Things to do in and around Alhambra Valley
Recreation
Hiking, biking and equestrian activities
Briones Regional Park
Briones is an ideal park for hiking, running, biking, and horseback riding over the park's scenic trails; picnicking, birdwatching, and similar activities; and informal recreation such as kite flying, photography, and nature study.
There are five major access points, of which the two most developed are the Alhambra Creek Valley Staging Area off Reliez Valley Road near Martinez and the Bear Creek Road Staging Area.
Briones Horse Center
Briones Horse Center is located at the Alhambra Creek Valley Trailhead to Briones Regional Park.
Family owned for 30 years, the establishment has gained many members over the years. The Horse Center boarders Lafayette, Pleasant Hill, and Martinez.
Fast access to the park, beautiful surrounding hills and an open environment is the perfect place to board a horse.
Mt. Wanda
Named after his eldest daughter, Mt. Wanda is 326 acres of oak woods and grasslands.
The Muir family never used it for fruit production, but as an escape for the daughters to take nature walks with “Papa”.
Explore the hills where John Muir hiked with his two daughters, Wanda and Helen.
Vaca Creek Trail
The Stonehurst property is located off Alhambra Valley Road outside Martinez.
The Vaca Creek Trail runs about 3/4 mile. Mostly level and well shaded, the trail is open to the public and managed by the East Bay Regional Park District. Enjoy your hike!
Almond Ranch
The Almond Ranch is a stunning 281-acre property south of downtown Martinez is the proverbial “missing piece” — the key to connecting thousands of acres of protected open space, opens the property’s beautiful rolling hills along the Franklin Ridge to hikers, dog walkers, cyclists, bird watchers, equestrians, and nature lovers of all ages.
Franklin Ridge
Well-defined ravines, hilltops, and plateaus, open grasslands, and deciduous native oak woodlands carpet northerly facing slopes. The views are stunning and completes a segment of the Bay Area Ridge Trail on wide fire trails that has been in the planning stages for decades.
Franklin Ridge is one of those places on the map where it seems “all trails lead here.”
Wineries and Events
Winemaker Dave Bhachu is your typical backyard gardner who went from planting citrus trees and eating grapes off the vine to harvesting multiple acres, and crafting 5 different wines
https://www.bhachuvineyards.com
Balestrieri Family Farms
We are a small, family run farm located in the beautiful hills of Briones.
We grow grapes and olives and have a variety of farm animals.