Points of Interest Of the park's nearly 700,000 annual visitors, about half head directly to Mount Diablo's summit, elevation 3,849 feet, to enjoy the spectacular view. Blessed with a crisp, clear day--particularly after rains have freshened the air--visitors delight in remarkable panoramas of faraway lands and waters more than 200 miles in all directions, reaching across thirty-five counties of northern and central California. The Mount Diablo Guide , 3rd Edition 3 cups Blueberries 3 cups Flour 1½ cups Butter Of the park's nearly 700,000 annual visitors, about half head directly to Mount Diablo's summit, elevation 3,849 feet, to enjoy the spectacular view. Blessed with a crisp, clear day--particularly after rains have freshened the air--visitors delight in remarkable panoramas of faraway lands and waters more than 200 miles in all directions, reaching across thirty-five counties of northern and central California. The Mount Diablo Guide , 3rd Edition Mary Bowerman 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. Download a copy of the trail Nature Guide or pick it up at the Summit Museum. The trail was originally 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, as well as numerous picnic sites. Valley view from the top Gibraltar and Sentinel Rocks These are popular places near Rock City for rock climbing. Check with the ranger for regulations and the best approach. Download the Rock City Map . 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 1930s. 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 Campground. From here, 2,900 feet above sea level, you can see the Golden Gate. Valley View from the Top Most first-time visitors to Mount Diablo travel 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. Download the View From Mount Diablo Brochure (pdf)

