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| Hiking | 6.20 Miles |
1,977 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.20 Miles | 2 Hrs 49 Mns | | 2.31 mph |
| 1,977 ft AEG | 8 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I spent my teen years and most of my adult life just minutes from Oakland CA. The East Bay Hills were my friends; that’s where I did most of my hiking. When I wanted something more, I went to Mount Diablo, The Eagle Peak trail was one of my favorites.
The trail starts at the Mitchell Canyon Visitors Center at the end of Mitchell Canyon Road in Clayton. It can be hiked as an out and back or as a lasso loop, as I did today. You can also continue on with other connecting trails to bag the summit, or add some other loops. The trail terminates at Meridian Road, but I chose to turn around at the peak. If you want more information about this trail and others at Mt Diablo State Park, stop at one of the park entrances or visitor centers, or visit MDIA.org.
The trails on this hike are about as good as they get. Immaculate might be too strong a word, but not by much. The park is adjacent to suburban sprawl, so you see neighborhoods, an old mine, the delta and an oil refinery in the distance, plus other aspects of an industrial society, but there are great views to be had if you’re patient.
The park's vegetation is mixed oak woodland and savannah and open grassland with extensive areas of chaparral. The ascent was mostly through oak groves while the loop back down was mainly chaparral with the occasional Coulter Pine, finishing with a trek through the grasslands. The grasslands are golden now but usually turn lush green in the spring.
This was a most enjoyable hike. Temps were in the low 60’s at the start. It may have reached the low 70’s by the time I finished. I can get used to that but it won’t make me move back to California. Ever. |
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