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Trail Through Time Hike A Geological Journey BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Bracted Popcornflower Scientific Name: Plagiobothrys bracteatus Family: Boraginaceae (Borage Family) Blooms: Apr-May Color: White Annual herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald

Camel Rock Hike by Frank Valle-Riestra Reprinted from Mountain News, Spring/Summer 2009 Frank's Favorite Hikes May 1, 2009 Carl Nielson There are trails in Mount Diablo State Park that are not well known. One of these is the Camel Rock Trail, a gentle single-track trail that parallels the lower reaches of North Gate Road. The trail has been improved in recent years through the efforts of the Park's trail maintenance crew and volunteers, and now provides the curious hiker with an easy and comfortable pathway through a decidedly unique environment. Camel Rock trailhead is located on North Gate Road—a little over a mile beyond the entrance kiosk—at the Park boundary marked appropriately with a prominent brown signboard. A wide pull-off at the side of the road provides for adequate parking. To find the trail, cross the road and look for a narrow path climbing steeply to the right. It is clearly posted as the “Camel Rock Trail.” A steep but mercifully short climb takes you into a world of broad meadows, under the undulating skyline of Long Ridge with its scattered silhouettes of California buckeyes. It is a world of surprising silence and isolation yet so close to the road and urban development, and a source of pleasure and exhilaration to the lonely hiker. Look up toward Long Ridge and you will notice that the treeless zone you are crossing is separated by a sharp line from a zone of more profuse chaparral. The line represents the edge of a band of serpentinite which spans Mount Diablo's lower reaches. Serpentinite is a magnesium-rich mineral that forms a soil not favored by most shrubs and trees. Indeed, as you walk on, you will run across outcrops of the mineral, with aspects ranging from a slick, glass-like green to a crumbly blue, and even a white powder. The grasses are lush in these open areas, but the sunny habitat also favors wildflowers tolerant of the magnesium-rich soil. Springtime brings fine varietal displays—indeed, the dry spring of 2008 brought forth an astounding spectacle of massed California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) coloring Long Ridge with a blinding bright orange. Smaller orange explosions of trailside poppies usually last well into the fall, along with late bloomers such as the aromatic Tarweeds (Madia gracilis) and the bright red California Fuchsia (Epilobium canum) in rocky outcrops. The trail here may be partially covered with thick grasses; however, it is not difficult to follow. Your upward progress will take you through alternating zones of grasslands, chaparral, and oak savannah. Several small streams cross your path, mostly dry in the warm months, but some with silent pools of clear water even in the fall that are an important wildlife resource. Notice the smooth polish of the eroded rocks that form the stream bed, evidence of the sculpting power of winter's flash floods. The stream gullies impart some down-and-up episodes to your voyage, but the general trend is a moderate climb to the terminus of Camel Rock Trail where it meets Burma Road. On your way you will pass through warmer regions of chaparral with its pleasing aromas of Black Sage (Salvia mellifera), California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), and the charming Vinegar Weed (Trichostema lanceolatum). You will find those cool stream gullies a pleasant contrast to the hotter chaparral, shaded as they are by a forest growth of buckeyes, oaks, bay trees, and an occasional maple, a burst of color in the fall. Upper reaches of the trail penetrate an oak savannah, and here you will spot the first of several spectacular rocky monuments, terminally eroded protrusions of greenstone. You are free to let your imagination discover novel shapes in these crumbling formations, but they do not resemble a camel. As you reach Burma Road, you may wonder where the name of Camel Rock Trail comes from. There is a rock resembling a camel nearby, but it is not adjacent to the trail. After all that effort, you owe it to yourself to find Camel Rock. On Burma Road, climb uphill a short distance to the point where the road slightly curves to the left at the beginning of a steep rise. Then leave the road and cross the meadow to your right. Camel Rock will come into view to the south. It is a pleasant place to rest and take in some refreshments. To complete a loop back to your vehicle, return to Burma Road and descend to the paved North Gate Road. Cross the road, and continue on Burma Road to its junction with Little Pine Creek Road. Continue along Little Pine Creek Road to its terminus at North Gate Road where your vehicle is located. The descent is steep but pleasant through more oak savannah and oak tree plantings with wonderful views of the undulating flanks of Long Ridge across the valley. You will see traces of the Camel Rock Trail you had climbed in the distance. The loop length is three miles with a net climb of about 500 feet. Allow for two hours. The only hazard might be ticks. It is wise to check your skin when you get home. BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Small-flowered Monkeyflower Scientific Name: Erythranthe inconspicua Family: Phrymaceae Blooms: May-Jun Color: White Annual herb Native, endemic to California California Rare Plant Rank: 4.3 (limited distribution).This plant is rare in Mount Diablo State Park. See full list Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants

