Mount Diablo, in northern California, is a dominant topographic feature. It was established in 1851 as the focal point for land surveys covering two-thirds of California and all of Nevada at the Mount Diablo BaseLine and Meridian. The top of the mountain boasts spectacular panoramic views.
Many Mount Diablo tourists go straight towards the Summit to enjoy the iconic view. Mount Diablo isn’t especially tall as mountains go-just 3.849 metres. It is therefore surrounded by low, rolling hills and broad, open valleys, so the Summit view is remarkable. You will see about 200 miles, when conditions are perfect. Often summer days are hazy, and the strongest visibility is always on the day of a snow storm.
You will then travel west, over the Golden Gate Bridge, to the Farallon Islands; south-east to the James Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton at 4,213 feet above sea level; south to Mount Loma Prieta in the Santa Cruz Mountains at 3,791 feet above sea level, north to Mount Saint Helena in the Coast Range at 4,344 feet above sea level, and farther north to Lassen Peak in the Cascades at 10,466 feet above sea level. The San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers converge north and east of Mount Diablo to create the winding waters of the Delta. To the east beyond the great central valley of California, the crest of the Sierra Nevada appears to be floating in space. Altogether, from the Mount Diablo Dome, you can see over 8,539 square miles and portions of 40 of California’s 58 counties.
Remember all plants and animals are contained within the park. It is prohibited to gather or kill everything in the Forest, even mushrooms.
The Visitor Center is situated atop Mount Diablo’s highest peak, in the historic stone house. The tower was designed by fossil sandstone blocks quarried in the park during the late 1930’s. The Park’s cultural and environmental history is illustrated by the Visitor Centre.
Impressive shows chronicle mountain past and catch its beauty. The geological forces which formed the mountain are investigated by a rock wall with instructional video. A diorama, complete with sound, offers an overview of the park’s ecosystems, and its cultural history. A mountain model gets to meet tourists of significant park locations.
It opens daily from 10AM to 4PM.
Image courtesy of Jeffreymendel Jeffrey Nash – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50308966
This amazing trail is located near the following must-see trails in Walnut Creek, California:
- Diablo Foothills Regional Park
- Shell Ridge Open Space
- Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area
- Lime Ridge Open Space
- Heather Farm Park
- Sugarloaf Open Space
- Acalanes Ridge
- Arbolado Park
All of these trails are located just a short distance from our location in downtown Walnut Creek, Spaulding Concrete on Locust Street.