Mitchell Canyon - Eagle Peak
7.8 miles     2300 ft
31 Jul 2010
Summary

A definitive Mt Diablo hike with steep climbs and majestic valley views.

Location: Mount Diablo State Park

Elevation Profile
Trip Planning

Trail Maps

» REI Map for Mount Diablo and Los Vaqueros: Sold for $7.00 in April 2011. The map is very detailed, water-proof and tear-proof. Must have for avid hikers.

» Official Park Brochure: Decent map but missing myriad other trails that are shown on the REI map.

Route

A good description by Tom Mangan is available at EveryTrail Route Guide for Mitchell Canyon - Eagle Peak, with the following overview: "Everybody loves to visit the summit of Mount Diablo, but many seasoned San Francisco Bay Area hikers prefer this hike to Eagle Peak via Mitchell Canyon, which takes in all the features that make Mount Diablo State Park unique. Mitchell Canyon is shady with abundant wildflowers in the spring; Eagle Peak culminates a rugged hike to jaw-dropping vistas of the East Bay and surrounding terrain. On a clear winter day you might be able to spot the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Madre.".

Route in brief: Yet to write.

Variations: For the return trip from Prospectors Gap, there are multiple options. Check out (EveryTrail) Variation I by JoergDHS and (EveryTrail) Variation II by Vaudesir.

Photos

Full photo album — 31 July 2010

Photos are from a different hike with similar landscape: Mt Olympia from Regency Drive.
Trailhead

Location: (Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center) 96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Clayton, CA 94517 . Parking area is visible in Google Maps if you zoom in sufficiently.

Directions: (borrowed from Meetup (Early Morning Hikes))

From Milpitas, take I-880 North to the Mission Blvd exit and merge onto Mission Blvd toward Sacramento/I-680. Drive 1.5 miles on Mission Blvd to the I-680 North entrance (towards Sacramento). Drive 35.4 miles on I-680 and take the exit for Treat Blvd toward Geary Rd. Keep right at two successive forks to continue toward Treat Blvd (follow signs for Silicon Valley College). Merge onto Treat Blvd. Drive 1 mile and then turn right onto Bancroft Rd. Drive 0.7 miles and then turn left onto Ygnacio Valley Rd. Drive 5.3 miles and then turn right on Clayton Rd. Drive south on this road for 1 mile and then turn right onto Mitchell Canyon Rd. Continue about 1.5 miles to a parking lot on your left. Please note that if you miss the parking lot the road will loop around and send you back to Mitchell Canyon Road the way you just came.

Google Maps:

Parking Fees: $6 per vehicle (last visited: April 2014)

Capacity: Over 30 cars may be parked here.

Latitude: 37.920334     Longitude: -121.941923

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