Rattlesnake Research by Linda Orchard-Hays Mount Diablo Review, January 1999 Rattlesnake Research Program at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum January 1, 1999 Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, North Gate Road | Clayton Worsdel Rattlesnakes. Most people are afraid of them and yet many of us have never seen one in the wild. These shy creatures prefer to remain out of sight, and do us the courtesy of giving a warning when we get too close. Although rattlesnakes can hear very low frequencies and vibrations, their rattles exist for the benefit of the predator. Rattlesnakes’ primary predator is man, who kill them out of fear and ignorance. However, they are also killed by hawks, eagles, roadrunners, coyotes, bobcats and kings snakes. There are 29 species of rattlesnake within North and South America. The one most common to California is the western rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis ); it ranges from south-western Canada to Chihuahua, Mexico and as far east as western Iowa. There are nine sub-species of this snake; the most common one in the Bay Area is the northern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis oreganus ). Although rattlesnakes can be aggressive when hungry or threatened, they do not often bite humans. A bite with venom (venom is not always injected) can cause swelling, necrosis, fever, and nausea. The only way to treat a bite is to get to a hospital within four hours and receive anti-shock and anti-venom treatment. The northern Pacific rattlesnake, according to Carl Ernst’s description, is dark gray, olive, yellowish brown, brown or black and has dark hexagonal or circular blotches with light borders (from Venomous Reptiles of North America). The average length ranges from 1.5 feet to 2.5 feet with the maximum length being just over 5 feet. They eat small rodents, birds and lizards and live for 16-20 years. The females generally give birth every 2 years although it can vary from every year to every third year. The gestation period is 110 days and they give birth to an average of 10 live young. Generally, the females will live in maternity colonies throughout the year and not migrate to the summer feeding ground. The western rattlesnake can be found in a variety of habitats such as woodlands, scrub areas, grasslands, desert margins or sand dunes. Its main requirement is having adequate hiding spots, such as ground squirrel burrows or rocky outcroppings, within migratory distance. These snakes have a summer feeding area, a winter hibernation site and a migration corridor between the two, and they are highly tenacious to their territory. If, for example, a house is built on their migration route, those homeowners may find rattlesnakes in their yard each year. The territories of western Pacific rattlesnakes are about .05 to .025 square miles. They emerge from hibernation in the early spring and shortly thereafter migrate to the summer feeding area. They then return to the hibernacula in October and hibernate through the winter. In this area, the snakes may briefly come out of hibernation on a warm winter day. The distance between the summer feeding ground and the winter hibernacula depends primarily on the climate. Cornell professor Dr. Harry Greene has found that in Arizona this species stays in the same territory year-round while in Wyoming it can migrate over five miles. It is not yet known how far they migrate in this area. That is one of the questions that we hope to find an answer with the wildlife research project at the Lindsay Museum. If we can determine the location of the territories and migration routes we can be better informed about our activities at certain times of the year. The Lindsay Wildlife Museum has a Wildlife Research Program consisting of five different projects. Through a series of classes, each project trains volunteers in scientific observation and data collection. The volunteers then collect data to answer a specific scientific question for a partner organization. The program therefore simultaneously provides an educational opportunity and scientific research. For each project there can be more than one partner organization. The rattlesnake project has four partners: Lindsay Wildlife Hospital, Ohlone-Sunol Wilderness, Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, and Mount Diablo State Park. The project is studying two questions: 1) What are the movements of a snake brought into the hospital after it has been rehabilitated and released? 