This place is beautiful . Mount diablo has such beautiful scenery, I definitely recommend visiting. Parking was $6 on a sat. read more

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Amazing views above the East Bay with great hiking trails and picnic areas, even with lots of other visitors in the park it is easy to find serenity. read more

Mount Diablo State Park - View from the summit - Parks Near Me - Clayton, California

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This has been an uncommonly cool summer, which sucks if your are in San Francisco or the peninsula, but is a joy out on Mount Diablo because the pleasant days are fantastic. Usually the temperatures get into the upper 80's or into the 90's during the summer, which make any plans for long hiking not a good idea. But with the cooler temps, Woo-Hoo! Beat a path to the paths. It's a shame what the State is doing with their budget, and this State Park is suffering with all the rest. A note on their web site says all services are canceled on Wednesdays, i.e., no trash pickup or bathroom cleaning. Just think of it as a more primitive camping or hiking experience. The wildlife, long vistas, geology and plant diversity make hiking Mount Diablo a never ending source of pleasure and wonder. read more

Beautiful!! Read other yelp reviews and went up to the summit to look at the view. It was a perfect day for it! It had a gift shop and museum at the top. Learned a little about the mountain. We also visited rock city. Apparently the mountain was a volcano at one point and created these cool rocks. We got out of the car and walked around. Don't get the address from yelp. If you want to drive up take the north gate entrance. Or if you are daring you could bike up the 3800 ft mountain. We saw tons of people doing this. read more

What I Did - road cycling Would I Go Back? To begin, I write this review purely from a road biking perspective. I haven't camped or hiked in Mount Diablo and while I have driven to the summit, my main experience in the park has been biking. With that said, Mount Diablo is my favorite place to bike in the East Bay. The conditions are prime for a great road biking experience--minimal car traffic, pretty good roads, and absolutely beautiful scenery. If you enjoy climbing, there isn't a better climb in the East Bay. The last stretch from the lower summit to the top is brutal, but the view and feeling of accomplishment is completely worth it. Although, if you don't want to ride all the way to the top, riding to the 1,000-foot mark or 2,000-foot mark still provides a great view and workout. If you live in the East Bay and enjoy biking, Mount Diablo is a great spot. read more

Holy Cow! I love Mt. Diablo. It has great hiking and biking trails once you get up above the city sprawl and the cow pastures. I've seen deer, wolves, foxes and a huge variety of birds on my hikes and rides. If you are part of the drive to the top club, Mt. Diablo offers an excellent view of the Bay Area and Central Valley. Be sure to bring your binoculars or telescope. There is even a small museum on the summit. Be sure to dress warm as it tends to be cold and windy on the peak. Also, the drive up is not for anyone who gets car sick. (moved from previous post) An interesting note: There is a rotating light beacon on top of the observation tower. It still works, but it's only lit one time a year. Every December 7th, it's lit from Dusk until the next dawn to commemorate Pearl Harbor Day. It's a beacon for all the lost to find their way home. It's a yearly tradition now. read more

You can see forever on a clear day. And even if it's not perfectly clear, it's still great views. Driving to the top seems kind of wimpy after I watched tons of bikers hauling up to the top, but it was well worth the trip. I hiked some simple trails around the area after checking out the views. Seeing the Golden Gate Bridge from that far away was very cool. Don't miss Rock City and the sandstone formations. Just don't be a tool and carve your name in the rocks like every other person struggling with their anonymity in life. read more

Mt. Diablo is the East Bay's natural wonder. Though I've only explored the summit and Rock City, there is so much more that I have yet to explore like ponds and waterfalls and trails and more rocks! On a clear day the views are breathtaking. On a not so clear day the views are still breathtaking. Being 4,000 ft above sea level is exciting no matter what you can see below. Rock City is great for kids (and adults who like to act like kids). Carve you and your lover's initials into the rocks or climb the rocks with ease by using the already worn in holes. Take a picnic and eat at one of the many picnic spots. The address on this Yelp review (Clayton, CA) is not the actual address of the park. The park fee is cash only. read more

One of the Bay Area's premier parks: views, wildlife, flowers, rocks, Diablo has it all. While I don't think you can go wrong with any of the trails, my favorites are on the north side, including Mitchell Canyon to Eagle Peak, and any loop that includes the Falls Trail. If you like wildflowers, Mt. Diablo sports a spectacular display of flora in spring and summer, many of which are threatened, and some of which live *only* on Mt. Diablo. It's also a great place to find tarantulas in the fall. Note that you will have to pay a per-vehicle entrance or parking fee for most entrances into the park, though I believe there are some trailheads with limited parking on the northeast side. You could also do a long hike in from Diablo Foothills or Morgan Territory. Given the beleaguered state of California's state park system and the awesomeness of Diablo, I'd say the fee is well worth it. read more

