Mount Diablo State Park - Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center — Attraction in Clayton

The Mitchell Canyon trailhead on the north side of Mount Diablo offers one of the most demanding and least trafficked summit routes in the Bay Area. It is not scenic in the usual sense, nor easy, but it delivers a clear test of fitness and judgment just 30 minutes from Berkeley.

Round-trip distance begins at 12 miles and extends with every ridge and spur you add. Our mid-July circuit covered 14 miles and 4,100 feet of gain, climbing past Mitchell Rock and Eagle Peak to the saddle between the north and south summits. From there, the trail steepens sharply, with loose footing on an exposed southern slope to the summit. We reached the top just before civil twilight and descended by flashlight via Meridian Ridge Road. The return brought low branches, spiders, dry air, and one tarantula. We saw owls in flight. We did not see mountain lions.

This is a harsh route in summer. After 8:00 a.m., the heat is punishing. Shade is rare, and water is absent. We began at 4:00 p.m., hiked for six and a half hours including breaks, and drank every drop we carried—2.5 liters for me, 1.5 for my partner. Gels or chews are a baseline; real food is better. Electrolytes—plenty—are an absolute must. We passed only six others on the descent, none obviously summit-bound. This is a serious trail, not a casual outing, and it trains the same systems taxed by early-morning Sierra approaches in full sun. The trail is well graded, at times wide enough for vehicles, but mercifully quiet. The best seasons are winter through early spring. In summer, come prepared and...

Mitchell Canyon is a gateway to the trails that take you to Diablo's seasonal waterfalls; to fields of stunning wildflowers; to oak woodlands and mixed-conifer forests; to the rocky peaks and actual summit of 3849 foot Mt. Diablo. All the information you need to put together a leisurely walk or a rigorous hike is available to you at the Visitor Center. You can look at maps, pick up free trail descriptions, see the types of flora and fauna you'll encounter on your outing, and purchase full, waterproof maps of the state park and various pamphlets and guidebooks. Families looking to get the kids out into Nature will find Visitor Center staff ready to help you tailor a hike to your specific needs and goals. There are interactive displays for young and old in the Center, and souvenirs available for purchase. Mount Diablo is a Bay Area gem that should not be missed. Once you've visited and experienced all she has to offer, you'll want to share the magic with all your...

There are many beautiful trails to the peak, with a climb of almost 4000 feet or shorter. You can also drive to the summit and look out over panoramic views of the Bay Area and Central Valley. You can see 38 of California’s counties with majestic views on clear days.

Mount Diablo is a young landform at around 2 million years old – just a baby regarding the Earth’s natural processes. Mount Diablo’s peak started as plates on the ocean floor, the evidence of which you can see in the fossilized remains of sea creatures and plants near the summit. The modern name of Mount Diablo comes from members of the Spanish military referring to it as “the thicket of the Devil” after losing track of several Native Americans they were attempting to capture. Mount Diablo was designated a California state park, and over the years, it was expanded to its present-day stretch of...