Wild Mount Diablo Wild Mount Diablo provides a series of short videos highlighting a rare, threatened, or unique native plant or animal. Each clip focuses on the natural history, ecological role, or conservation status, and helps you appreciate why it matters—or why it's cool. Presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Produced by Joan Hamilton, Wally De Young, Kendall Paul Oei, and Staci Hobbet. Joan Hamilton Wally De Young Kendall Paul Oei Staci Hobbet Filter by Theme Select Theme The Watering Hole Video 5:53 min Wally De Young Take a peek at our local wildlife when they think no one is watching, as they share one of the few seasonal watering holes remaining in the area. A Wild Mount Diablo video by Wally De Young. Production, images, writing and narration by Wally De Young. Music by Chris Haugen. Special thanks to the Wild Mount Diablo team, Joan Hamilton, Staci Hobbet and Kendall Oei. Serpents Video 6:10 min A beautiful, informative, and extremely close encounter with Mount Diablo's three largest snakes. A Mount Diablo Interpretive Association video by Wally De Young. Production, writing, and narration by Wally De Young. Images Wally De Young, Music Casa Rosa. Thanks to Wild Mount Diablo team members Joan Hamilton, Staci Hobbet, and Kendall Oei. Scarlet Pumpernickel? Video 3:01 min Mike Woodring How a tiny flower rose to stardom, inspiring numerous works of "first-class escapism." A Mount Diablo Interpretive Association video in the "Wild Mount Diablo" series. Featuring Ken Lavin. Photos by Scott Hein, Neal Kramer, and Andrew Waugh, clu, seven75, tamayalper (iStock). Music by Christian Andersen. Production by Joan Hamilton. Thanks to Wild Mount Diablo team members Wally De Young, Staci Hobbet, Kendall Oei. Plant People Video 5:13 min Mount Diablo is a treasure trove of rare plants. Learn about the unusual species you can find there—and about the botanists who've made a name for themselves on its slopes. A Mount Diablo Interpretive Association video produced in partnership with Save Mount Diablo by Joan Hamilton. Featuring botanist Heath Bartosh. Images by Heath Bartosh, Dan Fitzgerald, Scott Hein, Kendall Oei. Music by Daniel Kaede and Headlund/Epidemic Sound. California Newts Video 6:57 min Wally De Young Join Wild Mount Diablo as we dig deeper into the story of a creature that produces a defensive neurotoxin 10 times more powerful than cyanide, and the fascinating evolutionary response of its primary predator. Produced by Wally De Young. Soap Root Video 4:00 min Kevin Hintsa Meet an elegant member of the agave family that's so useful to humans it's called "the grocery store plant." A Mount Diablo Interpretive Association video featuring Vincent Medina and Ken Lavin. Wonders of 2023 Video 3:58 min Wally De Young Join Wild Mount Diablo as we look back at some of the favorite Wonders we experienced in 2023! Poison Oak Video 4:56 min The branches of this irritating plant are bare right now, but wise park visitors know to be wary. Learn of its infamous debut in London in the early 1800s and how it's related to products from plants some of us enjoy eating today. Wild Babies Video 9:34 min Wally De Young Meet the Wild Babies of Mount Diablo, and learn what superpowers each is developing as they grow from babes in the woods, to full grown predators - or prey! Whether sharp toothed and venomous, or soft and fluffy, these wild babies are sure to surprise you with their innate gifts. Are baby rattlesnakes really more dangerous than adults? Are a Great Horned Owls’ eyes really as large as a humans’? Which mom carries over 100 babies on her back? Watch Wild Babies, and be prepared to be surprised! Pines Video 4:52 min Can you name three pine species that grow in Mount Diablo State Park? Learn to ID them by their pinecones (2 supersized, 1 clingy). Hear about how they're adapted to fire and drought. Meet the gun-toting botanists who collected their cones in the 1830s. A Mount Diablo Interpretive Association video featuring Ken Lavin and Seth Adams. Production by Joan Hamilton. Music by Music Revolution. Photos by Joan Hamilton, Neal Kramer, Kendall Oei, and courtesy of Strybing Arboretum. Adapted from Audible Mount Diablo's Curry Point, Mitchell Canyon, and Falls Trail guides sponsored by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association and Save Mount Diablo. Special thanks to Wild Mount Diablo team members Wally De Young, Anastasia Hobbet, and Kendall Oei. Peregrine Falcons 2022 Video 6:49 min Wally De Young Join Wild Mount Diablo as we hear the story of how a local apex predator, the peregrine falcon, fared in 2022, following the difficult 2021 season, when all four chicks, banded and almost ready to fly, were killed by a great-horned owl in a territorial dispute. Follow MDIA’s Peregrine Team of naturalists, stewards, and detectives as they tell the story of how the fastest animal on the planet fared this last season. We plan an annual update on these beautiful birds of prey. The 2023 season, now underway, is developing into another wholly different story. A Mount Diablo Interpretive Association video, produced by Wally De Young. Early Bloomers Video 4:14 min Kendall Paul Oei In the first, wintery months of the year, our early blooming flowers bring beauty to the forested understory. Here are a few beautiful flowers that bloom January through March. Ladybugs Video 4:29 min Mount Diablo hosts large congregations of ladybugs in winter. Perhaps you've seen them? Masses of writhing, reddish-orange beetles in a shady canyon? It can be an arresting, even creepy, sight. Which is all part of their clever survival plan. A Mount Diablo Interpretive Association video featuring naturalist Ken Lavin. Images by Arnold Joe, Scott Hein, and Kendall Oei. Music by Daniel Kaede. Produced by Joan Hamilton. Adapted from "Mitchell Canyon" Audible Mount Diablo, 2017. Wonders of Diablo 2022 Video 3:20 min Kendall Paul Oei There are so many things to see on our mountain. Here are a few Wonders of Diablo from 2022. May your 2023 be filled with new wonders. Happy New Year from the Wild Mount Diablo team! Black-tailed Deer (Awww..) Video 4:11 min Carl Nielson Our deer lend such sweetness, grace and majesty to Mount Diablo. Come take a peek into the lives of our local Columbian black-tailed deer. Oak Mistletoe Video 2:57 min Ah . . . fall on Mount Diablo! Golden grasses, auburn chamise, and bare deciduous oaks. But wait! Some of the oaks' branches are festooned with a green, beach-ball-size plant. The Druids considered it the soul of the tree. But the real story is more complicated! A Mount Diablo Interpretive Association video featuring naturalist Ken Lavin. Produced by Joan Hamilton. Videography and photos by Kendall Oei, with Wally De Young, Staci Hobbet, and Neal Kramer. Music by Miguel Angel Albentosa Bo. Adapted from "Plants of Twin Peaks," Audible Mount Diablo, 2013. River Otters of the Mount Diablo Watershed Video 6:41 min Wally De Young River otters on Mount Diablo? No, but join Wild Mount Diablo and explore how the mountain's many headwaters feed the creeks and canals of the watersheds below, providing river otters and other water-loving creatures with essential habitat. Poppies Video 2:43 min Everyone loves our State flower, the California poppy! But few know the story about how it got its scientific name. It starts with a Russian ship sailing into San Francisco Bay with a German poet on board ....and the rest is (strange) history. Bobcats Video 5:05 min Brian Murphy Bobcats definitely help put the wild in Wild Mount Diablo. Take a few minutes to enjoy their beauty and fascinating lives. American Kestrel: North America's Smallest Falcon Video 6:04 min Daniel Fitzgerald Wild Mount Diablo focuses on North America's smallest falcon, and efforts to help them thrive, which may be having a positive impact on local populations.