There are plenty of entrances and trails leading up to and around the summit. Decided to do an easy hike and started at the Junipero campground (a mile or so north of Rock City). Took about an hour to get to the summit via some intermediate trails (mostly Junipero trail and then Summit trail). Parking is 10$, so it's best to get the most out of your time there and bring snacks to sit down and enjoy while overlooking the view. When you get to the Lower Summit lot, be wary of the Mary Bowerman trail, it's absolutely covered with gnats (or flies) and impossible to walk through without swallowing a few. read more

Go there on a nice day. The view is amazing in all directions. At 3800 ft (1160 m), this is the highest spot in the Bay Area, I believe. Plenty of bike riders go up and down to curvy street. The family version goes like this: put your bicycles in your mini van and drive up. Poor mom has to drive the car back down but dad+kids race their bikes downhill. Fantastic! With the California budget mess, the park entrance fee is now $10/car (used to be free), but it's worth every penny. I suggest you go. read more

I came To Mount Diablo State Park with a friend that was having recovery from surgery issues, so our hiking agenda was quite limited. We drove in the north gate by Walnut Creek and drove part way up the mountain to Juniper Campground on the north shoulder of the mountain, where there is a large place to park. We followed trails east toward Deer Flat Meadows and then came back. The flat part of the name was not entirely accurate because there were some considerable ups and downs. We stayed on the fire roads, no real trail stuff that day. After our hike we drove up to the summit where there is a building that houses a gift shop, restrooms and a former wartime beacon. The building is a stone structure that was built by the CCC from 1939-42. The view is fantastic. You can see Mt. Tamalpais, San Francisco, the Farallone Islands and all the way to the Sierra Mountains. If the sky is clear enough. read more

I live on the back-side of Mt. Diablo with a beautiful view from my patio. I frequently enjoy the hiking & of course the views - both are quite wonderful. On any given outing, wildlife is really everywhere, from deer, to jays, to red-tailed hawks, to an occasional, friendly coyote. Then there are the beautiful wildflowers in the springtime, not to mention the peace &/or solitude. As Lauren has written, 'what an amazing experience!' RGJW. read more

This review is solely for the 6.8 mile loop hike from the Summit (http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=25098). The trails are quite confusing. Somehow we missed a turn, even though we were on the correct trail name, and ended up hiking 3+ extra miles. We started at 1pm which was a mistake & didn't finish until the sun was setting. These trails are not for beginners. They are very hilly. And if you want to attempt to do the same hike, allot atleast 4 hours, plus some. Keep in mind it takes about 45 minutes just to drive up to the Summit. It's a very windy, car-sick road. Watch out for bikers too, especially around the turns. They come down pretty. The view is beautiful, but honestly, I don't think it was worth the drive / brutal hike. read more

I am happy to read other reviews of this park and note that I am not the only person out there doing "weird" things (as a friend says...and yes, I'm not over that yet), like going to a state park on a beautiful day and hiking alone! With that said...I've been admiring Mt. Diablo from afar for a while so I thought it was about time to tackle it. What better day then a foggy, cold one in SF to head over the bridge and get sunburned! I started my hike at Rock City, which was very cool and due to the holiday weekend pretty busy. There are pick nick areas and spots for photo-ops and most of the rocks are easily scalable by smaller children with an adult's help. Despite the crowds, I easily found parking close to the trail head and after making sure I had enough water (I think I started with 3L) and snacks I was on my way. I consider myself directionally competent but for some reason had a hard time finding the Summit Trail from where I was, but after asking two nice older folks I found my way to the bypass trail that led me to where I wanted to be. Two hours later and over 2L of water gone I was at the top and not really able to see much, which was disappointing consider the effort it took to get there, so I didn't stay long. The trail was great, though, once I got going it was very well marked, and despite the number of cars in the parking lot, the trail was desolate. If not for the fog I would have been able to see more, maybe another day. The hike down was pretty boring, the challenge was no longer there so I didn't have much to concentrate on. So, if you are alone I suggest bring an iPod or something to keep you occupied. For doggy lovers, not a good place to bring your pal, I opted out this time and am glad I did, there's not a lot of tree cover on this trail and zero water stops. Great place and I'll definitely go back! read more

Recommended by friends as one of a few hikes to do prior to Half Dome. Yep, I'm crazy and I'm hiking Half Dome in July! Donner Canyon Waterfall Loop ~ 5.7 mile moderate hike (strenuous for weenies) with quite a few steep climbs and total elevation increase of 1300 feet http://www.bahiker.com/eastbayhikes/mdsp/donnercanyon.html The first part of the trail is nothing spectacular, though we did see a small group of turkeys under some trees. The Falls Trail had more gradual ups and downs and great vistas ... you can see many miles around. Don't expect to see waterfalls in the summer!!! We went the last weekend in May and they were barely trickling. Needless to say, the people who came with me were not thrilled since that was the common motivation. It took our group 3.5 hours ... and we're not out of shape, but we don't exercise every day either. Would not recommend as an especially scenic hike unless you do it in winter or whenever the waterfalls are gushing. And then you may have to worry about muddy conditions. Good exercise. I liked it. Friends were glad they did it, but wouldn't go back. **Cover up, my shoulders got burnt!** Next stop, Mission Peak... read more

Lot's of trails with all kinds of levels of difficulty. Great place to start out a hike!

