Mt Diablo

As many of you know, the California's State Parks are in serious trouble due to budget cuts. In an attempt to bring attention to all the wonderful state parks California has to offer, I will be featuring a different CA State Park every week. I hope to bring attention to these treasures to increase awareness of what the state park system has to offer and encourage others to stand up and help protect these important places .

If you have ever been in Sacramento, Stockton, or the Bay Area you have seen it. It stands alone. An icon in its own right, taking up alot of valuable East Bay real estate. An island of wilderness in a sea of humanity. It has been said that on a clear you can stand at its summit and see further than anywhere else in North America. Its Mt Diablo, and its the perfect place to escape the urban sprawl in Northern California.

At 3,849 feet, Mt Diablo offers hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, rock climbing, star gazing and wildlife viewing. My favorite spot on the mountain is Rock City, an area of the park with large sandstone formations and small caves. Its so fun to climb the rocks and explore their nooks and crannies.

No trip to Mt Diablo is complete without a trip to the summit. There is a visitor center at the top and the views from the observation deck are amazing. The best views usually come after a winter storm when the skies are crisp and clear.

Just below the summit the .7 mile Mary Bowerman Trail is a great little family hike with plenty of great views. We did this trail our kids were tiny and they did great.

There are plenty of other trails on the mountain to check out and some nice places to camp. For more information on Mt Diablo please check out the CA State Park website here. Gates open at 8 AM and close at sunset so if you aren't planning on staying inside the park make sure you are get back to your car in time so you don't get locked in. You can enter the park from either Walnut Creek or Danville.

Things To Do
Walnut Creek