Recreation at Los Vaqueros

If you've been looking for a place to fish, hike, ride your bike or horse, or just enjoy a peaceful natural setting, the Contra Costa Water District's Los Vaqueros Watershed could be just the place.

The watershed offers hiking and multi-use trails, picnic facilities, restrooms and five staging areas to park cars. There are 55 miles of trail open.

The reservoir is stocked with game fish ranging from rainbow trout to kokanee salmon. We have a weekly fishing report on the web site.

Los Vaqueros is a protected watershed environment of nearly 20,000 acres that provides 550,000 people with drinking water. Numerous animal species depend on Los Vaqueros as a safe place to live, and are often spotted by observant visitors. We have on-line a weekly report of animals spotted at LV.

Because the reservoir stores drinking water, body contact sports (such as swimming) are not permitted and the only boats allowed on the reservoir are those available for rent at the Marina Center.

There are two entrances for vehicles to the watershed.

The north, where the dam, Interpretive Center (which is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and most of the multi-use trails for bikes and horses start.

In the south,are the Marina Center and boat docks, along with two of the four fishing piers. There are picnic areas at both ends of the lake.

You can rent an electric boat at the marina and hot food, ice cream and snacks are available there as well.

Have questions about seeing cattle and sheep at Los Vaqueros?

There are a number of weekend programs at Los Vaqueros. You can see the current list here.

Want to know the current weather? Check our "Conditions" page.

For more information, call the marina at (925) 371-2628 or e-mail us.

You can also signup for an e-mail newsletter about LV activities.