The mountain is 3300 ft. ITS beautiful spot.we drove my car once time every month I love it,you have put on cap and heavy warmer coat on the top of the mountain. Nice to see beautiful view! read more

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Pretty views of the east. Really peaceful as well, not a whole lot in terms of traffic or bikers or runners around. Lots of houses on the way up, which seemed odd, well I guess for someone who lives in the city. read more

It's a gorgeous park, with different landscaping going up as the elevation changes. It doesn't get 5 stars because no dogs on trails. We couldn't hike because of the dog, and if she can't go, we find somewhere else she can go. We respect the rules but doesn't mean we like them! 6 bucks to get into the Mitchell Canyon entrance, 4 more bucks if you go to the summit. read more

Juniper trail...park at juniper campground and start your walk/hike..it's located at the north entrance ($10 parking - slip it into the envelop). There are bathrooms at 3 spots..parking, mid way, and all the way to the summit. Once you get to the top, there's another upper summit you can go to. Nice view of the bay, lots of bugs though, and ample of nature-ish things to take photos of (macro). read more

Drove up to the top of Mount Diablo a week ago to enjoy beautiful views and the first signs of Spring everywhere. I kept thinking, "Why don't I come up here more often?" We are so lucky to have such a special park right in our back yards. Don't forget to stop at the deli and bring a picnic lunch! read more

This place is AMAZING! We went up through the south gate and drove up to the top. Once we saw the ten dollar entrance fee, we were sort of skeptical. I mean, we just drove to the top, how much more hiking can there be? But there was enough to get us heaving for some vitamin water. It might be because we were beginners, but we were still tired. It was totally worth the ten buckaroos. You get to the top and it is crazy amazing up there. You can literally see for miles and miles and miles. It was breathtaking, and not just cuz we were tired from the hike up, it was beautiful. Be sure to bring a camera to the top, or at least take a few mental pictures. You don't feel like you're in the bay area anymore, its wonderful. When you get out of your car though, throw the maps away. They're pretty useless and will confuse the bajeeezzuus out of you. Just try to remember little landmarks and rock formations on your way up. plus, you don't want your nose to be stuck in a map when you're walking in a place like this. And don't forget the drinks and sunscreen! Thank goodness we have a place like this in the bay. A literal, breath of fresh air. read more

Awesome. One of the best views in the entire Bay Area. Anyone that doesn't like it is crazy. Go now. read more

I went on this hike with a few friends. The hike is tough, not so much going uphill. It's terrible on your knees going down hill -- our trail was 5 miles up, 3 miles down and those three miles were steep, full of turns, on a very narrow path. The view at the top is gorgeous, but not too much area to do much of anything other than take a few pictures and each lunch up there. Hmm, wish I reviewed this earlier; it was three months ago when I hiked this mountain and can't remember the smaller details on this hike. :) read more

Looming over the Tri-valleys and poking it's twin peaks above the surrounding hillsides, visible on a clear day from the edges of California, Mt Diablo State Park is a "must see" destination in Northern California. Big enough to hike all day but not so big that a search party couldn't find you in an hour, the park offer a dynamic blend of elevation and distance, covered trails and open grassy spaces. There should be no doubt that on the crisp days of spring and fall, the views are impressive, no mind blowing. Mt. Shasta shimmering off the atmosphere, Mt. St. Helena, Mt. Tamalpaius, the snow capped Sierra-Nevada, San Francisco, Carquinez Straight, The Sacramento Delta (the Bay's fresh water system!) and The PACIFIC OCEAN for crying out loud! I could go on and doing so would be academic, the sense of majesty looking out across Northern California can be it's own spiritual experience. On my most recent visit, I took a much anticipated hike - peak to peak as it might be known. An easy 5-mile round trip at max. The trail could mostly be reviewed from the visitor center on the main peak and exactly as it wound around the mountain, descending at least 500 or more feet into the saddle between the two peaks and then up what looks to be an overwhelmingly steep ascent up a fire/utility road to the east peak, was really just enough to get the heart warmed up but not cripple my recoving-from-3-straght-weeks of sickness hiking partner. The views that day were washed out by haze generated by a few days of rain followed by relatively warm (evaporation causing) warm weather. Not the fault of the mountain, and not still allowing for some great views and clear air. I look forward to hiking and viewing for years to come. [END] read more

