The Fire Interpretive Trail
Just below the summit, this trail offers spectacular vistas that can be enjoyed
along the way. The first half of the gentle 0.7-mile loop trail is accessible to visitors
in wheelchairs. Pick up a copy of the trail Nature Guide at the trailhead or at the Summit
Museum. The trail was named when it was built to showcase views of the recovery from a
6,000-acre fire that occurred in 1977. Today little remains of the devastation.Rock City
You'll find unusually large sandstone formations and small caves here.
Numerous picnic sites and campground.
Gibraltar and Sentinel Rocks
These are popular places near Rock City for rock climbing. Check with the
ranger for regulations and the best approach.
Castle Rocks
These rugged rocks are located in the Northwestern portion of the park and
are also popular rock climbing sites.
Fossil Ridge (off
Southgate road)
Evidence of previous ocean residents is embedded in these rocks. Access
from Rock City. Please leave them for future visitors to see. Blocks of these sandstones
were quarried from this site to build the summit building in the 1930's.
Deer Flat
You are likely to see some of the mountain's natural wildlife as you take
this moderately strenuous 1.6-mile hike from Juniper Camp.
Mitchell Canyon Staging Area
This is the main access point to trails on the mountain's north side. From
here you can hike to Deer Flat (3.7 miles) or all the way to the summit (6.8 miles) by way
of Juniper Camp. Visit the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center here. This is a major equestrian
staging area.
Diablo Valley Overlook
Pull out on the Summit Road at Juniper Camp Ground. From here, 2,900 feet
above sea level, you can see the Golden Gate.
Valley View from the Top
Most first-time visitors to Mt. Diablo read straight to the summit to
enjoy the famous view. Summer days are sometimes hazy, and the best viewing is often on
the day after a winter storm. Then, you can look to the west, beyond the Golden Gate
Bridge to the Farallon Islands; southeast to the James Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton
at 4,213 feet elevation; south to Mount Loma Prieta in the Santa Cruz Mountains at 3,791
feet elevation; north to Mount Saint Helena in the Coast Range at 4,344 feet elevation;
and much farther, Mount Lassen in the Cascades at 10,466 feet. To the north the San
Joaquin and Sacramento rivers meet to form the twisting waterways of the Delta and across
the Central Valley the crest of the Sierra Nevada seems to float in space. If you have
binoculars, you may even be able to pick out Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. From
here, you can see parts of 35 of California's 58 counties. The view is unsurpassed in the
United States. |
Hiking Trails