Lafayette Ridge Staging Area

How to get there?
 

What starts as a single gravel track heading up the slopes toward Lafayette Ridge quickly splits into many different paths, making it difficult to follow. However in general you want these signs for your next turn which is usually indicated by an initial right-hand bend followed by a sharp left on an ascendent fire road and then continue onward accordingly after that!
 

The hike to the top of this hill is scenic and challenging. The track follows an oak-shaded path, then reaches almost due south before turning right at its fork—which takes one into a small grassy knoll with great views in either direction as far as the eye can see! Once on top, there are several options for exploration from where you'll be able to enjoy nature all around (including some nearby caves). Return by choosing whichever way feels like your best option: stay left or go straight down if taking flight over earth first?
 

Background:
 

Hiking up the Lafayette Ridge Trail is a great way to get an overlook of beautiful Walnut Creek and beyond. The topography of this trail changes constantly, with some steep hillsides that may require you to take care or pay attention when hiking as well as gentle slopes for families looking to just want something leisurely paced.
 

The trail is best suited to shorter out-and-back hikes since there are some steep knolls in the northern half that wouldn’t be pleasant on your second time through. Plus it's hard enough hiking back without having extra pavement or steps between where you started and where you ended up once something goes wrong!
 

Hike Description:
 

Start at the Lafayette Ridge entrance. The 60-car lot sometimes fills up, but it usually doesn’t take long for someone to leave.

Follow the signs for the Lafayette Ridge Trail up the hill, as there's a lot of automobile noise at first from busy Pleasant Hill Road. The dirt road divides into three paths; all will get you to the same destination, but the faintest one marked as the Lafayette Ridge Trail becomes a singletrack trail that switchbacks through a little oak grove before cresting the top of a couple of knolls. The switchbacks are steep and it’s mostly uphill, but none of the trails lead to any dead ends or anything.
 

After the path ascends into an open area before reaching a few farms and residences, descend a hill on your right to discover an ancient corral - this is also where most people start. You may continue hiking along the route or take one of two side trails to circumnavigate the knoll below: go up to the left for a great perspective of Lafayette, then loop down past another home into a big meadow; or trek up to the right through that oak grove for another spectacular view of Walnut Creek.
 

On the other side of a low hill, the route emerges onto a ridgetop with excellent views over the towns on both sides. The following half-mile is simple and level. Lafayette Reservoir and Mount Diablo are visible from this vantage point. The ridge is unexpectedly calm; traffic noise has vanished away. It's an exquisite region.