castle rock regional recreation area

Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area, or Castle Rock Park, as it is called locally, is one of those hidden gems that makes you appreciate the efforts of the East Bay Regional Park District to preserve open space. While the park is on the edge of Walnut Creek's horsey suburban boundaries, once you are on the trail, going up the small canyon toward Mt. Diablo, it feels like you are really out in the countryside!The park itself contains several picnicking venues, and these are able to be reserved for large groups. In the summer, there is a swimming pool, and much of the picnic area of the park is wheelchair accessible. But these areas are just at the main entrance to the park. Beyond the first half mile or so the trail becomes more picturesque as it winds up the canyon. You can walk/hike for about a mile, before the trail continues into open rangeland. Dogs are allowed in the park section, but not onto the rangeland. There is also a mountain bike trail, which seems very popular. The hiking trails connect to many longer trails and open spaces in the area. The area is also popular with equestrians, as boarding stables line the road on the way into the park. Parking is often a problem, especially in the summer. There are two parking lots, but they fill up fast. Sadly, there is no easy way to get to this park by public transit. The closest you can get by bus, on weekdays, is to Ygnacio Valley Rd. and Oak Grove Rd. then it is about 3 miles to the entrance of the park. A hefty walk, but not too bad on a bike and most local busses do have bike racks. On a bike, you could also just leave the Contra Costa Canal trail where it crosses Oak Grove, and follow Oak Grove Rd. toward Mr. Diablo. Oak Grove becomes Castle Rock Rd. Enjoy,