

Sun, Aug 31
|Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center
Tarantula Trek
Hike is FULL
Time & Location
Aug 31, 2025, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center, 96 Mitchell Canyon Rd, Clayton, CA 94517, USA
About the event
Hike is FULL
“I know I am not capable of suffering more than I did during those few minutes of suspense in the dark, surrounded by those creeping, bloody-minded tarantulas.” (Mark Twain, Roughing It)
Join us for a nature walk up Mitchell Canyon, and we will dispel any malicious rumors you might have heard (from Mark Twain or others) about Mount Diablo’s iconic arachnids.
Tarantulas are actually the "teddy bears" of Mount Diablo; they even have a dance called the tarantella named for them. You'll also have a chance to meet a tarantula named Scarlet O'Harry, the real-life (not just Facebook) friend of outing leader Liz Watson.
This is a 2-mile round-trip hike with a few hundred-foot elevation gain. Bring liquids and snacks. Dress in layers and wear good hiking shoes. Bring poles if you normally use them. Restrooms and water are available near the trailhead.
There is a $6 per vehicle…