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SELF GUIDED
HIKES
Please be aware that the hikes and walks
described below take place on often difficult mountain
trails. Weather and terrain vary widely. Hikers and
walkers should dress in layers (it can be cold on the
mountain even when hot in the valley) and wear sturdy
walking shoes or boots. Hats and binoculars are a good
idea. Carry a liter of water on short hikes and two
liters on longer hikes - you will need it! Take a snack or lunch &
wear sunscreen.
FEATURED HIKE FOR
MAY: Summit (Grand) Loop TRAIL
with FREE Audible Tour
Trailhead:
Juniper Campground, Mount Diablo State Park
Route: Juniper Camp by picking up the Deer Flat
Road, the Meridian Ridge Road and the Bald Ridge Trail
to reach Prospector’s Gap. It then follows the North
Peak Trail around the summit to the Devil’s Elbow where
then it follows the Summit Trail to the lower parking
lot. From here it returns to Juniper Camp via the
Juniper Trail.
Distance:
6.5 miles loop
Difficulty:
strenuous hike circling around the Summit of Diablo.
Best
Time To Go:
Spring and Fall, clear days for incredible views
FREE Audible Tour guide:
Click here to download free audio tour to your MP3
player
The Summit Loop Hike circumnavigates Diablo’s main peak and
traverses many of the mountain’s geological and
botanical features. Along the way you will have
the opportunity to check out the snowy masses of the
Sierra Nevada and Mount Lassen as they float along the
eastern and northern horizons, while the watery realm of
the Delta seems close enough to touch. On all sides you
will observe a stunning view of the urbanization that
surrounds the mountain.
The trails pass over the Jurassic and Cretaceous deposits.
Tectonic pressures have squeezed the rocks into such
tortured shapes it is hard to imagine their origin on
the flat Pacific Ocean floor. You will notice impressive
red outcrops of radiolarian chert that dominate at
Devil’s Pulpit, slick green serpentinite along the Deer
Flat trail and greenish dome-shaped pillow basalts along
the Juniper Trail.
As you make your around the summit you will notice the plant
communities changing to reflect the myriad of
microclimates along the trail. Shrub species are
surprisingly diverse, from scattered clumps of
California sagebrush, creambrush and poison oak to dense
tall tangles of scrub oak, silk tassel and buckbrush. A
common shrub in the chaparral on the peak’s north side
is the hop tree, a mildly allergenic relative of poison
oak. Only a few riparian plants like big leaf maple have
been able to grow along the steep creeks, which are
virtual waterfalls in the spring, but are dry stony
staircases for most of the year. The broadleaf-sclerophyll
community occupies shady spots, but wind and shallow
soil stunts the laurels and canyon live oaks into a
dwarf forest. The deciduous oak-pine community occurs as
scattered trees, with drought resistant pines and
western juniper, predominating over oaks.
Sparse grasslands on exposed ridges and unstable slopes
feature many native wildflowers. Flower displays change
from day to day. Baby blue eyes and goldfields are
common in April, but a few weeks later bright patches of
goldenbush, California Poppy and wiry bird’s eye gilias
will carpet sites. In summer, yellow sulfur buckwheat
and scarlet hummingbird fuchsia bloom profusely despite
infernal temperatures.
There is always the chance of seeing wildlife, from the
California Thrasher or rarer creatures like the Alameda
Whipsnake. Coyotes abound and are frequently sighted
long after they have noticed you.
The
Audio Tour for this hike was produced by Joan Hamilton
and funded by the California State Parks Foundation in
cooperation with MDIA and Save Mount Diablo.
The Falls Trail 
Trailhead:
end of Regency Dr., off Marsh Creek Rd., eastern edge of
Clayton. Follow Ygnacio east to Clayton Road, turn right
on Clayton; follow it past downtown, where the road
rejoins Marsh Creek Road. Turn right on Regency Dr., to
the end.
Route: Donner Canyon Rd. to Cardinet Oaks Rd., to
Falls Trail, to Middle Trail and back
Distance:
4.8 miles round trip
Change in Elevation:
1200 feet each way
Difficulty:
Some steep areas on Donner Canyon. Road, but the Falls
Trail is relatively easy. Mitchell Canyon. does not have
big falls, but is easier going and streamside.
