of the flora and fauna of southern Del Valle Reservoir - which is different from the areas to the north of it. This section of the West Shore Trail is called the Deer Jaw Trail and goes north from the Rocky Ridge Visitor Center, along the shore of the lake, to a canyon. The trail is about one mile long.

This section of the East Shore Trail begins at the marina in the southern part of Del Valle Regional Park and makes its way along the eastern shore of the lake to Badger Cove and Swallow Bay. The trail begins to become quieter when it narrows near Badger Cove and follows the slope of an oak-covered ridge. It then passes Badger Cove and continues to the nearby Swallow Bay. Although this section of the trail is about two miles, the East Shore Trail continues for another few miles from here to the northern Arroyo Entrance to the Del Valle Park.

This hiking route begins at the northern Arroyo entrance to the park and follows the same trail as the one that leads to Swallow Bay - except that it begins at the northern end of the Del Valle Park. From this entrance/staging area, the trail divides in two and crosses an orchard. The trails then come back together and cross the main Arroyo del Valle Creek. After the creek is a gate before the trail begins to ascend the ridge. A small trail branches off to the left and leads to views of the Arroyo del Valle Cliffs, while the main trail more directly ascends the ridge. At the top of the ridge, there are two scenic vistas - behind you is the trail you just took and the Tri-Valley, and in front is Lake del Valle and Ohlone Regional Wilderness. Farther along the ridgetop section of the trail is an oak tree where you can sit at a bench and view the lake. The only downside to this hike is that, from the first part of the route, the dam is clearly in view. The trail (from the staging area to the ridgetop) is about a mile in length; however, the trail continues for several miles past the ridgetop toward the southern section of the park.

There is a trail network in southeastern Del Valle that leads from the East Shore Trail into the ridges above it. The East Ridge parking lot (at the ridgetop, along Del Valle Road) and the marina are both staging areas near this trail network, and several of the turn-offs along the southern section of the East Shore Trail lead upwards towards the East Ridge. Cutting into the ridge are several canyons that the eastern trails pass through, including Hidden Canyon. This region of the park is good for those who want a taste of Diablo Range cowboy country.

The one-mile Sailor Camp Trail goes up a large ridge in the far south of Del Valle. After one mile, you need a permit to continue into the Ohlone Regional Wilderness, which, although part of the East Bay Regional Parks District, is a separate park and is not in Del Valle Regional Park. Permits can be obtained at the Del Valle Park southern entrance if you do want to continue into Ohlone Regional Wilderness, which (to cross) is more than twenty miles over numerous mountain ranges and mountain peaks. The Ohlone Wilderness Trail, the only major trail in the Ohlone Wilderness, goes to Sunol Regional Wilderness and the city of Fremont.

A short trail connects the Veterans Memorial Park (and adjacent Sycamore Grove Park) with Del Valle Regional Park. It follows Arroyo del Valle and passes the Taylor Foundation campsite before crossing Arroyo Road to enter Del Valle Regional Park from the north.

The public may rent motorboats, patio boats, pedal boats, and canoes at the East Beach marina area. Kayaks can be rented at the Kayak Center at the east beach. Any size boat may be launched at the public boat ramp.

The visitor center is open weekends June 1st through September 30th; 10:00am-5:00pm. The visitor center is on the lake's west side and contains exhibits and information about the history of Del Valle and surrounding wilderness. Campers and park visitors are encouraged to visit and talk with naturalists and student aides about the park and the lake, and to take part in the programs that happen during the summer. Campfire programs at the campground amphitheater begin Memorial Day weekend; campers and park visitors can join naturalists for an evening around a campfire, with activities including songs, stories, games, and marshmallow roasting. Park visitors can also enjoy a scenic boat tour of the lake with naturalist staff.