Oursan Trail

This trail follows the north and west shores of EBMUD's Briones Reservoir between Bear Creek Road (near the reservoir inlet stream) and Old San Pablo Trail and the Orinda Connector. The eastern end of this trail is at EBMUD's Bear Creek Staging Area, on the WEST side of Bear Creek Road near Happy Valley Road (free parking in dirt lot). (Do not confuse this location with Bear Creek Staging Area in Briones Regional Park, located just to the north and at the end of the park entrance road on the EAST side of Bear Creek Road.) Follow this trail out of the staging area and begin following the reservoir's north shore as you work your way west. Eventually you'll climb and work your way around the Fault Creek drainage, then descend gradually along the reservoir's west shore. You'll reach the reservoir dam and cross it, reaching Bear Creek Trail at the far end. Here, this trail turns right and switches back down the hillside at the edge of the dam face. In the valley at the bottom, this trail follows a signed route into pine trees, reaching its junction with Old San Pablo Trail and the Orinda Connector.