Best
Time To Go:
After a heavy rain; expect mud in lower Donner
Canyon. January - April
The
calls come every winter-especially after a local
newspaper runs a vague article and a bad map: "How do
you get to the waterfalls?" (See above) "Are
dogs allowed?" (No) "Are they close?" (about 2.5 miles
each way) "How hard is it?" (If you have to ask, it's
probably too difficult) "Is it muddy or wet?" (Yes, and
that's the best time to go).
Mount Diablo has a forbidding image to many, in part
because of its name. While creeks may dry in summer, the
reality is that there are always cool canyons, and even
on hot days cool breezes cross upper elevations. On the
north side of the mountain are three large, wooded
canyons. Because they're protected from the sun most of
the day, Donner, Back and Mitchell Canyons have among
California's best wildflower shows. The waterfalls in
the upper reaches of Donner Canyon are icing on the
cake. Save Mount Diablo worked with the State to
preserve most of the three canyons in the mid 1970s, and
helped acquire North Peak's summit in 1980.
Starting at Regency Drive, (1) you immediately
cross Donner Creek just above where it merges with Back
Creek in Clayton's Open Space. It looks as though the
creeks had carved a gorge between Regency and Mountaire. The
streets dead-end immediately across from each other
leaving the creeks un-culverted, testimony to creek
protection efforts in Clayton. Both creeks were very
full and the lower reaches of the canyon somewhat muddy.
Mud is a good sign that the waterfalls are booming in
the canyon above.
Follow Donner Creek across the lower foothills with
their big valley oaks and non-native eucalyptus and up
into the Canyon for the first mile and a half.
You'll pass the charred remains of the old Hetherington
cabin (2) and soon after leave the creek bank to begin
climbing more seriously. Before long, views will open up
to the Mt. Zion quarries to the west, to Mitchell Rock a
little to their south, and to the urbanized Clayton
valley below. Turn around and stop often to see the
quickly expanding view. You'll pass the Tick Wood and
Hetherington Loop trails (3) before reaching the
Cardinet Oaks Rd.
The
wildflower show will really get going in March and
April, but in the winter the signs of the 1977 fire that
burned across this section of the mountain are more
visible, from blackened tree trunks, to the ghostly
groves of dead gray manzanitas surrounded by the
red-trunked, new growth that issued forth after the
fire.
At
the Cardinet Oaks Rd., (4) Back Canyon is to the west.
In the distance the Keller Ranch (Oakhurst) development
is visible east of Clayton Rd. After climbing, the
Cardinet Oaks Rd. heads downhill and crosses Donner
Creek (5). Just past the creek, older manzanitas show
the lovely red veins of living tissue twining around
otherwise dead gray branches. You'll double back
up-slope in a short, steep section. The Falls (6) trail
cuts off steeply uphill and to the east (right)
just above a turn in the road, near the 1400’ contour,
but quickly levels out.
As
the trail crests, the water falls become visible, and
the view stretches back all the way to Martinez and
Benicia. On a good day the water and falls will be
clearly visible on three different branches of the
creek, crossing the many layers of sedimentary and
metamorphic rock visible the length of the trail. The
twisted, rocky landscape appears almost volcanic. The
first fall sometimes drops more than 25 feet. Even in
December, the green fronds of the polypody ferns are
visible on the rocks and one of the seasons
first blooms, the pink racemes of wild currants, can be
spotted.
Be
sensitive. The slopes are steep and erosion prone. Stick
to the main trail and avoid the temptation to climb down
to the falls. It's dangerous and it's damaging.
Depending on the season, you'll cross the creeks several
times, before joining the Middle Trail (7) and taking
the down slope back to the Donner Canyon Rd
(4). Throughout the hike you'll enjoy the roar of the
creeks.
Variations:
-
Consider climbing up to the Meridian Ridge Road (8),
and then down the Meridian Pt. trail (9) into
Back Canyon (10). The Back Creek Trail ends
where you parked, after passing through many more
wildflowers and thicker chaparral.
-
Consider starting at the Mitchell Canyon Trailhead (11)
and ascend using the Coulter Pine Trail (12) to the Back
Creek Trail (13) and enjoy an easier ascent on the Tick
Wood Trail (14) to reach the Donner Creek Trail (3).
Remember there is a fee to park at Mitchell Canyon.
-
Consider following the Middle Trail (7) and the
Falls Trail (6) in a counter-clockwise direction to
avoid the steep ascent on the Cardinet Oaks Road
(4).
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