2) Where are the migration routes and territories of rattlesnakes in this area? The first question will help us understand if a snake is able to orient back to its territory and/or be successful once it has been removed and released. A snake must be released within three miles of where it was found. However, since a western rattlesnake only moves a couple of meters each day, three miles may be too far away from its territory for it to be successful. The second question is more long-range and will require many studies; however, it can lead us to understand the habitat needs of this animal and help us minimize human impact. The snakes are studied by implanting them with a radio transmitter. Each snake can then be tracked using a receiver and an antennae. Currently, the project has one young adult male snake that has been implanted and released at Mount Diablo State Park. In the spring, when the snakes become more active, volunteers from the project will be assisting at Ohlone-Sunol Wilderness with a similar project already in place there. We hope that in the future more parks n space areas will do research on these animals to promote our understanding and preserve their habitat. If you are interested in learning more about these projects or becoming a volunteer please contact the Lindsay Wildlife Museum at 925-935-1978. Rattlesnake | Scott Hein Rattlesnake Blending BACK TO LIST

Migrating Calliope Hummingbird Selasphorus calliope Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii Hermit Warbler Setophaga occidentalis Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus

Mount Diablo Summit Building by Linda Sanford Reprinted from the Mount Diablo Review April 1, 1998 Summit Building | Ruth Ann Kishi The idea of having a museum or visitor center on the summit of Mount Diablo has been around for a very long time. In fact, even before Mount Diablo became one of California’s original State Parks those that visited the mountain top by stage, wagon and horseback commented on how great it would be to have a facility at the top of the mountain to interpret the spectacular view as well as the natural history of the mountain. Mount Diablo became a park in 1921. Administered by its own Mount Diablo State Park Commission, it was one of seven state parks created before the establishment of the California State Park System. The first State Park Bond Act passed in 1928. It was primarily through local interest and extensive lobbying by local groups that 1500 acres came into State ownership as Mount Diablo State Park in 1931. Many of the local interest groups that had been formed to support the acquisition of the park continued to be active supporters of additional expansion of the park and construction of facilities. One common interest shared by all of the groups was the construction of an interpretive facility on the summit of the mountain. Although there was strong support from the Department of Parks and Recreation, the entire country was in the midst of the Great Depression, so little, if any, chance for public funds existed for such a facility. However, while the Great Depression eliminated the possibility that the State would construct a mountain top visitor center, it also offered a unique alternative in the form of the federally funded Work Program Administration (W.P.A.) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.). Both of these programs put people to work and both programs were interested in constructing public projects such as parks, museums, roads, and public buildings. In the mid 1930s the Department of Parks and Recreation entered into an agreement with the W.P.A. to complete sketches, drawings and paintings for pictorial histories of several State Parks for use in visitor centers and museums. Although Mount Diablo State Park did not have a visitor center of a museum at the time, it was included in the project. The plan was to complete the exhibits first and construct the facility to house them at a later date. Exhibits planned for Mount Diablo included the “scientific series” and “historic series”; each exhibit consisted of small panels in watercolor, gouache, pen and ink, or pastels. The artists and support personnel for the project worked in studios at the federal art project in the old Agricultural Department building, a converted school on Potrero Avenue in San Francisco. An advisory committee was set up to assist the artists working on the projects. The committee consisted of a group of seven university professors to provide technical assistance and twelve local citizens from Contra Costa and Alameda Counties whose interest and influence in community affairs provided the necessary community support for the project. Dr. Bruce L. Clark, Professor of Paleontology at the University of California served as chair of the Mount Diablo Museum Project. By 1938 enough displays had been finished to furnish the old single-story stucco building at the summit. The stucco structure was on the summit site at the time the park acquisition took place in 1931. In the meantime, plans for a permanent facility at the mountaintop were being developed. The new building was to be constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) personnel living at the CCC camp on the south side of the mountain. Company 2932-V (World War I veterans) started work on the summit building in 1938. While plans for the new observation building were being finalized, a number of older structures were