EBMUD Valle Vista Staging Area — Attraction in California

Keep in mind that you need to buy an authorization ticket to get into this area. Go to the EBMUD website to do so. However, there are no gates nor guards to stop you from going in. And plenty of parking is available at no charge. The main hiking area is the Upper San Leandro Reservoir, with King's Canyon Loop Trail being the largest trail for hiking. I ended up hiking the whole trail which is 6.4 miles according to 'Alltrails'. But my iPhone said that I had hiked 8.4 miles. In reality you will end up hiking more. If I knew more about this trail beforehand I would have just hiked the west and south side of the trail. This is the side where the water is nearest to you. It is also more scenic and there's more shade. When you see the sign "Rancho Laguna Park" is where the west side of the loop starts. In other words start the loop anticlockwise as supposed to clockwise. I would avoid hiking the east side because it is mostly open. It is a lot steeper. It is soily. It is dusty. And hardly scenic. However, if you are the adventurous type then see the whole trail for yourself. By the way the lake is completely fenced with wires. It is not accessible to the public. So you will not be able to soak your feet there. However, there is a section open to the public about half a mile from the entrance. This is probably the most scenic section of the trail. If you want a break and sit down, you won't find many benches to sit down. As a matter of fact I would not even think about taking a break. Because the minute you stop you'll get attacked by mosquitoes and flies. I rate the west and south side 5/5. The...

Typical staging area. Plenty of parking and a standalone toilet in a proper building. Little out of the way but worth exploring if you are tired of hitting the same trails over and over that are nearby.

Typically not busy with most people being scared of by permit requirements.

Trails are a mixture of fire roads and standard sized trails that snake through the woods.

Note that trails require a EBMUB permit - $3 for a day pass and $10 for a full year. Have never heard of any fines passed out, but don't chance it - there are QR codes and you can pay by phone onsite.

Not visible on Google maps, but you can hike back into Reinhart Redwoods from this...

I thought it was pretty Rediculous..you have to get a permit from a different location just to hike and no fishing, I can understand the need for a permit and no swimming or boats because it is for "drinking water" but to disallow fishing because of the risk of contamination or whatever bs reason given is blasphemy when you look at Google Earth and see all the Vineyards that contribute to the run off water full of pesticides and fertilizer into the lake.. par for the course California, destroy natural environments to make money and call...