LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA — The dramatic demolition of the Lafayette Reservoir tower has received nearly all the attention this summer. But regular walkers may be even more excited about a much less controversial change taking shape nearby.
The steep walking path that runs from the top of the dam down toward the visitor center and main parking area is being renovated.
For years, this short but heavily used section was one of the roughest parts of a walk at the reservoir. The pavement was deteriorating, the route felt cramped in places, and the condition of the path stood out from the otherwise smooth Lakeside Nature Trail around the water.
Now, that neglected stretch is getting a substantial rebuild as part of the much larger construction project underway at the reservoir.
A Side Benefit of the Tower Project
East Bay Municipal Utility District has not promoted the path as a separate trail-improvement project. Instead, it is part of the site work connected to the Lafayette Reservoir Tower Seismic Upgrade.
EBMUD previously said the tower work would require temporary, localized widening of the access road. In an August update to its board, the district confirmed that road widening was among the site improvements that began in May, along with work on a temporary boat ramp, barge placement and scaffolding around the tower.
The road needs to accommodate the heavy equipment being used for the tower project. But the work also created an opportunity to rebuild the adjacent pedestrian route instead of leaving walkers with the same damaged path once construction ends.
That makes this one of the rare construction impacts at the reservoir that should leave behind an obvious everyday benefit for park visitors.
It Is Not the Entire Lakeside Trail
To be clear, EBMUD is not rebuilding the entire paved loop around Lafayette Reservoir.
The Lakeside Nature Trail is a 2.7-mile paved route around the water. The work underway affects the shorter connector beside the access road, descending from the dam toward the visitor center and parking area.
Still, it is an important stretch. Many visitors use it at the beginning or end of a walk, and it carries a mix of runners, families, dog walkers and people heading between the parking area and the top of the dam.
On a route where the hill itself is already challenging, broken and uneven pavement made the climb and descent less comfortable than it needed to be. A rebuilt path should make that transition noticeably better, especially for families with strollers and visitors who need steadier footing.
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The Bigger Reservoir Overhaul Continues
The path renovation is only one small piece of a major wave of work at Lafayette Reservoir.
EBMUD awarded Mountain Cascade Inc. a contract of up to $14.49 million for the tower safety upgrade. That figure covers the broader tower project — not the walking path alone.
Crews have already removed the tower’s operating house and are shortening the nearly century-old structure by approximately 40 feet. EBMUD says the tower and the conduits beneath the dam need to be strengthened to meet modern seismic-safety requirements.
The district is also replacing the recreation area’s aging wastewater system, while separate improvements are planned at the nearby Lafayette Water Treatment Plant.
According to EBMUD’s latest dam-safety update, demolition work on the tower is expected to continue into late fall 2026, with conduit retrofits following in 2027. The district currently expects the overall tower project to be completed in early 2028, although construction schedules can change.
Visitors should continue to expect equipment, flaggers, occasional delays and temporary route changes while the work continues. EBMUD has said it intends to maintain public access where possible and provide alternate pedestrian routes when closures are necessary.
The shortened tower will remain the most visible and debated part of the reservoir’s transformation. But for the people who actually walk the reservoir week after week, the rebuilt path may end up being the upgrade they notice most.
We’ll let you know when the newly-renovated stretch of trail opens! Join our free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you updated.
