Mount Diablo State Park
(http://www.parks.ca.gov/d...). this huge park dominates the landscape for most of central and eastern contra costa county. a small museum and observation post at the summit gives the visitor a background to the stunning views. mt. diablo is the geological anomaly of northern california the younger rocks are at the bottom and the older at the top. enjoy the drive to the summit where, on a clear day, you can enjoy the world's supposed second-best panoramic view. in one quick turn you can see san francisco, the central valley and when conditions are favorable, the sierra nevada. occasionally capped with a light snow dusting in the winter and packed with countless small rivers and waterfalls in the spring, mt. diablo is a nature lover's paradise. remember that mt. diablo is largely wild --- there are rattlesnakes, mountain lions, black widow spiders and many other fauna. notwithstanding the dangers of the wild, many spots along the summit road offer scenic spots for a picnic. be careful to avoid poison oak. a popular challenge for cyclists, the ride to the summit is about eight miles of twisty, narrow roads. there is a small fee for cars cyclists riding on bikes are free. local equestrians and dog owners make extensive use of the numerous fire trails. hikers, watch your step! the park is sometimes closed during high-fire danger days in the late summer and when snowfall creates icy roads in late december to mid-january. another annual treat is the tarantula migration (http://www.mdia.org/taran...) every fall -- thousands of these fuzzy creatures venture out of their burrows and can be observed moving across trails and roads.
Iron Horse Trail
(http://www.ebparks.org/pa...). although this multi-use, whole-access trail runs between concord and dublin, the most interesting and scenic part of the trail is found in walnut creek. the walnut creek part of the trail goes directly into the heart of downtown walnut creek. also, the trail abuts what's left of walnut creek's creek known as "walnut creek," which is now mostly buried beneath broadway plaza. widely used by dog owners, cyclists and recreational buffs, the iron horse trail follows the southern pacific railroad right-of-way established in 1891 and abandoned in 1977. if you walk your dog on the iron horse, please use the complimentary pooperscooper bags provided for your convenience.
Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area
Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area is a public park in the East Bay Regional Park District. The park is adjacent to Diablo Foothills, in a scenic canyon along Pine Creek. The area is dominated by oak woodlands and prominent sandstone formations. Volleyball courts, softball fields, picnic sites and a swimming pool are available for public recreation. The pool complex features a 30 feet by 70 feet swimming pool and deck areas. In addition, the complex is fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, including the bathhouse and an accessible lift into the pool. Beach access fee to enter swim area. Swimming is allowed only when lifeguards are on duty.