Devilishly Good Camping

Best Camping on Mount Diablo

High & Mighty

Lofty at 3,000 feet, Juniper Campground—named for the surrounding juniper trees—is located very close to Diablo’s summit and is the largest camping area, with 36 sites. Set up camp, then set out on a 1-mile (round-trip) out-and-back hike to Diablo’s peak, featuring one of the best panoramas in the entire state. Back at your tent, grill some food, roast some s’mores, and marvel at the stars. Astronomers describe Mount Diablo as one of best dark sky watching spots in California.

Small Wonder

Located at 2,200 feet, the intimate Junction Campground has six sites nestled in woodland, and shhh … it’s first come, first served. Its location lets you get an early start on Diablo’s popular Summit Trail, particularly spectacular in spring when the weather is cooler and the wildflowers are everywhere!

Sandstone Sensation

Set at 1,450 feet, Live Oak Campground's 22 sites give you easy (and early bird!) access to Diablo’s popular Rock City, filled with naturally whimsical sandstone formations. Explore the Wind Caves and see Elephant Rock, Artist Point, and Fossil Ridge. Be sure to seek out Sentinel Rock, where you’ll gain another of Diablo’s postcard famous views!

Group Scoop: Mount Diablo has five Group Camping Sites too!

Get Married Bonus!

Talk about a Lover’s High: Get married at 3,849 feet! Better than Vegas, this “destination wedding” at Mount Diablo’s summit is back by popular demand. The Contra Costa Clerk-Recorder will officiate weddings from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, May 24. There are only 16 spots available! Schedule your ceremony.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  3. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View