CONTRA COSTA COUNTY— Explore some of the East Bay’s premiere hiking spots with Save Mount Diablo in 2022, including areas rarely open to the public. The Discover Diablo hikes and outings series offers guided hikes and themed walks; mountain biking, rock climbing, and trail running events; and property tours, all free to the public. Trailblazers of all ages and skill levels are welcome.
In response to growing demand, Save Mount Diablo is offering hikes as well as new activities in the series for a total of 36 excursions. New offerings will include a plein air painting walk and a trail run.
The ever-popular tarantula walk will be offered twice, and we are offering three meditation hikes in 2022. We will also be offering rock-climbing and mountain-biking events, and bilingual hikes in Spanish and English.
Generously sponsored by the Martinez Refining Company, the 2022 Discover Diablo free public hikes and outings series will begin on January 22nd.
Photo by Haley Sutton.
“Through the Discover Diablo series, people are fortunate to be able to explore and discover the beauty of Mount Diablo with experienced guides,” said Ann Notarangelo, Community Relations Manager for the Martinez Refining Company. “Our refinery has sponsored these hikes since 2017 in the hopes people will enjoy learning more about the mountain, while spending quality time with family and friends.”
The Discover Diablo program was started by Save Mount Diablo in 2017 to connect local communities with the amazing natural world of the Mount Diablo area and to build awareness about land conservation.
Hikes take place on one of Save Mount Diablo’s conserved properties or on a collaborating partner’s land that Save Mount Diablo helped to protect in years past. These include Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Park District, and Walnut Creek Open Space Foundation lands.
Discover Diablo hikes are guided by experts steeped in the natural history and lore of the region, who both educate and entertain while emphasizing the breathtaking beauty that the Diablo Range has to offer.
Save Mount Diablo hopes the Discover Diablo series will spark a passion for the Diablo Range and deepen people’s connections to the land and nature. All Discover Diablo hikes are subject to, and will honor, all applicable COVID-19–related restrictions then in place for our area.
According to Ted Clement, Executive Director of Save Mount Diablo, “It is the goal of the Discover Diablo program to build connections between people, Save Mount Diablo, and the land, helping our communities develop a strong sense of place and a deepened appreciation for our collective backyard. Most importantly, we want to cultivate a love of the land in participants, as that is what it will take to ensure the precious Mount Diablo natural area is taken care of for generations to come.”
Photo by Sean Burke.
There is something for us all to discover in the nooks and crannies surrounding Mount Diablo, so be sure to hit the trails in 2022 and find your own individual inspiration!
RSVP required. To ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to attend, registration for hikes and outings in March onward will open two months prior to each hike’s date.
See our full schedule of upcoming hikes and outings; view and RSVP online here: bit.ly/Discover-Diablo-Hikes-Calendar
You can also download and print a flyer of the schedule here: http://bit.ly/DiscoverDiablo
Photo by Denise Castro.
Summary: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY—Discover Diablo is Save Mount Diablo’s free public hikes and outings series, offering an annual schedule of guided walks; hikes; and rock-climbing, mountain-biking, and trail-running outings open to any and all trailblazers. Generously sponsored by the Martinez Refining Company, the 2022 Discover Diablo free public hike series will begin on January 22. Discover Diablo offers 36 events throughout 2022—either taking place on a Save Mount Diablo property or hosted on a collaborating agency’s land. This year, we’ve added a plein air painting walk and a trail run. Join Save Mount Diablo in exploring the Bay Area’s beautiful wild lands and open spaces.
Who: Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited, nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, watersheds, and connection to the Diablo Range through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources. To learn more, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.
Photo by Ted Clement.
What: Save Mount Diablo’s 2022 Discover Diablo annual free public hikes and outings program. Discover Diablo, Save Mount Diablo’s series of free guided hikes; walks; and mountain-biking, rock-climbing, and trail-running outings, shares a taste of Diablo’s wild lands in just a morning, evening, or afternoon.
When: An annual program that offers 36 free public events in the outdoors throughout the year.
Where: Contra Costa County—Walnut Creek, Clayton, Concord, Dublin, Livermore, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Danville, San Ramon.
How: RSVP required. To ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to attend, registration for hikes and other events in March onward will open two months prior to each event’s date. Visit Save Mount Diablo’s website to view the Discover Diablo hikes and outings calendar for a schedule of upcoming events: bit.ly/Discover-Diablo-Hikes-Calendar
Why: In support of Save Mount Diablo’s mission, the Discover Diablo free public hikes and outings program seeks to build awareness of local land conservation efforts and convey the importance of protecting open space for habitat and recreation. We intend to reach audiences from all over the Bay Area.
Image Credit & Caption:
- Photo at top: Hikers trekking through Curry Canyon Ranch in May 2021. Credit: James Fong.
- Other photos of people exploring with Discover Diablo in various Diablo region parks, including a child holding a tarantula, mountain bikers stopping for a photo, hikers at sunset, and a rock climber, are available with captions upon request.
Questions about hike program details and RSVP information:
Denise Castro, Education and Outreach Associate, Save Mount Diablo;
T: 925-947-3535 x36, C: 925-286-9327, dcastro@savemountdiablo.org
MEDIA CONTACT:
Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager
C: 925-451-8376, lkindsvater@savemountdiablo.org
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