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Accessible Features in State Parks > Mount Diablo

Mount Diablo State Park

Overview
Mount Diablo State Park is located in the San Francisco East Bay Area in Contra Costa County. The oak and grassland leading to the 3400-foot summit park offers numerous picnic areas, several campgrounds, and an interpretive area at the summit that includes a visitor center and a vista point. The park is off Highway 680 near Danville. Exit at Diablo Road, then 3 miles east to Mount Diablo Scenic Blvd., which winds up to the park and eventually to the summit. Phone (925) 837-2525 for more information.

Camping
Juniper Campground has three accessible campsites; 9, 10, and 19. These include accessible parking and level table and tent areas. The restroom/shower building also has accessible parking and is generally accessible.

Picnic Area
From the South Gate Entrance of the park, many small picnic areas are tucked along both sides of the park road toward the summit. Most are historic, CCC-built picnic areas which present a combination of terrain challenges, outdated vault restrooms, and picnic tables that lack space for wheelchairs. While some visitors may be able to navigate these barriers, the following picnic areas include accessible amenities:

Uplands Picnic Area: Includes two picnic tables, one BBQ grill, a drinking fountain, and one parking space.

Upper Rock City Picnic Area: Includes three picnic tables, one BBQ grill, a drinking fountain, and one parking space.

Elephant Rock Picnic Area: Includes two picnic tables, two BBQ grills, and one parking space.

Summit Picnic Area: Located at the Lower Summit Lot, this picnic area includes nearly a dozen picnic tables (some under a ramada), flushing restrooms, BBQ grills, drinking fountain, several parking spaces, and an overlook that provides sweeping views of the Livermore Valley.

Trails
The Mary Bowerman Trail is an ‘out-and-back’ accessible trail that is 0.20 miles each way at the summit area of Mount Diablo. The accessible portion ends at the Ransome Point overlook, offering fantastic views of the surrounding landscape. Educational stops along the trail provide information about the diverse flora, fauna, geology and weather. The surface is concrete and wood. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes with one section at 6% for 22 feet. Accessible parking is located at the trailhead. Drinking water and restrooms are available at the lower summit parking lot.



Accessible Trail Data
Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface
Mary Bowerman Trail 2% Average 2% Average 4 FT Average Concrete & Wood
6% Maximum 2% Maximum 4 FT Minimum

Exhibits/Programs
Visitor Center: Open daily between 10am and 4pm, the visitor center is located at the summit of Mt. Diablo. Exhibits within the visitor center are accessible. A limited use/limited application elevator within the visitor center provides visitors, with mobility disabilities, access to the upper floors, including the observation deck on the top floor. For visitor safety the observation deck is not accessible via the elevator when sustained wind speeds at the summit exceed 25-35 mph. Accessible parking is available at the summit parking lot; accessible restrooms are available inside the visitor center.

NOTE: The elevator within the Summit Visitor Center is currently non-operational with no estimated timeline for repair. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Mitchell Canyon Interpretive Center: A small interpretive center and a park administrative office are located at 96 Mitchell Canyon Road in Clayton, near the north gateway to Mount Diablo. The interpretive center is located in a trailer that is staffed on weekends by volunteers. A ramped entry is usable, and exhibit and sales areas are tight but staff is there to help. A designated accessible parking space is near the office but the surface of the space and the path to the trailer are covered in loose gravel.


Get maps and more information on this park.
For more information: access@parks.ca.gov | Phone: (916) 445-8949 | Fax: (916) 449-8966
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