FAQs About Peregrines Here are some frequently asked questions about the Peregrine Falcons of the Diablo Region. If you can't find your answers here, feel free to contact us. Back to the Peregrine Team Page Mail 1 Are peregrines really the fastest animals on earth? Yes, peregrine falcons are able to vertically dive or "stoop" at up to 200 mph, but only while hunting. However, a peregrine will always be faster when compared with other birds. In non-hunting mode, a peregrine flies at 25 to 34 mph. And when both peregrine and prey are near the ground, the falcon's direct pursuit reaches speeds around 70 mph. It is when the peregrine flies high and spots a meal down low that it can shift to its electrifying vertical speeds. 2 What happens if someone trespasses a closure zone during nesting season? Trespassers can be warned, cited, and/or criminally prosecuted for entering a closure zone during nesting season. MDSP Posted Order No. 011-21-680-203, effective July 1, 2021, closes two rock formation areas in MDSP to “all pedestrian, equine, bicycle, or any other mode of public transportation or public usage, annually from February 1, through July 31.” To view the closure notice, go to: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517 3 How long have peregrine falcons nested in Mount Diablo State Park? Mount Diablo is an ancestral home of peregrines. Peregrine falcons belong here on Mount Diablo, where they have nested for millennia, where they have an abundance of food, high natural cliffs, and rich hunting grounds. We humans are the visitors, not the peregrines. As stewards of this land, we have the responsibility to protect these iconic raptors. 4 Have the number of peregrines in California recovered? Yes, but human visitors are even more capable of going everywhere, fragmenting the habitats for plants and animals. Peregrines need peace and privacy to feel confident about spending six months of their short lives every year to raise their chicks. 5 Are there other threats to the peregrine falcon population besides us humans? A recent global outbreak of bird flu continues to kill birds, both wild and domestic. Because peregrines hunt pigeons, shorebirds, ducks, grebes, gulls, and songbirds, peregrines are at risk for infection from exposure through their diet. Peregrines can also contract lead poisoning and pesticide contamination by eating infected prey. Additionally, new poisonous chemicals show up regularly on our store shelves and their potential risks to wildlife, including peregrines, is unknown. Even DDT isn't completely gone, though it was banned in the United States in 1972. Environmental researchers have recently tracked down a million and a half barrels of DDT dumped for decades near Catalina Island during the last century. 6 Why is the nesting area closed to the public for 6 months? It takes time to raise kids from scratch, and anything can go wrong. For peregrines, close human proximity can be one of those things, drawing their attention from their core job of hunting and caring for their chicks. Human disturbances in the territory, especially while the chicks are in the nest, may cause the parents to abandon the nest, leaving the youngsters to starve to death or become a meal for another predator. See the full timeline at: https://www.mdia.org/peregrine-timeline 7 What is the average wingspan of a peregrine falcon? The average wingspan of a peregrine falcon is around 3 feet. 8 What do peregrine falcons eat? Peregrine falcons primarily feed on other birds, such as pigeons and ducks. 9 Where do peregrine falcons nest? Peregrine falcons typically nest on high cliffs or tall man-made structures, such as skyscrapers. Urban nests are at risk to human disturbance or excessive human intervention. For this reason, it is important to preserve and protect natural nesting areas. 10 How many eggs does a peregrine falcon lay in a clutch? Peregrine falcons usually lay 3 to 4 eggs in a clutch. 11 What is the typical survival rate of peregrine chicks? Peregrine chicks only have a 10-20% survival rate, once on their own. This makes protecting the nesting areas for a short time each year even more important to ensure their survival. 12 Where can someone safely observe the falcons? Diablo Foothills Regional Park, 1700 Castle Rock Road, in Walnut Creek: https://www.ebparks.org/parks/diablo-foothills Starting at the Park entrance, walk through the park’s recreation area and hike on Stage Road past the intersections of Fairy Lantern Trail and Buckeye Ravine Trail, for approximately 1 mile. You’ll find yourself in the first of two large meadows on your right. Look for the interpretive sign uphill to your right and view the Castle Rock cliffs from there. Depending on the raptor activity, you may also want to cross the creek and watch the birds from the second meadow across from the rock formations. The round trip hike from the Diablo Foothills Regional Park parking area to the second meadow and return is approximately 2.6 miles. In Spring, you may encounter water crossings along the trail. 13 How does the vision of peregrine falcons compare with humans? Unquestionably, a peregrine’s eyesight is extraordinary and is 8 times better than human vision. Peregrines can spot small prey from 1 to 2 miles away. Imagine being able to spot a rabbit 15 football fields away! Peregrines also have “fast vision.” Consider an animal’s visual flicker fusion rate, in other words, its ability to track rapidly changing visual events. Peregrines can see 129 images per second compared to a human’s 25 images per second. Peregrines also have approximately a million retinal cones allowing them to see color variation in the ultraviolet range, compared to our mere 30,000. By any measure, peregrines have far better vision than humans. 14 Where besides North America, do peregrine falcons live? Peregrines live on every continent except Antarctica. 15 What does history tell us about the relationship between humans and peregrine falcons? The falcon was considered king of the birds in ancient Egypt and was associated with several gods, including the sky god Horus, who was often shown with the head of a falcon. Humans and peregrines have a long relationship in the practice of falconry. Although historians disagree about when falconry began, records establish that an Iranian king, who may have lived as long as 10,000 years ago, used birds of prey to hunt. By 2000 BC, falconry was well-established in the Middle East and eventually migrated throughout Europe. Modern falconers still favor peregrines.