Does anyone else have the same feeling going through the tunnel to what lies beyond the tunnel--that you're suddenly in "the West"? In that vein, Diablo is great hiking, though nothing like its ocean-drenched Marin counterparts. At least in July, it's harshly dried out, and the inhospitable scenery is dotted with wind turbines. A brutal mixture of pioneer stock footage and post-apocalypse epic. read more

I honestly was so excited when I was driving here. It was in July we chose to come and it was honestly our first time so we didn't know all the popular spots. I come here, I feel like ghosts are all around me since NO one was there when we both came. It was eerie and creepy at night time, it wasn't pretty either. The air felt humid and HOT as hell, I knew I wouldn't have a fun time. It was hellish hot, BUT the scenery is amazingly beautiful. After I left and gave my reviews to some people who I know came to this place, they told me not to come during the summers and that during the winters there's ear wigs everywhere so be wary of the bugs! The rocks are amazing and fun to climb on. So many carvings and you could really tell this has a lot of history due to the rock formation. read more

Great walking park with several different trails that you can take. Only thing that you have to look out for is horse poop in the trail. read more

Mount Diablo State Park - Parks Near Me - Clayton, California

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If you like scenic views and are into running or cycling you really should check out this park. On 2 separate occasions I started at the 1,000 foot marker(7 miles to the summit) and the 2,000 foot marker(5-5.5 miles to the summit). I strongly suggest that you do this run in the morning. The nice thing about the course is that as you go up the temperature goes down. I believe the fee for cars is $5 or so. read more

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Great day trip for sightseeing, picnicking, day hiking. Bring your own h2o and snacks. read more

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Great hike with beautiful views of all sides of Bay Area and surrounding valleys. My hubs and I rode his motorcycle through the entire mountain and it was such a beautiful ride. Hiked the Summit trail which wasn't too long itself, maybe a mile. Next time we will start lower down the trails because we rode most of it to the top. read more

Mount Diablo State Park - Summit Trail - Parks Near Me - Clayton, California

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I added one more star because of the cleaniness of the bathroom and shower. I saw the bathroom was cleaned at least 2nd time for a day. Toilet paper was re-filled. We spent one night from Sat to Sun for labor day weekend. Although it said the check in time is 2pm but we went there earlier to try to get two adjacent sites for three families. We got there before 1pm and we were told we could just drive in and get whatever sites avaliable. We found site#20 which was pretty big and face to the scene. The site was big enough to fit three tents. Mt. Diablo is known for the scene. We saw beautiful sunset and sunrise. We walked up a trail to Summit but not all the way since we had 6 kids and we were all tired already. The park ranger checked right after 10pm and warned us that we could not burn fire and warned us couple times to quiet down. The campsite here is good enough for only one night staying. Otherwise, you are running out things to do. You are forced to sleep early at 10pm. read more

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Nice moderate hike but had a hard time finding our way at first, wish there were more signs. Enjoyed the views. People were nice.

Went camping with a group. When we got there, we asked for confirmation on how to get to our campsite. We were told to "follow the signs." That would have been fine, but it turned out that our printed reservations showed us at a campsite that is no longer used. When we finally found the correct campsite, we discovered that most of the area was sloped, with little flat ground. Most of us spent the night sliding in our tents. Fine for backpacking, but we were car camping! The view was gorgeous. The stoves and drainage are made of native stone, at least one of which had a seashell embedded in it; a nice reminder of Mt. D's history. Overall, very disappointing, but very fixable. read more

We started from Mitchell trail to the top of the Summit. Amazing views when you get to the Summit. I will do it again!

This is a great family friendly please to hike. Please make sure you wear plenty of some block and bring water because it gets very hot on the mountain. This probably isn't the best place to bring small children because they're is a lot of incline. read more

First time hiking here and it was fun with friends. Started at juniper campsite and walked around the mountain, up to the summit and back to junpier. It was about 8 miles. Lots of steep hills. So not a really good hike for begginers. No benches or water stops. Make sure to bring water, snack and probably a hat. I brought an umbrella it helped a lot. read more

Mount Diablo State Park - Juniper campsite - Parks Near Me - Clayton, California

Love coming to this park on beautiful spring or summer days. This is a great area for a hike through the many trails or a bike ride up. At any point of the mountain there are amazing views from every angle which makes for great photos. The park itself is kept very clean and there is also staff around. Unfortunately there are no dogs allowed on the premises which sort of sucks, since most people take walks or hikes on with their dogs. There is an entrance fee to get into the park to maintain the park which you can clearly see. Definitely come check park out which is located in the city of Danville. The entrance to the park is semi hard to find but not impossible. The streets are narrow up there and there are a ton of people riding their bikes here so be careful! read more

Great place to go hiking!! Felt so accomplished this morning! Definitely stay hydrated for this summer weather.