National Parks With T

Welcome back to National Parks and other public lands with T!

San Francisco Bay Area➢

In October of 2025, I flew to the San Francisco Bay Area for a long weekend to visit my cousin, who had been battling a serious illness. Her partner had spent the past two years balancing work with full-time caregiving, so we made a point of getting out for a few day trips while also spending time at my cousin’s bedside. We had originally planned to visit several National Park Service sites, but a federal government shutdown began the day I arrived, closing them all. Fortunately, California’s outstanding state park system gave us plenty to explore instead. Over the next few days, we visited towering redwoods, coastal beaches, historic sites, wildlife sanctuaries, and scenic reservoirs, proving that even with unexpected changes, the Bay Area offers no shortage of memorable places to discover.

In my rented Prius, I visited Portola Redwoods, Natural Bridges, Cowell Redwoods, Old St. Hilary’s Historic Preserve, Burlingame Shorebird Sanctuary, Lafayette Reservoir, and San Juan Bautista State Historic Park. Though I’ve visited the area many times over the years, these were all new parks for me.

Lafayette Reservoir➢

On a Saturday, I drove across the Bay to Lafayette to meet an old friend for lunch. I arrived a little early, so I stopped at Lafayette Reservoir on my way into town. I walked along the reservoir for a while and enjoyed the peaceful setting.

Lafayette Reservoir was completed in 1933 as a standby water supply for the East Bay Municipal Utility District. It was not opened to the public for recreation until 1966. Today, the 928-acre recreation area offers hiking, fishing, boating, and picnic areas around the reservoir. EBMUD continues to own and operate the recreation area.

The reservoir itself is quite pretty, with rolling hills surrounding the water and a tall tower rising from the middle of the lake. I walked along the shore for a bit, taking in the scenery. Lots of people and dogs were out enjoying the park with me. I only had a short time before meeting my friend for lunch, but it was a nice way to spend the extra time and see another part of the Bay Area.

Bay Area Posts➢

Location: 3849 Mount Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, California
Designation: Municipal Recreation Area
Date designated/established: 1966
Date of my visit: October 5, 2020