Diablo Foothills Regional Park is a 1,060 acre (4.3 km2) regional park in the East Bay Regional Park District. It is located in Contra Costa County, in the East Bay area of northern California. The park is located in the Diablo Foothills of the northern Diablo Range, west of Mount Diablo and Mount Diablo State Park. The nearest town is Walnut Creek.
Diablo Foothills Regional Park is bordered by: Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area to the east, and Shell Ridge Open Space to the north. Together, these three parks provide visitors with 18,000 acres (73 km2) of parkland.
Diablo Foothills is a grand gateway to the beautiful parklands of Mt Diablo State Park and Walnut Creek Open Space. The Foothills 1,060 acres are valued for their striking geological formations, their sweeping panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay Region and the rural quality of the adjacent rolling grasslands. Castle Rock Recreation Area is located in Diablo Foothills Park.
The rock formations in the Pine Canyon are currently closed with effect from 1 February, re-opening 1 August, to protect nesting peregrine falcons. This protected species is highly territorial and sensitive to disturbances, especially during the nesting season. Although rock formations, known as Castle Rock, are located in Mt. Diablo State Park, most visitors reach them through Diablo Foothills Regional Park. No other parts of the park are affected.
Apart from panoramic views of the mountain and its surroundings, Diablo Foothills' 1,060 acres contains interesting geological features, beautiful seasonal wildflowers and a variety of bird and animal life.
The vegetation varies from grassland and oak savannah on the hills to riparian and oak forest in the valley. Pine Creek flows through the Pine Canyon and is located in the eastern part of the Walnut Creek watershed, which drains 150 square miles from central Contra Costa to San Francisco Bay.
Various habitat types support an equally diverse array of wildlife, including mule deer, bobcats, coyotes, gray foxes, long-tailed weasels, raccoons, gophers, rabbits and ground squirrels. Birds such as red-winged blackbirds, northern mockingbirds, scrub jay, California quail, and brown towels use the park for nesting and foraging habitat. Rock outcrops shelter garden and gopher snakes, western fence lizards, southern alligator lizards, tree frogs, and California salamanders. The perennial pools of water in Pine Creek ensure the survival of green sunfish, mosquitofish and big-mouth bass.
Diablo Foothills offers ample open ground for horseback riding, hiking , biking and nature study. There are no facilities in the park. The paths within the Castle Rock Recreation Area are wheelchair accessible. Other wheelchair accessible facilities in Castle Rock Recreation Area include a toilet and a drinking fountain, and an accessible lift to the pool.
To Reach The Park
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Northern Stationing Area: Exit I-680 at Ygnacio Valley Road in Walnut Creek and drive east. After about three miles, turn right onto Walnut Avenue. After approximately two miles, turn right onto Oak Grove Road, turn right onto Castle Rock Road and follow it to the Orchard Staging Area on the right. There is limited parking at the end of Castle Rock Road.
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Southern Stage Area: Exit I-680 at Livorna Road. Head east for three miles to the Livorna Staging area just west of Stonegate Drive in Alamo.
Alamo, California is home to some amazing sites that any discerning visitor should definitely check out on their next visit:
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Livorna Park
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Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area
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Round Hill Country Club
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China Wall
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Eugene O'neill National Historic Site
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Las Trampas Regional Wilderness Park
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Alamo Hardware
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Roll With A Goal
After visiting these lovely places make sure to stop by and say “Hello” to us at our downtown Danville location, DPG Pavers Danville Location on 4115 Blackhawk Plaza Circle!
