Del Valle Regional Park

I had a very different take on this place than the others. The RV spot was a fair distance from the neighboring spots, it was low-density, quite, all good qualities, but there was very little see or do near the loop. There were no hikes suitable for young kids as far as I could tell. There was a little store for ice cream and camping supplies and dump station on the loop.  HOWEVER, WARNING: the road around the campground looks wide but there are boulders every 10 feet or so making it insanely hard to back into our spot - and we had only a 22ft trailer! I can't see myself coming back here. The maps do accurately depict the relatively narrow space you have for back in spots. Once we were in, it was fine.  The pedestal and sewer set-up was just fine. No issues there. It's just not worth the hassle. 

As for the park/water part of the park, well, it was covered in garbage from the day-trippers. It was packed and only accessible by driving to it. Truly not a place I wanted to BBQ or picnic at.  Cars, people, dogs, loud music, and garbage. A gross diaper on the shore.     We took a very nice hike starting at the dog run. That was beautiful, but not worth the trip.

I didn't bother to photograph our site. There were all adequate, just avoid back in site here. There are so many better places to visit.  I checked this off the list, no reason to return. I don't believe there was reception either from the campsite.

Last thing, we peaked in on the cabins in our loop. They looks very nice and maintained.

Great lake and fishy, clean sites, bathrooms are great. All around awesome camping

Great place for a quick getaway with some friends or family. Enjoyed walking around and taking in the views. Saw some deer, rabbits, and hummingbirds. Enjoyed hanging out by the lake.

Staff is very friendly. Bathrooms were clean.

We hit Del Valle throughout the year, it's really close for us, but makes you feel like you're out in the cuts. Pretty much ZERO cell service, which is a good thing, helps you to disconnect. The lake is enjoyable, just wish the water level would rise.

After time spent here at this oasis in the middle of Eastbay, California, you’ll very much feel like part of this place with its endless trails, fantastically well-kept camping grounds and the warm hospitality given you both by the camp rangers and fellow campers you’ll come across. 

From a range of activities including horseback riding, kayaking on the namesake lake as well as hiking the foothills, if you’ve come here for nature, you’ll strike gold! The amenities are basic and – key to all California Regional Parks – everything is very well maintained, easy to find and wonderful to make use of. 

Happy Camping!

Close to the Bay Area and probably one of the better options.  It can get crowded over the weekends.

Looks like they recently increased the price for campsites, which makes it easier to find/reserve a site.  Not sure that this was a good thing, but it is what it is.

Overall, the experience falls and rises with your neighbors, and you probably know what I mean.  The sites are reasonably spaced.

Lots of foxtails in case you have dogs, but this is CA and they are everywhere.

Well kept, bathrooms tidy and stocked. It's a decent place for locals looking to get a break from routine but not intended to be a final destination.

We stayed in Sites 78 & 80, which were enormous, and could’ve easily fit 20-30 people, not the 8 people the sites were limited too. Careful though, many sites, including these, were mostly exposed with very little shade. Camping Labor Day weekend, temps were in the low 90s, and there were LOTS of mosquitoes. Most people in our party came back with upwards of 20-30 bites, even with lots of bug spray, screened enclosures, and other precautions.

Campsite amenities were great, easy access to water and bathrooms. Bathrooms were spotless the whole weekend, even though it was a holiday weekend and every site was booked. Park staff came by each evening to invite us to programs at the amphitheater. A firewood truck drove by at least once a day. You can also make purchases at a little camp store (in a shipping container), plenty of ice and firewood, but we didn’t see any alcohol for sale.

Check the rules ahead of time, they are quite restrictive and very different from many other campgrounds. No hard alcohol? No hammocks? No entry after 10:00pm?

Also note, the lake isn’t really in walking distance. If you have a dog, you have to head to East Shore (~5 min drive) and the Dog Run trail to let them in the water. Be prepared for a steep scramble down to the lakeside, and very limited beach.

I've camped many times here. I hiked in and car camped. Fun to see the wildlife and nature all around. Can get hot during summer but close to the lake to swim and paddle board.

Very happy with our first camping experience at Del Valle. Our campsite (#139) could have used some shade, but we had plenty of space and the views were awesome. Almost every site was occupied, but luckily everyone respected the quiet hours. The facilities were clean and well maintained. We didn’t interact with staff/rangers too much, but the few we did talk to were very friendly and helpful. We look forward to going back!

We’ve camped a few times at Del Valle and will be back again this summer. Our experiences have all been positive. Our first time was by the main gate (in the 60s) and it was nice site with good shade. The last time was site 81, which had much less shade but a location we preferred. The bathrooms were brand new then so we really enjoyed those. Campsites are nicely sized, though “partial shade” kinda means not at all shady (be sure to bring your own shade). You have to drive to the lake but it’s not too long of a car ride. Parking and beach fill up quickly. Surprisingly very few bugs at the campsites during the day; nighttime is a different story. It’s a kind of bring-your-own-fun camping experience; great easy location for group camping and getting to bond with the people you came with.

UPDATE: stayed here for our 3rd time this weekend (June 2019). We had a great time overall. The line of cars just to get into the park was long and took over 30 minutes. Park was crowded but bathrooms were very clean (that’s always been our experience here). Helpful rangers came around to tell us about special programs (campfire program Saturday night and nature hike Sunday morning). The store staff drove around late Saturday afternoon in a truck that sold firewood; they didn’t come back around Sunday morning so be sure to grab enough when you see them.

Wonderful place to go hiking & trail running. The hills are pretty intense, but they’re beautiful! The lake is also very picturesque. There is a swimming area, & there are picnic tables & nice-sized camp sites.

Del Valle is one of the most beautiful lakes in the east bay. The water is perfect temperature. Great hikes, paddle boarding, kayaking, swimming and beginner windsurfing. The only cons are that you have to drive to go swim and the campground isn’t really walking distance to swimming. It’s pretty hot in the summer and it has a rocky ground so it will be hard to get stakes on the ground. It’s trully beautiful and the wildlife views are incredible. The water is super clear and they have two beaches with a lifeguard which can get crowded. You can swim at your own risk past the marina though if you want to bike, hike or boat to those beautiful areas.

We've been camping here a few times now, since it is about a half hour from where we live. We camp with a 27' Travel Trailer and the campgrounds can accommodate it. There is also several tent campsites as well. The marina to Lake Del Valle is a few miles away. They rent recreational boats as well as aluminum fishing boats. They have a swimming beach area and they rent kayaks as well. There is some decent hiking trails from the campgrounds. There were no hookups where we camped for the travel trailer. Lots of turkey and deer in the area. The fee for us was $27/per night. They is a per fee as well.

Great lake for paddling as the speed limit for boats is low. Good fishing too. "Private" covers along the lake to hang out in.

Close to home! Love the hiking trails. Mountaining biking for those who can climb

The regional park and campground offer a lot of day time activities. Hiking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, pontoon boating! There is a lot of stuff to do here so you won't be wanting for activities. Keep in mind that this is a family campground and as such there will be a lot of kids waking up at 6am and making a lot of noise. Bring ear plugs, you should be fine. This campsite also has showers which is a big plus and running water. We stayed at site 118 which had zero shade, so unless you are planning on bringing a easy up shelter or something similar make sure the site you are reserving has some shade. A great camping experience overall!