CONTRA COSTA COUNTY—Explore some of the East Bay’s premiere hiking spots with Save Mount Diablo in 2021, including areas rarely open to the public. The Discover Diablo hike series offers interpretive family walks, guided hikes, 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 adding hikes and new activities to the series for a total of 36 excursions in 2021. New offerings will include climbing, mountain biking, and bilingual hikes in Spanish and English. The ever-popular tarantula walk will be offered twice, and a special hike will celebrate the California State Parks centennial.
There will be a unique opportunity to take what may be a last look at Del Puerto Canyon—the site for a proposed reservoir in the Diablo Range (east of Patterson, CA). Del Puerto is rich in wildflowers, wildlife (including Tule elk), dinosaur bones, and Native American sites, all of which could soon be under water.
Generously sponsored by the Martinez Refining Company, the 2021 Discover Diablo free public hike series will begin on January 23rd.
Photo by Scott Hein
“There has been a renewed appreciation for the outdoors in the last year. 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. This year we are excited to offer an expanded and diverse set of offerings to invite more people out to connect with nature and Save Mount Diablo.”
There is something for us all to discover in the nooks and crannies surrounding Mount Diablo, so be sure to hit the trails in 2021 and find your own individual inspiration!
Photo by Denise Castro
RSVP required. To ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to attend, registration for hikes in March onward will open two months prior to each hike’s date.
See our full schedule of upcoming hikes, view and RSVP online here:
http://bit.ly/Discover-Diablo-Hikes-Calendar
You can also download and print a flyer of the schedule here:
Summary: CONTRA COSTA COUNTY—Discover Diablo is Save Mount Diablo’s free public hike series, offering an annual schedule of guided walks, hikes, and interpretive tours open to any and all trailblazers. Generously sponsored by the Martinez Refining Company, the 2020 Discover Diablo free public hike series will begin on January 23. Discover Diablo is offers 36 events throughout 2021—either taking place on a Save Mount Diablo property or hosted on a collaborating agency’s land. This year, we’ve added mountain-biking and rock-climbing events as well as some bilingual Spanish and English hikes. 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, and watersheds 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 recreational opportunities consistent with the protection of natural resources. To learn more and support Save Mount Diablo, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.
Photo by Laura Kindsvater
What: Save Mount Diablo’s 2021 Discover Diablo annual free public hike program. Discover Diablo, Save Mount Diablo’s series of free guided hikes and mountain-biking and rock-climbing events, shares a taste of Diablo’s wild lands in just a morning, evening, or afternoon.
When: An annual program comprised of 36 free public events in the outdoors throughout the year.
Where: Contra Costa County—Walnut Creek, Clayton, Concord, 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 calendar for a schedule of upcoming events: http://bit.ly/Discover-Diablo-Hikes-Calendar
Why: In support of Save Mount Diablo’s mission, the Discover Diablo free public hike series 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 testing out their photography with Discover Diablo on a clear March day in 2019 at Curry Canyon Ranch. Credit: Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo.
- Other photos of people hiking with Discover Diablo in various Diablo region parks, including a photo of people hiking with masks in 2020, and photos of people of varying ages, 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
