The waterfall Loop of Mt Diablo is categorized as moderate 8 mile hike. I would say that's pretty…read moreaccurate. Park at the visitor center and get a paper map if you don't have a digital map. Fairly easy to follow all the markers. I wish they were all marked by numbers but they're not. The scenery is nice and lots of shade throughout the hike. Many of the roads are narrow and slippery. Hiking poles and good hiking boots are important. The waterfall was mini in beginning of December 2025 but there was a steady stream. Entire hike takes about 4-4-.5 hours to finish. Some steep inclines but not too grueling. Pay parking via QR code and a cc.

I really enjoyed this hike, it had views, wildflowers, streams with running water, and was a good…read moreworkout. I followed the All Trails version of the trail which took around 4 hours and was 8 miles. The hike was moderate to hard because there were some steep parts and parts that were rocky and easy to slip. I'd recommend hiking boots. To see the waterfalls I think the best time to go is Jan-early May but that's even pushing it. By May there are still wildflowers, but the brush is starting to turn brownish, and the water is drying up quick. Probably the most ideal picturesque time for this hike would be early March after a rain. I'd avoid it in the summertime unless you live in the desert and are used to hiking in high temperatures.

I finally decided to visit this park on my way back from traveling up north. I visited last month…read moreat the end of November. I was by myself so I didn't do any big hikes. I did hike about a half mile on the Mary Bowerman Trail to the visitor center. It was a really beautiful portion of the trail. It was canopies with trees covered in moss. The visitor center is really nice, and very warm. Which was good, because at the top of the trail it is windy and cold. The visitor center is the highest point in the park. It had amazing views! There is a small gift shop and museum in the center. Outside are bathrooms. I later drove down the road and visited Rock city. It was really cool! There are different rock formations that have formed due to wind and water. Kids would definitely love this area of the park!

In the past few years, I've explored many different entrances to this open space. Surprisingly,…read moremany of the entrances are close to or even on private land, with an easement. For example, the entrances nearby Walnut Avenue are often interspersed among largest estates. Generally, the trails are well marked. But not always. And sometimes trails do not show up on the official Park map. Having said that, this is a delightful Park with tons of interesting trails. In most areas there are no facilities or water, so keep that in mind.

Was in the area and looking for a place to take my dog for an off leash walk and this was it. It…read morewas after some rains, so lots of muddy spots on trails. We did a nice mile and a half loop, perfect length for my small dog. I got parking, but there are not many spots, so that could be an issue. I also didn't see any bathrooms, forcing me to figure out alternatives. Rolling hills, but nothing too bad. Some native plant restoration work was being done and everybody I passed by was polite and pleasant. The trails are very exposed, so I would limit my hiking here to days with more mild weather, but it wasn't busy a really nice change of scenery for me.

I have hiked or run on this trail many, many times. It is one of my favorite places to go,…read moreespecially on a hot summer day. However, I must admit this is where I fractured my foot; other than that. Hardly any bones have been broken. One neat feature about this trail is that it connects up to Dublin regional park, which is part of east Bay. regional parks.

This is truly a hidden gem in the Dublin neighborhood and a must! It's situated behind some…read moreresidential properties in a beautiful trail. There's ample parking in the neighborhood and you'll follow the road til you see the gate and sign for the start of the trail. The beginning part has quite a bit of sun and then it's shady for most of the way. There's an option to extend the trail once you get the gate. Then you can hike all the way to the top and get rewarded with a beautiful view. It's really an enjoyable hike with greenery and beautiful nature.

If it weren't for outdoor spaces, I'm not sure where I would have gone during the pandemic lock…read moredown! I've never seen this trail so packed as it was in these past few years! It's been great to start to see the same people and greet one another with a nod, smile, or a hello. What a nice way to connect while social distancing : ) This trail goes on and on, if you look at the regional map: www.traillink.com/trail/iron-horse-regional-trail During the summertime, there are more or less shaded areas, depending on where you go on the trail. You can find the die-hard runners, bikers, and walkers out during the hottest temperatures! During the wintertime, it's refreshing to be in the crisp air, and you'll find A LOT of people exercising as their New Year's Resolutions ; - ) In the fall, the winds can pick up and bring up the dirt on the trails. In the springtime, it's perfect weather, which seems to bring out the most people on weekends. Watch for bunches of people in the middle of the trail or strollers with dogs if you go mid-day. Recently, there have been signs posted alerting people to call out when passing and that there is a maximum of 15 MPH on the trail. This may be due to all of the new trail users who are unfamiliar with which side to walk on or it may be due to the electric bike and scooter riders on the trail. The dogs seem to really like the trail and there are complimentary poop bags that can be found in dispensers along the way to keep the trail clean. The added automatic signal lights are a plus to alert vehicles to oncoming pedestrians and bicyclists. *Note: You can find parking at some of the trail head locations.

First let me say that this trail is far from uniform from one part to another. The northern portion…read morenear Concord COULD be scenic if all the encampments and trash was cleared out. This portion, miles 0-4, was recently repaved However there are no restrooms along this section. Miles 4-8 can be very congested with people walking dogs and pushing strollers. Even sections with "pedestrian only access" are largely unused and the multi purpose trail has most of the traffic. Miles 8-14 are not very scenic. Mostly backyards. Lots of cross streets making cycling less enjoyable. Miles 14-20 are more backyards and several more cross streets. There are a few narrow bridges over small creeks. Miles 20-24 are fairly industrial. The trail is much cleaner and better patrolled from Walnut Creek south. North is a totally different story. One park employee told me he thought I was brave to ride on that section of the trail. Not a place for families for sure.

We took the Shady Slope - Short Ridge - Sandy Hill Trail loop and it was a good workout. The trail…read moreis like a horseshoe, starting with 1/2 mile of uphill, 1 mile of flat, and 1/2 mile of downhill. The hilly parts definitely made me sweat but nothing overly difficult. The terrain, climate, and views from this trail reminds me a lot of Mission Hill. What I didn't like about it is there isn't any shade, the trail is rocky and very uneven in parts, and there's cow poop everywhere. However, once at the top of the hill, there's a nice view of the Danville below. Luckily we came here on an overcast day, but I can imagine how uncomfortable this hike would be on a typical Danville summer day. The trail head is right by a school, a church, and a park. I think we ended up parking at the school parking lot, which I'm not sure was legal. Parking in the park parking lot is probably a better choice (had I known).

Driving to Danville can be a bit of a chore for me. Not because the destination was unpleasant but…read morethe fact that it took a while for me to get to the Tri-Valley area. My big payoff was getting the Fuji Melt at Danville Brewing again (review: https://bit.ly/3ErM7UJ), but then I had to work off some of those calories, right? That was when I found this wide open space nearby off Camino Tassajara in the foothills. When I turned off, I first saw the bucolic park and elementary school populated with frolicking children and their concerning mothers. The terrain got more exposed and barren once I set off on the Sand Hill Trail. It climbed reasonably up to the Short Ridge Trail where I bore left. This segment was the best part of the walk because, well, it was flat and... There was a nice view of Mt. Diablo (photo: https://bit.ly/3Op4JJn). When I saw the vista bench positioned in that direction, I knew that was my signal to bear left onto the Shady Slope Trail which took me back down to the park through a lot of bush and tall grass. The entire loop was little more than two miles long, so I wouldn't describe it as a taxing hike. It'll just make a dent into your daily FitBit goal with pleasant enough panoramas. RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

"Secret Trailhead, Ensconced behind Vacant Horse Trailers"…read more This is a perfectly legal access point to this trail, but it's hard to find. The trailhead is located on a private road, Rohrer, and you have to park a little ways away. At least, that's what the local sign says. It's difficult to find the trailhead. There are several horse trailers parked in the cul-de-sac. I'm pretty sure the horse trailers are unoccupied, by either man or beast. Look behind them and you will soon discover the trail. I have posted some photos of the trailhead, so you can see what you're looking for. The trailhead is right next to a horse training facility. The day I visited, I kept hearing the loud snapping sound of a whip. I think they just make the sound to train the horses. I don't think they actually whip them. It's a mystery to me why the trainers make that whip sound. Is it actually made to scare away hikers? If anyone knows please tell me. Assuming you have found the trail, for the first mile it's pretty steep, but it's still a pleasant hike. If you keep on going it will take you to the Clyde Wood trail. From that trail, there are numerous access points to Rossmoor. You can also access this trail from Las Trampas Regional Park. But be prepared--it's a long hike! I enjoyed my hike on this trail, but honestly, it's probably not worth a second visit. It's a long way to get to, no matter which route you take. Keep in mind there are no facilities whatsoever. No restrooms, no water, no nothing. Just the sound of whips.

What a great trail! This leads from a lovely little neighborhood up into the Las Trampas…read morewilderness. There are frequent astounding views. The only negative is that the landowner on the southern trailhead is anti-hiker. They have coned off the parking lot (that's on public land) and parked their trailer in such a way as to try to hide the trailhead. If you can avoid their negativity, it's one of the best trails in the area.

Beautiful, easy loop trail tucked away in Pleasanton…read more Not a lot of people know about this trail, so it is never crowded. It is about 1.5 miles around and takes no more than 45 min or so. There is a nice variety of elevation and scenery. There is a free parking lot and a lot of nice houses surrounding this area, so also fun strolling through the neighborhood after you are done with your hike. If you are going counter-clockwise, there is a final left turn you need to make to get back to the parking lot, otherwise you will end up at Foothill Road, so don't make the same mistake I did. Highly recommend for a hidden gem in the east bay.

If using google maps to get here, input "The Preserve Staging Area", and it will lead you straight…read moreto the parking lot. Otherwise you may end up among the neighborhood homes. This trail is not ideal for running. It's hilly so going uphill is work, and it's made up of rocks and dirt and uneven terrain so it's easy to trip or slip going downhill. But it's not bad for a simple hike, just a short 30-minute trek along the loop. Yes, my legs got a workout from the climbs, but the slopes weren't too steep, the views were lovely, and the atmosphere was peaceful on a Tuesday afternoon. Plus, there's a restroom near the parking lot for convenience.