State: California
Location: Mount Diablo State Park
Length, Round Trip: 8.1 miles
Trail Type: Loop
Elevation Change: 1600 feet
Best Season: Year-Round
Difficulty: Most Difficult
Usage: Heavy
Sandhill Cranes
Trail Information
Mitchell Canyon/ Back Creek Loop takes you on a hike with just about everything the Mount Diablo has to offer: lush wildflower-strewn meadows, narrow canyons with characteristic streamside vegetation, magnificent groves of Coulter pines, some of the greatest birding areas, rugged mountain scenery and endless sun-swept panoramas. An alternate return would be along the Eagle Peak Trail which traverses along the top of a high ridge line.
Follow Mitchell Canyon trail to Deer Flat, turn left (east) at the junction and continue steeply up to Murchio Gap. At Murchio Gap, descend on the Back Creek Trail to the Coulter Pine trail. Turn left (west) and follow the Coulter Pine Trail back to the trailhead.
Directions
The trailhead is located at the end of Mitchell Canyon Road.