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Wildflower Mount Diablo Buck Lotus (Green) Scientific Name: Hosackia crassifolia Family: Fabaceae (Legume Family) Blooms: May-Jul Color: Green Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants

Wildflower Mount Diablo Brewer's Calandrinia Scientific Name: Calandrinia breweri Family: Montiaceae (Spring Beauty Family) Blooms: Feb - May Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Native Compared to Red Maids , Brewer's Calandrinia has smaller flower petals, 3-5 mm, and bigger, wider leaves. Also found in Baja California. California Rare Plant Rank: 4.2 (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 Mike Woodring

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Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)

Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)

Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)

Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)

Lovely-tailed Mourning Bee Melecta separata callura Apidae Melecta Description Melecta separata callura is a medium-to-large (~15 mm), beautiful cuckoo bee: it parasitizes the nest of Anthophora (Digger) bees by laying an egg in the completed, provisioned nest. Forewings have 3 submarginal cells. The abdomen is black, with white patching, and legs are white-patched. Females lack scopae (they don't provision nests). Nectar/ Pollen Plants Nectar generalists, without care for pollen. Habits Cleptoparasitic, these bees sneak into completed Anthophora nests (by digging down through the sealed burrows) and lay an egg on the nest cell cap. Its larva hatches, drains the Anthophora egg using its sickle like mandibles, and then eats the nest provisions. The larva pupates in the cell and emerges in Spring. Season March - May Size Medium (8-15 mm)