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What our Supporters are saying "I support the vision of a new educational complex with ADA-compliant facilities at Mitchell Canyon which would make it possible to accommodate school field trips by bus for the first time to the mountain. Our children would have a place to meet and experience state of art displays about the natural and cultural history of the mountain. A center would offer all students from diverse communities in Contra Costa County access to outdoor education and environmental science opportunities which are not currently available. It would give them a chance to appreciate the rich history and culture of our region." Lynn Mackey, Superintendent of Contra Costa County "I'm ecstatic for the potential opportunities this project may bring to the Clayton Community. It will be wonderful to have a place where families can come together to explore and learn the rich history of the park and then head downtown for lunch after a hike!" Terri Denslow, Clayton Resident & Former Chair of Clayton Planning Commission May 30, 2022 “For more than 20 years, I have lived in the residential area at Mitchell Canyon. During this time, I have seen the visitation steadily increase. The increase in visitation was especially noticeable during the height of the pandemic when we saw the greatest number of people using parks and open spaces. Even during that time, there were trails and places that you could visit without seeing many other people. In the winter and early spring, which is typically our busiest times of the year, our parking lots may be filled to capacity, but there is still plenty of open space and opportunities for people to spend time in the park without feeling crowded by others. I feel that we still can accommodate many more users without having a negative impact on the land or the visitors who come to the park.” Cameron Morrison, Supervising Park Ranger, Mount Diablo State Park May 30, 2022 "Mount Diablo is an island in the middle of suburbia. It is a diverse habitat of cool wooded canyons, oak forest, a grassy savannah, and a wonderment of rocky slopes, home to many rare and endemic plants, as well as several protected and threatened animals. It is a treasure of wildflowers in springtime and summer, a paradise for bird watchers, a challenge to hikers, and until recently, a mystery to geologists. Saving and protecting Mount Diablo for all the flora and fauna is of paramount importance, but educating the public, especially upcoming generations as to the significance of biodiversity, whether the smallest microbe or an apex predator like a mountain lion, is also crucial. The new Education Center at Mitchell Canyon will help us accomplish this urgent mission." Michael Marchiano, Naturalist, and MDIA volunteer May 30, 2022 " After many years being in a small, old, and undersized building I am pleased to support the efforts of the MDIA to establish a new energy-efficient, environmentally responsive, and ADA-designed building that will provide indoor and outdoor education, natural history, and environmental science opportunities to all visitors including students." Laura Hoffmeister, Mayor of the city of Concord May 22, 2023 "I believe that the vitality of our natural open spaces is essential to the health and well-being of ourselves and the world around us. The flora and fauna that exist in Mount Diablo State Park exist nowhere else on Earth, which is why it is so important for us to educate those who visit the park on all that it has to offer. The new Education Center will do just that - provide an open space, energy-efficient and environmentally responsive Pavilion that will be open 24/7, along with an Education Center that is ADA compliant. Together they will significantly increase access to the park for the community at large, our nearby Clayton community, and children and families of all ages." Kim Trupiano, Clayton Resident, and Clayton City Councilmember May 24, 2023 "The East Contra Costa Community Alliance (ECCCA) supports the vision of an educational center with accessible facilities at Mitchell Canyon that makes it possible to accommodate school field trips by bus even for children that might be residing in East Contra Costa County. The parents and children of families served by ECCCA would have a place to meet and experience state-of-the-art displays about the natural and cultural history of the mountain. The Center to be established would offer all students from diverse communities in Contra Costa County access to outdoor educational opportunities which are currently not as readily available. ECCCA families and children will certainly benefit from the educational center which is why we are solidly behind the development and implementation of the program." Solomon Belette, MBA, Managing Director www.ecccalliance.com November, 2023 For more information, email us at mcec4me@gmail.com

Cliff Swallow Swallows and Larks Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Summer Swallows and Larks Daniel Fitzgerald Found in open areas, usually near water; presence is largely tied to presence of bridges, dams, or buildings where it places its nest. Square cut tail, buffy orange rump, and buffy forehead identify this swallow. Compare to Barn Swallow .