demolished and the area prepared for the new building that would house not only a viewing deck but also an aircraft beacon, a fire lookout, and the museum exhibits. The new building was constructed from sandstone quarried at Fossil Ridge on the mountain. Standard Oil of California donated money for the mortar, steel, and other materials need to complete the structure. Work on the new summit building came to a halt in 1940. The exterior of the building was completed, however, a serious problem with water leaks during storms developed during the winter months. Water would run through the mortar and sandstone into the interior of the building. Several attempts were made to solve the problem over the next several years. Although each solution helped, none seemed to totally resolve the problem. In the early 1950s, the Department of Parks and Recreation obtained several contracts to seal and complete the exterior of the building. The mortar joints were sealed and pointed, the observation deck roof was resealed, Gunite was applied to the interior of the building and the exterior of the building was sealed. However, even this did not make the building entirely waterproof. The work on the exhibits was completed by the W.P.A. in 1942 and the finished panels and displays were transferred to Contra Costa County’s Hall of Records for safe storage until the summit building was completed. When it became apparent that the leaks in the summit building would not be easily resolved, the displays were transferred to Mount Diablo State Park and stored at the recently abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Live Oak Campground. In 1951, after completion of additional efforts to seal the summit building, park employees discovered that many of the displays and paintings had been damaged beyond salvage by water, rodents, and dust. Those displays that could be salvaged were shipped to Sacramento where they were repaired and sent to other park units for use. The final blow for the summit museum came in 1956 when the temporary museum caught fire and burned to the ground. The displays were lost as well. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s interest in a summit building visitor center continued to come to the forefront; however, without the necessary leadership nothing happened. Then, in 1974, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) formed to promote public awareness of the cultural and natural history of Mount Diablo. The members developed a temporary visitor center in a portion of the old summit building, staffing it with volunteers and docents. As MDIA’s interpretive efforts grew they searched for ways in which the 40-year old dream of a museum and visitor center at the summit could be realized. In 1982, the California State Park Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to expanding California’s parks and recreational opportunities, joined forces with MDIA to help raise the necessary funding for the summit building project. The next year, the Department of Parks and Recreation agreed to correct the water intrusion problem and prepare the structure for exhibits and displays. Daniel Quan Design of San Francisco developed the plans for the museum and visitor center. Installation of the exhibits was completed in 1984. Today, the museum and visitor center house exhibits including a topographic model of the mountain. Rotating displays of art and photography complement the permanent exhibits. In addition to the exhibits, there is a small gift center within the building. Outside the summit building, telescopes are mounted on the Mary Bowerman Interpretive Trail, a short walk away. On a clear day, the Sierra Nevada can be seen with the naked eye. If you look carefully, ancient marine fossils embedded in the sandstone walls can be seen along the stairway walls leading to the observation deck. The rotunda on top of the summit building is a reminder of Mount Diablo’s importance as a survey point. Sitting atop the rotunda is the old navigation beacon, lighted once a year on December 7 in memory of Pearl Harbor. Mount Diablo Summit circa 1930 Summit in Winter | Terese Dixon BACK TO LIST

How to Use the Park as a Resource Ok so you've decided you want to bring your kids to Mount Diablo State Park. Here's some tips and more information to help you plan your visit. Popular Destinations Field trips generally go to 3 locations in the Mount Diablo State Park. The Summit features the outstanding view of the Bay Area, the Summit Visitor Center, and the Mary Bowerman nature trail. Rock City is a great site to study Native American grinding holes, learn about park Oak trees, or climb the wind caves. Mitchell Canyon affords opportunities to study wildflowers, birds, geology, and tarantulas during the season. Map and Directions to these destinations are available here . Transportation The roads in the Mount Diablo State Park are narrow, winding, and difficult. Parents provide transportation for many organized field trips to the summit or Rock City. If a group would like to use a school bus, the Park requires prior approval and a pilot car. School buses are appropriate for Mitchell Canyon. Preparation Be sure to review expectations of the visit with your kids, behavior