New Mount Diablo hiking guide unlocks secrets of hikes

Many visitors are lured to Northern California’s Mount Diablo by its imposing presence – an ancient rock fortress between the Bay Area and San Joaquin Valley.

Visitors come for panoramic views and challenging hikes or rides. But some have gotten sick and even died after underestimating the difficulty of some treks and overestimating their own abilities to navigate steep slopes on hot days.

“Hiker’s Guide to Mount Diablo State Park” highlights 50 trails in the immensely diverse wilderness park surrounded by East Bay suburbs.

The trails and terrain are so varied it can be difficult for first-time or infrequent visitors to figure out where to hike, ride horses or – on some trails – mountain bikes.

Beginners can find gentle paths in cool, shaded canyons along the base of the mountain, while long-distance athletes can find gut-busting climbs that ascend several thousand feet up sun-scorched ridges leading to the 3,889-foot summit.

“This mountain has everything you need to get fit,” said Woodring, president of the Mt. Diablo Interpretive Association, an all-volunteer park help group that recently published the hiking book. “You just have to get out there. This guidebook is about encouraging people to do that safely, come back alive and have a good experience.”

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