The Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail is a 7.6-mile paved path connecting Olympic Boulevard in Lafayette to the Commons Park in Moraga. Following the route of an old railroad line, it’s flat, family-friendly, and one of the best ways to experience Lamorinda without a car.
The Route
Starting in Lafayette, the trail winds through residential areas and open space, passing:
- Lafayette Community Park
- Valle Vista Staging Area
- Moraga Commons Park (southern terminus)
The old railroad route means gentle grades throughout — strollers and road bikes handle it easily.
Trail Users
The paved surface makes this trail accessible to everyone:
- Walkers and joggers
- Cyclists (road and hybrid bikes work best)
- Families with strollers
- Inline skaters
- Dog walkers (leashed)
Why Locals Love It
It’s not wilderness — it’s better for certain purposes. The pavement means you can use it year-round, wet or dry. The gentle grade means everyone from kids to grandparents can enjoy it. And it connects two towns, making it actually useful for transportation, not just recreation.
Seasonal Tips
- Mid-March through April: Peak wildflower season in the East Bay. The hillsides along the trail are emerald green and starting to bloom with California poppies, lupine, and buttercups. The stretch near Valle Vista offers particularly good views of the surrounding hillside color. Worth bringing a camera — mid-morning light is best for photos when the poppies fully open.
- Summer: Start early — shade is limited and the paved surface can get hot. Before 9am is ideal.
- Fall/Winter: The trail stays usable year-round thanks to the pavement, even right after rain.
Late March into April
Peak wildflower season is here. The hills along the trail are lush and green, California poppies are opening on the sunny slopes, and the lupine won’t be far behind. This window — late March through mid-April — is arguably the trail’s most beautiful stretch of the year. Mornings are crisp, afternoons warm to the mid-60s, and the light has that golden spring quality that makes everything look better. If you’ve been meaning to walk or bike the trail, don’t wait — the green hills start fading to gold by late May.
Local Lore
The trail’s gentle, steady grade isn’t a coincidence — you’re walking on railroad history. This was once the Sacramento Northern Railway, an electric interurban line that connected Oakland to Sacramento via the East Bay hills. Passenger service ran from 1913 until 1957, with stops in Lafayette and Moraga connecting these then-rural communities to the greater Bay Area.
At its peak, the Sacramento Northern was part of an ambitious electric railway network that let you travel from San Francisco to Chico without a car. Locals rode it to work, to shop in Oakland, to visit family in the Central Valley. The gentle curves you walk today were engineered for electric railcars making that climb from sea level to the 900-foot summit near Moraga.
After passenger service ended, freight continued until 1977. The East Bay Regional Park District acquired the right-of-way in the 1970s and converted it to the trail we know today. Look carefully in spots and you might notice the old railroad bridges — some of the infrastructure remains, hidden in plain sight.
The next time you’re coasting downhill toward Moraga Commons, remember: a century ago, passengers in electric railcars made the same descent, watching the same hills roll by (a bit faster, perhaps).
Good to Know
- Free — no parking fees at trailheads
- Open sunrise to sunset
- Water fountains at various points
- Shade is limited — bring sun protection on hot days
- Connects to Briones to Mt. Diablo Trail for longer adventures