Featured hike
Mile:
0.0: Start at the east end of the Livorna Staging Area, and walk back towards Livorna Road. Look for a trail sign reading "To Diablo Foothills Park" on the other side of the road. Carefully cross the road, turn left, and walk along the roadside path to the east
0.1: Junction with Serafix Road; look for the trail sign near the stone gate. Cross Serafix Road (if you get to the gated kiosk you're going the wrong way) turn right, then look for another trail sign on the side of the path, just before the bridge. Turn left, away from the road.
0.5: The trail splits. Stay to the right, cross the drainage channel, then take the path to the left, uphill.
0.75: Junction with path heading out of the park. Stay to the left.
0.9: Junction. Bear right onto Hanging Valley Trail.
1.25: Junction with Briones to Mount Diablo Trail. Turn right.
1.4: Pass through the gate into Mount Diablo State Park, then turn right onto unsigned, but well-worn path.
1.7: China Wall formation and turnaround point. Walk back downhill to the previously encountered junction with Hanging Valley Trail, then continue straight (right) on Briones to Mount Diablo Trail.
2.9: Junction. Turn left onto Stonegate Trail.
3.1: Junction with Twin Ponds Trail and Hanging Valley Trail. Continue straight on Stonegate.
3.25: Stonegate meets a paved road at a signed junction. Turn left (you'll still be on Stonegate).
3.35: Junction. The paved road enters a gated community. Turn right to continue on Stonegate Trail.
3.45: Stay to the right at the fork in the trail.
3.55: Gate and junction. Turn left onto Foothills Trail.
3.7: Junction with three trails. Stay straight (the left-most trail) to continue on Foothills Trail.
4.1: Junction. Continue straight on Foothill Trail.
4.5: Back at the parking lot.
Getting there:
From Interstate 680 in Contra Costa County, exit at Livorna Road (exit 43). Drive east about 1.5 miles, to the Livorna Staging Area, on the left side of the road.
GPS Coordinates* for Trailhead:
Latitude
Longitude
(* based on Google Earth data, shown as degrees, minutes, seconds)
Read about this hike in more detail and view photos at http://www.bahiker.com/eastbayhikes/diablofoothills.html
© 2019 Jane Huber/Bay Area Hiker