National park · United States
Mount Diablo State Park
Drive to the summit for the view (US$10 per car), or hike Mitchell Canyon or North Peak for quiet; go Oct–May, start before 9:00, and skip the summit road on summer weekends.Drive to the summit for the view (US$10 per car), or hike Mitchell Canyon or North Peak for quiet; go Oct–May, start before 9:00 AM, and skip the summit road on summer weekends.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
81 km² (31 sq mi)31 sq mi (81 km²)
approximate
Established
1931
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
At a glance
- Country
- United States
- Area
- 81 km² (31 sq mi)31 sq mi (81 km²)
- About 20,000 acres (81 km²) after repeated expansions since 1931; figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 1931
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Mount Diablo is a 1,173 m upthrust peak standing alone above the East Bay, so the summit view reaches San Francisco, the Central Valley and, on clear days, the Sierra Nevada. A paved road runs almost to the top, which makes it the easiest big view in the Bay Area — and the reason the top is crowded on weekend afternoons. The park is about 8,000 hectares of oak woodland, grassland and sandstone, with the quiet walking on the north side at Mitchell Canyon and on the North Peak. Summer is dry and hot, spring brings wildflowers, and the gates close at sunset.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1931.
Size and age
81 km² (31 sq mi)31 sq mi (81 km²) · national park since 1931
About 20,000 acres (81 km²) after repeated expansions since 1931; figures vary by source (check).
Why go
- The summit road puts a 1,173 m panorama within a 45-minute drive of Walnut Creek or Concord.
- Mitchell Canyon and North Peak give the same mountain with a fraction of the people.
- Spring wildflowers on the upper slopes: lupine, poppies, larkspur and thistle.
- Sandstone at Rock City, with Miwok grinding holes in the rock.
- A real half-day hill walk that does not need a national-park trip.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCool and often clear; snow possible at the summit
- FebGreen slopes; rain and muddy fire roads
- MarWildflowers start; mild temperatures
- AprPeak wildflowers; clear views
- MayWarm, still green; go early
- JunHot and dry; little shade on upper trails
- Jul35 °C (95 °F) days; fire danger can close the park95 °F (35 °C) days; fire danger can close the park
- AugHottest month; haze cuts the view
- SepHot; tarantula season starts
- OctCooling, clear; tarantulas on the move
- NovClear, quiet, comfortable walking
- DecCold and clear; icy summit road possible
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarantulas crossing trails and roadsSep–Oct · Harmless unless handled; guided walks need advance sign-up. | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Wildflowers on the upper slopesMar–May | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Bald and golden eaglesDec–Feb | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes |
| Northern Pacific rattlesnakesApr–Oct · Often warming on rock; watch hands and feet in rocky areas. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Concord BART
County Connection bus 310 or 320 to the north end, then walk in on Donner Creek Fire Road.
1–1.5 h
From Walnut Creek
Drive to North Gate Road, then the summit road.
40–50 min
From Danville
Drive to South Gate Road via Blackhawk, then the summit road.
40–50 min
From San Francisco
Drive via the Caldecott Tunnel and Walnut Creek, or BART to Concord and bus.
1.5–2 h
From Outer East Bay plan
Where to base, and how the parks fit a Bay Area trip.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Summit area | Visitor centre, observation deck, telescopes and the paved road end. | Open with entry fee; road closes at sunset. |
| Mitchell Canyon | North-side trailhead, spring wildflowers and the quietest walking. | Open; visitor centre weekends and holidays. |
| Rock City and Blackhawk Ranch Quarry | Sandstone formations, Wind Caves and a fossil dig. | Open; short walks from the road. |
| North Peak | 1,084 m secondary summit reached on foot only. | Open; no road. |
Sketch map
- 1Summit Visitor Center · Headquarters≈37.882, -121.914Map ↗
- 2North Gate Road entrance · Gate≈37.903, -122.050Map ↗
- 3South Gate Road entrance · Gate≈37.820, -121.950Map ↗
- 4Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center · Trail≈37.920, -121.942Map ↗
- 5Rock City · Trail≈37.849, -121.933Map ↗
- 6North Peak · Summit≈37.893, -121.905Map ↗
- 7Juniper Campground · Sleep≈37.879, -121.936Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions from the gates to the summit, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle entry | US$10 | car | 2026 estimate; charged at North Gate and South Gate. |
| Walk-in or bike entry | Free | person | No fee for hikers and cyclists entering on foot or by bike (check). |
| Camping, Juniper or Live Oak | US$30–40 | night | 2026 estimate; showers included at Juniper and Live Oak. |
| Camping, Junction | US$30 | night | 2026 estimate; six sites, first-come only. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Camping permit or guide
Group camps permit or guide
Special events and filming permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- US$10
- US$30–40
- US$30
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on California State Parks — Mount Diablo State Park before you go.
Park rules
- Gate hours
- Gates open 8:00 and close at sunset; campers are locked in overnight.Gates open 8:00 AM and close at sunset; campers are locked in overnight.
- Fire danger closures
- The park can close on high-fire-danger days in late summer and autumn (check).check
- Camping
- Only in the three family campgrounds and five group sites; no backcountry camping.
- Quiet hours
- 22:00–6:00; generators not allowed 20:00–10:00; checkout at noon.10:00 PM–6:00 AM; generators not allowed 8:00 PM–10:00 AM; checkout at noon.
- Dogs
- Allowed on fire roads and in campgrounds, not on hiking trails (check).check
- Water
- Taps at the visitor centres and campgrounds can be off in dry years; carry your own.
Where to stay
In the park
Juniper Campground
36 sites near the summit road; showers included.
In the park
Live Oak Campground
22 sites lower on the mountain; showers included.
In the park
Junction Campground
Six first-come sites; no reservations.
Near the park
Walnut Creek or Concord
Hotels of every level, 30–50 min from the gates.
Safety
Heat on exposed upper trails medium
Getting lost on the fire-road network medium
Rattlesnakes low
Poison oak, ticks and mosquitoes low
Icy summit road low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The summit road and the observation deck are reachable by car, with a short paved walk from the car park.
- The Summit Visitor Center has restrooms and level access to the deck.
- Most trails are steep, rocky and unshaded; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Carry out all rubbish; bins are limited outside the visitor centres.
- Stay on marked trails to protect spring wildflowers and fragile sandstone.
- Do not handle tarantulas or other wildlife, including for photos.
- Fill water bottles at home; taps can be off in dry years.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mount Diablo State Park?
US$10 per vehicle at the North Gate or South Gate (2026 estimate). Hikers and cyclists entering on foot or by bike pay nothing. Camping is extra, about US$30–40 per night.
What are the best hikes in Mount Diablo State Park?
For quiet: Mitchell Canyon to North Peak, about 13 km return with 800 m of climb, 4–6 hours. For short and easy: the Rock City loop past Sentinel Rock and the Wind Caves, 1–2 hours. The Grand Loop from Mitchell Canyon is the long option at 5–7 hours.
When is the best time to visit Mount Diablo State Park?
March to May for wildflowers and green slopes, and October to November for clear, cool views. June to September is hot and dry, with fire-danger closures possible. Winter is quiet but the summit road can ice over.
Can I drive to the summit?
Yes. A paved road runs from both gates to near the top, with a short walk to the observation deck. Gates open at 8:00 and close at sunset, so plan your descent before dark.
Do I need a reservation?
No for day entry — pay at the gate. Camping should be reserved in advance, except Junction Campground, which is first-come, first-served. Tarantula walks in September and October need advance sign-up.
Is Mount Diablo the same as a national park?
No. It is a California state park, so the America the Beautiful national parks pass does not cover the vehicle fee.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go