in the park, and safety matters in advance of the trip. Be aware of seasonal safety planning such as extreme temperatures, and fire danger. Mount Diablo State Park Safety Information Weather and Air Quality For the latest information on Park closure, road conditions, or fire danger, call 925-837-2525, or check the Mount Diablo State Park Website. Leave the Park as You Found It Help protect our park to preserve it for future visitors and for the future of wildlife that live here. Here are a few things to remember: Respect wildlife. All plants and animals are protected. While you look and enjoy the sights: Do not touch or try to remove the plants from the park. Do not feed or try to pet the animals. Stay on the walking trails to prevent erosion or damage to the landscape. Carry out what you bring in. Follow the instructions provided by the rangers or docents in the park. When we take good care of our park, we keep it safe and beautiful now and for the next hundred years. Thank you for doing your part to protect our natural world. School Groups/Educational Tours are available from California State Parks Please contact Park Interpreter Sharon Peterson via email (Sharon.Peterson@parks.ca.gov ) for information regarding School Group Programs and/or Education Tours. Permits are required for groups, and due to the fact that these groups often arrive in oversized vehicles, information must be provided to drivers in advance of their arrival that will help make the roads safer for all visitors at the park. Coming Soon to Mitchell Canyon Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) official Park partner, is leading a campaign to raise funds to build a New Education Center in Mitchell Canyon. The new education center complex will educate park visitors about the natural and multicultural history of the mountain, communicate safety information, provide access for visitors with disabilities to outdoor exhibits and the visitor center, and create multiple spaces to accommodate K-12 classes and interpretive presentations. We are just as excited as you are to begin construction and develop inspiring new exhibits that will educate and engage for years to come. Back to Learn Summit Museum Windcaves at Rock City elephant rock at Rock City Mitchell Canyon Entrance Mitchell Canyon Education Center Entry Sketch Rendering BACK TO LIST

Geologic Guide to Mount Diablo State Park A must have for all those interested in geology. July 1, 1998 The need for a simplified geological guide to Mount Diablo to accompany Memoir 217 was recognized by the Northern California Geological Society, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, and California State Parks. A folded two-sided guide, edited by Greg Bartow, is now available, that consists of an updated geologic map with roads and trails on one side, and a description of the geology on the other side. The updated geologic map, by Russell Graymer and Victoria Langenheim of the U.S. Geological Survey, also appears in Chapter 1 of GSA Memoir 217. The guide includes a map showing the epicenters of 7,200 earthquakes that have occurred in the vicinity of Mount Diablo over the last 36 years. These earthquakes illustrate the active nature of the fault systems that continue to form Mount Diablo. Stephen Smith, President of Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, said, “This geologic guide will provide a new resource for visitors to appreciate the unique nature of the park.” Mount Diablo State Park draws more than 600,000 visitors each year to explore the park and take in the spectacular view. Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that assists the California Department of Parks and Recreation in maintaining and interpreting Mount Diablo State Park. Through education, sponsored activities, and publications, MDIA fosters appreciation and the enlightened use of Mount Diablo State Park. Save Mount Diablo is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Mount Diablo peaks, surrounding foothills and watersheds through land acquisitions. Copies of the geologic map can be purchased online at the MDIA Store for $7.00 (shipping included), or for $6.00 at the Visitor Centers at Mount Diablo State Park Summit and Mitchell Canyon. Geology Map Cover.png Geology Map text side photo.JPG Geology Map map side photo.JPG BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Brewer's Rockcress Scientific Name: Boechera breweri ssp. breweri Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard Family) Blooms: Mar - Jun Color: Red-Pink Perennial herb Native This plant is seen in Northern California counties (Butte, Shasta and Placer), and only in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area. Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Wildflower Mount Diablo Water Buttercup Scientific Name: Ranunculus aquatilis var. diffusus Family: Ranunculus (Buttercup Family) Blooms: Apr-Jul Color: White Perennial herb (aquatic) Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants

Wildflower Mount Diablo Chaparral Pea Scientific Name: Pickeringia montana var. montana Family: Fabaceae (Legume Family) Blooms: May Color: Red-Pink Shrub Native, endemic to California Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring