Our Mission The mission of State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and ach twist and turn Mount Diablo education of the people of California by helping E to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological State Park diversity, protecting its most valued natural and leading up to Mount cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Diablo’s summit carries visitors high above the crowded suburbs and low-lying hills to the

California State Parks supports equal access. tranquil vistas atop this Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at prominent peak. (925) 837-2525. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact [email protected].

CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov

Mount Diablo State Park 96 Mitchell Canyon Road Clayton, CA 94517 (925) 837-2525 www.parks.ca.gov/mountdiablo

© 2018 California State Parks O n a clear day, visitors can see for hundreds in 1804, the Chupcan of miles from the peak of Mount Diablo. made a daring nighttime Located in the Area to the escape from a Spanish east of Walnut Creek, the summit is renowned military expedition. for its panoramic views —west to the Farallon Later, newcomers Islands beyond , east to mistook the word monte Clay mariposa lily Mount Diablo globe lily Padre’s shooting star the Sierra , south to Mount Loma Prieta, for montaña (mountain) was formed in the past couple million years by and north nearly 200 miles to in and gave the name Diablo to the mountain. the folding and faulting of the earth’s crust. the Cascades. Colonel Leander Ransom established Mount and riparian woodlands, , and A mecca for hikers, equestrians, cyclists, and Diablo as the initial reference point for land grasslands comprise the mountain habitats. campers, Mount Diablo State Park draws more surveys in 1851 and began dividing up public Trees include coast live oak, bigleaf maple, than 350,000 visitors each year to explore the lands. From this starting point, lines extending Coulter pine, and California buckeye. Lilies park and take in the spectacular view. north, south, east, and west formed a survey and other spectacular wildflowers carpet the Elevations in the 20,000-plus-acre park grid that covers most of mountain in spring. vary from 335 to 3,849 feet— creating broad and all of Nevada—the basis of today’s land Rattlesnakes sun themselves on rocks while variations in temperature, rainfall, and wind survey system. red-tailed hawks fly overhead. Visitors may see exposure. The climate is mild in winter; A parcel of land atop the mountain was gray foxes or coastal black-tailed deer. More than summers can be hot, dry, and hazy. designated a state park in 1921, and much of 200 bird species have been spotted, including the rest of the mountain was declared a game PARK HISTORY warblers, western bluebirds, and great horned refuge. Due to its spiritual significance to owls. , tarantulas, and a rare snake, the Mount Diablo is a sacred place for Native Native Americans and its selection as the initial Alameda striped racer, also call the park home. Californians. The Julpun tribe who occupied point for land surveys, Mount Diablo became a the Delta area recognized the mountain as California Registered Historical Landmark BUILDINGS AND SITES the birthplace of the world. The Northern in 1976. Eye of Diablo Beacon of the Sierra foothills saw it as a In the early days of commercial aviation, supernatural being that brought light to a dark NATURAL HISTORY Standard Oil installed an aerial navigation world, and the Central Miwok of the foothills Mount Diablo is made of igneous, featured the mountain in their most important sedimentary, and metamorphic rock renewal ceremonies. ranging from 190 million to 10 million years Mount Diablo was home to many tribes: The old B.C. Some of the rocks are composed Volvon held the peak and areas to the east, the of marine sediments containing the Chupcan occupied the north, and the Tatcan, fossilized remains of ancient sea creatures. the west. The Souyen lived on the southern The summit is volcanic rock, erupted from end of the mountain. undersea volcanoes thousands of miles to Monte del Diablo (Thicket of the Devil) was the west and transported to the area by the name given to a willow thicket at nearby movement of the earth’s tectonic plates. Interior of CCC-built Summit Visitor Center Pacheco Slough (modern Concord), where, Mount Diablo itself is not a volcano, but Rock City ACCESSIBLE FEATURES Rock City, part of an uplifted rock formation The visitor center has an accessible that extends along the southern side restroom and an elevator to the observation of the mountain, is a popular family deck. Accessible parking and ground-level attraction. These sedimentary sandstone entry are provided. The Mary Bowerman rocks — millions of years old and carved by Trail near the summit is paved for 0.22 water, wind, and time — have created small miles to the Ransom Point overlook. Juniper caves and tunnels to explore. Campground and Summit Picnic Area have Sentinel Rock offers great views; CCC- accessible sites and nearby restrooms. Children on the observation deck chiseled steps and safety railings make it Accessibility is continually improving. For beacon on the Mount Diablo summit. an easy climb. The “Trail Through Time” updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. path can be accessed from Rock City and Originally lit (remotely) by Charles NEARBY STATE PARKS Lindbergh in 1928, the beacon, known as the showcases successive geological eras. • Benicia Capitol State Historic Park Eye of Diablo, guided pilots traveling to the RECREATION 115 West G St., Benicia 94510 Bay Area. Visible for 100 miles, the beacon The park offers an extensive system of hiking, (707) 745-3385 was turned off December 8, 1941, the day horse, and bicycling trails. Nature walks are • Benicia State Recreation Area after the Pearl Harbor bombing for fear it scheduled on a calendar at www.mdia.org. 1 State Park Road, Benicia 94510 might lead to an attack on California. More than 50 picnic sites have picnic tables (707) 648-1911 On December 7, 1964, Admiral Chester W. and barbecue stoves. Three group picnic Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of Pacific forces areas serve from 20 to 50 people each. Over during World War II, turned the beacon back 50 individual campsites have nearby showers on to commemorate Pearl Harbor survivors. PLEASE REMEMBER and flush toilets. Five group campsites The signal is now only lighted once a year on • Fires are a continual threat. Smoking have pit toilets and running water. To make December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. is prohibited during times of high fire reservations, visit www.parks.ca.gov or call danger (usually from early June through The Summit Building (800) 444-7275. the first significant rainfall). In the late 1930s, the Civilian Conservation • The park has steep, narrow roadways Corps (CCC) built the castle-like Summit with blind curves. Cyclists and vehicles Building out of sandstone blocks quarried must observe posted speed limits. in the park. Along the circular stairway to Share the road; pass only when safe. the observation deck, ancient marine • Except for service animals, dogs are not lie embedded in the walls. Telescopes permitted on trails or fire roads. Animals mounted on the observation deck help must be kept on a six-foot leash and sightseers enjoy the unparalleled view. enclosed in a vehicle or tent at night. The striking stone structure houses a • All natural and cultural features in the visitor center and museum, including a park are protected by law and may not diorama of the park’s ecosystems and a Rock City visitors be disturbed or removed. topographic model of the mountain. 1200' 1000' 1600' 800' 800' M a 800' r 1600' 400' sh Clayton 1400' C Benicia SRA 1200' 600' r Rd Mitchell e Benicia Capitol SHP 600' Canyon Rd e k Pittsburg 200' 400' Mount Diablo 1400' 1600' 4 Antioch R YIELD 1000' Oakley State Park 1400' d Martinez 1600' Concord 600' TO Clayton 400' 1200' Mitchell Canyon Walnut Creek 1000' Discovery Bay 1600' 800' Visitor Center SHP 24 600' Mount1400' Diablo M 680 Mount Diablo SP ar 1600' sh 1400' Sector Office 1000' C C d 1000' re 1200' M Oakland Danville a R e k Bethany Reservoir SRA d i s

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C This park receives support in part through a nonprofit Ranger Station a 1000' m 1000' i 800' no organization. For more information, contact 800' Ta Restrooms ss aja ra Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, P.O. Box 346 Viewpoint 0 1 2 3 Miles Walnut Creek, CA 94597 • (925) 927-7222 • www.mdia.org © 2018 California State Parks 0 1 2 3 4 Kilometers