Mount Diablo State Park (The "Giant Loop:" Mitchell Canyon, Deer Flat, Meridian Ridge, Donner Canyon, Bruce Lee Trails, 8.6 miles)

Today's walk takes in the best of this mountain park, including lush meadows, narrow canyons and steep hills, streams, chapparel habitats, oak and laurel woodlands with Digger pines at higher elevations, and many wildflower varieties at this time of year. Views on clear days from Mount Diablo's summit (3,849 feet) encompass 40,000 square miles. According to park staff, only the summit view from Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro exceeds this expansive view.

We begin with a gentle ascent up the Mitchell Canyon Trail, which becomes much steeper

Chinese Houses prefer shaded spots

Diverse oak varieties provide shade on the Mitchell Canyon Trail

One of many varieties of Indian Paintbrush seen on today's walk

Cardinal Larkspur alongside Blue Dicks

We were twice intimidated by Rattlesnakes today, though this one seemed unaware of us

Daisies with Bush Lupine

Shooting Stars

A Poppy-carpeted meadow at Deer Flat

Dwarfed by tall oaks on the Meridian Ridge Trail

Pale lavendar Ceanothus is in full bloom throughout the park

A small panorama to the northwest...

...and another from our lunch spot looking northeast

This is peak time for the native California Poppy, although they will bloom all summer

Milkmaids, Owl's Clover and Lupine

Baby blue-eyes with Daisies

Another variety of Indian Paintbrush

Returning on the Donner Canyon Trail (much steeper above). We watched for snakes
obsessively, having encountered our second Rattler at uncomfortably close range on a side trail!

At the bottom, we appreciated the shade on a warm day in lovely wooded meadows

This expansive meadow provided a perfect view to Prospector's Gap