Metalmarks Mormon Metalmark Apodemia mormo

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Wrens, Kinglets, and Gnatcatchers Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula Winter Wrens, Kinglets, and Gnatcatchers Michael Marchiano Occurs in a wide variety of habitats ranging from brushy areas to open or dense woodlands and forests. Olive-green upper parts, two white wing bars, conspicuous eye ring, and (in males, but not always visible) red crown patch. Song is comprised of several high-pitched introductory notes followed by a rapid, jumbling cacophony of rich, bubbly notes. Note habit of frequently flicking its wings, as if it were nervous. Eats a diverse array of insects and spiders, supplemented with occasional fruits or seeds.

Wildflower Mount Diablo Johnny Jump-Up Scientific Name: Viola pedunculata Family: Violaceae (Violet Family) Blooms: Feb - Apr Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native Per Ertter & Bowerman, found on "gentle grassy slopes or flats which are not too parched; sometimes where lightly wooded, but usually in the open" Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Black Point Trail by J. Frank Valle-Riestra Reproduced from Mountain News, Summer 2012 June 1, 2012 Leslie Contreras Ticks are found almost everywhere on Bay Area trails. With reasonable precautions, they do not pose an appreciable hazard to hikers, just a bit of a nuisance. We mention ticks here because a portion of the loop to be described passes through some fine stands of native bunch grasses, and bunch grasses are a favorite host plant to ticks. So, let us face it, at some periods during the year (which are unpredictable), you will pick up ticks on your clothing. Wear light colors to make the ticks easier to spot or to pick off or rather scrape off; it is amazing how the little critters can flatten out and hang on for dear life to resist casual efforts to brush them off. The portion of the loop in question is the Black Point Trail, not long ago cleaned up and cleared by the park’s maintenance personnel and volunteers, and now in excellent shape. The work did clear away bothersome poison oak, but could not clear away the seasonal black flies around the Black Point summit or eliminate a few very steep stretches with somewhat slippery footing on the south-facing slopes. You may well wonder - ticks? Black flies? Slippery slopes? This is a favorite trail? Rest assured that there are compensating features - the Black Point Trail is one of the park’s top attractions, best appreciated during the spring months. Your exploration starts at the Mitchell Canyon Road trailhead, at the end of the paved Mitchell Canyon Road on the outskirts of the little town of Clayton. A modest parking fee is charged. On weekends and holidays, drop in at the Visitor Center to get the latest information on trail conditions. And before starting your trek, be sure to visit the native plant garden behind the Center, an amazing display created almost singlehandedly by Dave Caniglia, a park volunteer. Now follow the road along Mitchell Canyon for just 1/2 mile, to the first posted trail on your right. This is the beginning of the Black Point Trail, and the first part is a gently ascending road with a packed sandy soil base. In the middle of spring, the road base is transformed into delightful carpets of bright, ground-hugging wildflowers - in particular, Bird’s Eye Gilia (Gilia tricolor ), Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii ), Goldfields (Lasthenia californica ), and many others. More flower species, some blooming right into the warm summer months, favor the narrow zone between the road and the surrounding chaparral, in particular, Blue Witch (Solanum umbelliferum ), Indian Paint Brush (Castilleja spp. ), and Deer Weed (Lotus scoparius). If you enjoy flower identification, this is the trail for you, although other attractions will vie for your attention - such as the ever-changing views of Mitchell Rock across Mitchell Canyon. Soon you reach the end of the road, and a single-track trail beckons you to plunge into the cool, mixed-green woodland of Black Point’s north-facing slopes. The forest here is typical of Mount Diablo - a mix of Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica ), Madrone (Arbutus menziesii ), Gray Pine (Pinus sabiniana ), and oak species. The flowers are not as noticeable, but the eye is gladdened by a profusion of bunch grasses which at one time covered the mountain, to be displaced by introduced Mediterranean grasses. The well-engineered trail is a pleasure to follow, zig-zagging its way moderately to ascend the flanks of Black Point. All too soon, and quite suddenly, the trail leaves the forest and starts its way through “hard” chaparral. This portion of the trail, right up to the summit at 1,790 feet, can be quite warm in summer, but is quite tolerable during the rest of the year. The dominant chaparral shrub is Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum ) in springtime it displays myriad showy cream-colored flowers, and in the fall its rust-colored fruits turn whole hillsides a rich, vibrant brown, worthy of a Flemish painting, and a joy to behold. Quite a few other species proliferate among the Chamise: the aromatic California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica ), Black Sage (Salvia mellifera ) with its attractive spikes of springtime flowers, Big-berry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca ) blooming late in winter. But two species, blooming spectacularly in good years, will monopolize your attention. One is Pitcher Sage (Lepechinia calycina ), an unexpectedly lush-looking small plant along all those tough drought survivors. It has felt-like leaves and beautiful pale purple flowers enclosed in an urn of sepals - the “pitchers.” The other spectacular bloomer is the Bush Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus ) unlike the rarer Pitcher Sage, it proliferates. It prefers the narrow zone between the chaparral and trail’s edge, and on occasion one walks along corridors with walls of bloom, in colors of peach, salmon and rose wine. These blooms often last into the warm months of summer. The trail reaches its highest point in a saddle below the summit of Black Point. A short spur trail of about 100 yards leads to the summit proper, which is pretty overgrown; better views are obtained by continuing on the Black Point Trail as it rounds the western flank of the mountain. Far below you, you will spot gently rolling, grassy foothills, the grazing spread of John Ginocchio’s cattle ranch, and an effective and welcome barrier to the flood of development reaching toward the park’s wilderness. Here the plant world benefits from a little more moisture even in summer, moisture brought in by morning mists. The chaparral is “softer,” with shrubs, such as Squawbush (Rhus trilobata ), that are characterized by more pliable, “softer” leaves. As you head south, the chaparral again becomes “harder,” and Black Point Trail descends, sharply at times, into the depths of White Canyon. The trail ends at its junction with Red Road, and here you turn left to meet Mitchell Canyon Road, after a gentle descent of about one mile. A metal bench at this junction offers a welcome rest in a shady nook. Rather than returning to the trailhead entirely along Mitchell Canyon Road, we suggest that you backtrack a few yards along Red Road to the beginning of the Globe Lily Trail. This is another of the park’s “secret” trails with any number of visual surprises. It is a showplace of wildflowers, and in the middle of spring you are likely to spot beauties such as the Mount Diablo Globe Tulip (Calochortus pulchellus ) and the Checker Lily (Fritillaria lanceolata ). The trail’s end closes your loop trip at the Black Point Trail where you started, and you retrace your steps back to the Mitchell Canyon Road trailhead. The total distance traversed is about 4-3/4 miles, and you climb some 1,200 feet. A gentle pace with rest stops will require 3-1/2 to 4 hours. Check out more Spring Wildflower Hikes: Springtime in North Peak Globe Lily Trail Mary Bowerman Hike Black Point Trail Map Black Point Trail Elevation BACK TO LIST

