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Audible Mount Diablo

Audible Mount Diablo is an invitation to adventure. Its free multimedia tours combine lively interviews and music with the rush of wind and the chirps, howls, and growls of wildlife. Naturalists heighten visitors’ appreciation of the sights and sounds at each stop, tell tales of the mountain’s past, and suggest what to look for around the next bend. Photographs pop up to help identify plants and animals. Perfect to prepare for your first--or your hundredth--trip up the mountain. 
 
Sponsored by Save Mount Diablo and the Mount Diablo Interpretive AssociationProduced by Audio Guides to the Outdoors
 
Photo above by Scott Hein

About

 

 Tours include

 
• Introducing Mount Diablo, commentary and sounds related to the mountain’s natural heritage and human history. 
 
• Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, a six-mile hike on the eastern slope of Mount Diablo featuring the rocks, the boomtowns, and nature's remarkable recovery from the largest coal mining operation in California history. 
 
• Mary Bowerman Tour, a gentle but spectacular 1-mile hike focusing on geology and history at the top of the mountain.
 
• The Trail Through Time, a scenic 6.3-mile survey of Bay Area geology. 
 
• Mitchell Canyon, a 2-mile-long tutorial in natural and human history.
 
• Rock City, a 1.6-mile walk focusing on history, geology, and plants. 
 
• Rocks, Fights, and Fire at Perkins Canyon, an easy 2-mile loop with 3 optional side-trips, on the east side of the mountain.
 
• Los Vaqueros Watershed, a 4- to 9-mile walk through one of the Bay Area’s newest and largest parks.
 
• Grand Loop, a strenuous 6.8-mile jaunt that covers views, history, birds, flowers, and conservation.
 
• Curry Point, a 6.5-mile hike covering birds, wildflowers, knobcone pines, and the history of Blackhawk Ranch.
 
• Lime Ridge, a 4-mile ramble through a botanical and wildlife preserve that showcases some important conservation victories in Contra Costa County.
 
• Round Valley, an 8-mile hike exploring grassland ecology, including eagles, ground squirrels and kit foxes.
 
• Plants of Twin Peaks, an 8-mile ascent through wildflower heaven.
 

Maps

 

 

  • GPS-enabled maps for your smartphone or tablet are available from Avenza Maps. Search with the key words "Mount Diablo State Park", ""Mount Diablo Regional Trail Map", or (for the Rock City tour) "Rock City Audio Guide" 
 

Credits

 
California State Parks FoundationContra Costa Water DistrictDiablo Country Club and Thomas J. Long Foundation provided financial support. Fingerpicking-champion guitarist Phil Heywood provided the music. Actor Carl Magruder gives voice to the words of William Brewer and John Muir. Scott HeinStephen Joseph, and many others noted elsewhere, provided photos. 
 
Well-known Mount Diablo ramblers Seth Adams and Ken Lavin have spent many hours sharing their knowledge and stories for the series. Other voices include Heath BartoshGary BogueKevin Dixon, Sue DoneckerRobert DoyleScott HeinJean HetheringtonAnne HomanBrian Kruse, Rich McDrew, Jim Mitchell, Mike Moran, Marguerite Patil, Roi Peers, Adrian Praetzellis, Ray Sullivan, Yulan Tong, Frank Valle-Riestra, and Mike Woodring
 
Joan Hamilton, producer of Audio Guides to the Outdoors, narrates. 
 
 
Joan Hamilton is a writer, editor, and multimedia producer. She writes for Bay Nature magazine and provides content for Save the Redwoods League and California State Parks. She is founder and owner of Audio Guides to the Outdoors, which has created multimedia guides for Save Mount DiabloMount Diablo Interpretive AssociationMidpeninsula Open Space District, and Valley of the Moon Natural History Association at Jack London Historic State Park.

She's written for Sierra, OrionMother Jones, the Nation and many other publications. She's a former editor-in-chief of Sierra and was top editor at Climbing and High Country News.

Questions? Email Joan here!