Save Mount Diablo Will Open Two New Loops in Curry Canyon
Our 51-year history is filled with conservation victories. Together we and our partners have protected more than 120,000 acres of land on and around Mount Diablo.
Now, we’re working to help you get outside and enjoy the natural splendor of the wilderness that we’ve worked so hard to protect.
Save Mount Diablo is proud to have opened miles of recreational trails to the public, most recently on Curry Canyon Ranch and Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve.
Curry Canyon Ranch
Map featuring our two planned trails in purple and the recently opened Knobcone Trail connection in yellow.
In 2023, we opened the highly anticipated 1.25-mile Knobcone Point trail connection through upper Curry Canyon, officially making one of the wildest areas of Mount Diablo accessible to the public for the first time in over a century.
This trail makes it considerably easier for hikers to travel between Curry Point and Morgan Territory.
Now, we’re working to open even more of Curry Canyon Ranch to the public.
This coming fiscal year, we plan to open a section of Curry Cave Road and another section of Knobcone Point Road, effectively opening two new loops for people to experience.
Save Mount Diablo hosted a BioBlitz that included Curry Cave in 2009.
To prepare for the grand opening of these new trail connections, our staff will be installing access gates and informational signage.
People can travel from Curry Point, to Riggs Canyon, through the Knobcone Point Trail, experiencing marvelous views of the surrounding hills and mountains.
On clear days, hikers can take in the Crystal Basin of Desolation Wilderness rising high above the Sacramento Valley.
Once the new trails are opened, visitors to Mount Diablo will be able to experience several new hiking routes.
Save Mount Diablo opened the Knobcone Trail connection to the public in 2023. Photo by Sean Burke
People will be able to take a short loop down Curry Cave past Save Mount Diablo’s recent Balcerzak acquisition and continuing farther down the hill to Curry Canyon Road and back up to Curry Point.
Or they can travel on the long route following Knobcone Point Road all the way down to Curry Canyon Road, and back up to Curry Point, or head north to visit the Frog Pond and Chase Pond area.
Now park users will have more opportunities to immerse themselves within the lovely solitude of Mount Diablo’s backcountry, so close to the hustle and bustle of the city.
Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve
Hiking through the oak woodlands of Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve! Photo by Mary Nagle
When Save Mount Diablo opened Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve for public visitation in 2022, we unveiled about four miles of new trails that wind throughout the 208-acre preserve.
On these trails, people have the opportunity to see rare species such as the northernmost stand of desert olive, rare Hospital Canyon larkspur, and threatened Alameda whipsnake and perhaps catch a glimpse of golden eagles as they traverse through oak woodlands, grasslands, and riparian habitats.
While you’re waiting for our new trail connections to open, take a trip out to Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve. Groups of three to 100 people that make a reservation can have the whole preserve to themselves for the day, with no interruptions.