Origins of Mount Diablo Interpretive Association On a Dark and Stormy Night . . . Origins of Mount Diablo Interpretive Association Mountain News , Spring 1999 Based on an account written by Frank Valle-Riestra 1924-2015 Sam Smoker at 90, April 4, 2015 Mount Diablo Peak view | Mike Woodring The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association was the brainchild of Sam Smoker, Executive Director of the Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek, who formulated a vision of an interpretive association that would supplement, in a significant way, the work of the small staff of rangers at the ever-expanding Mount Diablo State Park. Smoker recognized the need for a wider public appreciation of this great natural treasure that exists within an area of rapid urban expansion and concurrent loss of the original environment. The task was interpretive; the key was education. An organizational meeting was convened on the proverbial dark and stormy night of January 30, 1974, in the living room of Smoker's home in Walnut Creek. Among the people present were Mary Bowerman, a scholar of the flora of Mount Diablo; Frank Valle-Riestra, a scientist with an interest in natural history; Ron Edwards, a wildlife expert from the Lindsay Museum; Phil Gordon, biology teacher, and ornithologist associated with the Audubon Society; Beverly Clemson, Director of the Shadelands Ranch Historical Museum; Howard Knight, Professor of Biological Sciences at Diablo Valley College; Betty Zilen, retired Mount Diablo School District science supervisor; and Ed Earl, Superintendent of the Mount Diablo State Park. Smoker was elected President of MDIA and Valle-Riestra Treasurer; Park Ranger Miles Standish was appointed Executive Secretary. The objectives of the organization, as formulated at the charter meeting, were, in brief : To promote the educational and interpretive activities of Mount Diablo State Park To produce and make available to visitors interpretive and educational materials To acquire display materials pertaining to the history and natural history of the area, adding them to the interpretive collection of the Park To assist the development and improvement of interpretive facilities To give aid to the state in conserving, developing, and interpreting the Park for the benefit of the public To support research on the history and natural history of the Park Benefitting from Earl's knowledge and enthusiastic support, the embryonic organization was steered through the maze of state bureaucracy and given official recognition as an interpretive and educational adjunct to the state's work in the Park. Within the first three months of its existence, MDIA issued its first publication: a visitors' guide to the view from the summit, printed with funds given by the Dow Chemical Co. By the end of its first year, membership in MDIA had grown to the grand sum of twenty-nine persons, committees were beginning to function, and a program of volunteer docents (interpreter guides) for the Park was in the process of development. The young, enthusiastic organization was definitely on its way! In the years that have followed, MDIA has undergone many changes, expanding into new areas of service and altering some of its activities, but always retaining its basic purpose. Its membership has grown from a few dozen to several hundred persons, its list of publications has become rich and varied, and its roster of interpretive hikes and art exhibitions has become impressive. Who knows what challenges the next quarter century may bring? One thing, however, is certain: MDIA will need, and value, the continuing support of its friends, members, and the California State Park.

Hermit Thrush Thrushes and Thrashers Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus Winter Thrushes and Thrashers Daniel Fitzgerald It is not uncommon to see this bird on the side of a woodland trail during migration and winter; but it may also frequent chaparral, scrubby areas, or other habitats with dense undergrowth. Olive-brown or grayish-brown back and head typically contrast with rufous tail; also, tail is occasionally quickly raised and slowly lowered. Compare with Swainson’s Thrush . Diet includes insects, small amphibians or reptiles, and fruits.

California Scrub Jay Jays and Crows California Scrub Jay Aphelocoma californica All Year Jays and Crows Daniel Fitzgerald Partial to brushy or scrubby habitats, pine-oak woodlands, and residential areas; typically in less densely forested areas than habitats preferred by the Stellar's Jay . Basic plumage pattern includes blue head, blue wings, blue tail, and variable amount of white above the eye, grayish underparts with white-streaked throat and bluish breast band, and variably colored grayish or brownish patch on back. The bulky, cup-shaped nest of this species (made from twigs and moss) is placed in trees or shrubs. Scrub Jays are opportunistically omnivorous, with a diet that includes insects, fruit, seeds, and small vertebrates.

Wildflower Mount Diablo Blue Dicks, white form Scientific Name: Dichelostemma capitatum ssp. capitatum Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus Family) Blooms: Feb - May Color: White Perennial herb Native Blue form is more common. Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Wildflower Mount Diablo Hedge Parsley Scientific Name: Torilis arvensis Family: Apiaceae Blooms: May-Aug Color: White Annual herb Introduced Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants

Common Raven Jays and Crows Common Raven Corvus corax All Year Jays and Crows Daniel Fitzgerald Frequents a wide variety of habitats, including mountain environments; partial to cliff faces, where it prefers to nest. Often seen flying overhead. Black overall; note comparatively larger size and thick, massive bill. Utters a variety of low, guttural, croaks. In flight, wedge-shaped tail and tendency to soar distinguish it from American Crow . Large twig nest is built on rock ledge of cliff face or in trees; sometimes on man-made structures such as utility poles. Diversified omnivorous diet is supplemented by scavenging.