The Mount Olympia and North Peak hike at Mount Diablo State Park in Clayton, California is a strenuous 11.3-mile loop trail to both summits and amazing views along the way.
This 11.3-mile hike takes you up 3,000-feet to the top of both Mt Olympia and North Peak in Mount Diablo State Park. The network of trails ranges from wide fire roads to steep and narrow single track footpaths. This trip provides excellent views and makes for a great winter hike as well.
Mile 0 to 1.2: The hike starts off along Mitchell Canyon Rd and follows Oak Road over to Murchio Road for the first 1.2-miles of the hike. When you reach mile 1.2, you'll hit a junction with Donner Canyon Road - take a right-hand turn here.
Mile 1.2 to 3.1: After taking a right-hand turn at Donner Canyon Road, hike along Donner Canyon Road for about 1.9-miles before reaching a trail junction that leads up to Mount Olympia Road. The trail junction can be found just after the switchbacks.
Mile 3.1 to 5.1 (Mount Olympia Summit): Follow the unmarked trail from the previous junction until you reach the Mount Olympia Road -- hike along Mount Olympia Road for another 1.4-miles or so to reach the summit of Mount Olympia.
Mile 5.1 to 5.9: From the summit of Mount Olympia, hike another 0.8-miles south to the summit of North Peak.
Mile 5.9 to 6.7: After visiting the North Peak summit, hike southwest along North Peak Road to reach Prospectors Gap. Here, you'll follow Prospectors Gap Road west.
Mile 6.7 to 7.9: After reaching Prospectors Gap, hike along Prospectors Gap Road for about 1.2-miles before reaching a fork in the road. Here you'll want to stay right and hike along Meridian Ridge Road.
Mile 7.9 to 9.3: After making a right-hand turn onto Meridian Ridge Road, you'll hike for another 1.4-miles before reaching Back Creek Trail. Take a right on Back Creek Trail around mile 9.3.
Mile 9.3 to 10: After following Back Creek Trail north, you'll hit yet another trail junction. This time you want to stay left and hike along Bruce Lee Road. This will lead up to Murchio Road once again.
Mile 10 to 11.3: After hitting the Bruce Lee Road junction, you'll hike for another half-mile to Murchio Road. Follow Murchio Road west (take a left-hand turn) to Oak Road and back to parking.
Parking: The trail can be accessed at the end of Regency Drive in the town of Clayton – parking at this locations is free. The trail can also be reached from Mitchell Canyon Interpretive Center – parking there is $6 and this option adds a mile or two to the trip. Please note that this recording starts along Mitchell Canyon Rd. A good map of the park is essential. Trail maps can be purchased at the Mitchell Canyon visitor’s center or at REI.
Pets: Dogs are not allowed on trails or fire roads, so please keep your dogs off of this trail.
For more details, check out the Norcalhiker blog post on this trip.
This 11.3-mile hike takes you up 3,000-feet to the top of both Mt Olympia and North Peak in Mount Diablo State Park. The network of trails ranges from wide fire roads to steep and narrow single track footpaths. This trip provides excellent views and makes for a great winter hike as well.
Mile 0 to 1.2: The hike starts off along Mitchell Canyon Rd and follows Oak Road over to Murchio Road for the first 1.2-miles of the hike. When you reach mile 1.2, you'll hit a junction with Donner Canyon Road - take a right-hand turn here.
Mile 1.2 to 3.1: After taking a right-hand turn at Donner Canyon Road, hike along Donner Canyon Road for about 1.9-miles before reaching a trail junction that leads up to Mount Olympia Road. The trail junction can be found just after the switchbacks.
Mile 3.1 to 5.1 (Mount Olympia Summit): Follow the unmarked trail from the previous junction until you reach the Mount Olympia Road -- hike along Mount Olympia Road for another 1.4-miles or so to reach the summit of Mount Olympia.
Mile 5.1 to 5.9: From the summit of Mount Olympia, hike another 0.8-miles south to the summit of North Peak.
Mile 5.9 to 6.7: After visiting the North Peak summit, hike southwest along North Peak Road to reach Prospectors Gap. Here, you'll follow Prospectors Gap Road west.
Mile 6.7 to 7.9: After reaching Prospectors Gap, hike along Prospectors Gap Road for about 1.2-miles before reaching a fork in the road. Here you'll want to stay right and hike along Meridian Ridge Road.
Mile 7.9 to 9.3: After making a right-hand turn onto Meridian Ridge Road, you'll hike for another 1.4-miles before reaching Back Creek Trail. Take a right on Back Creek Trail around mile 9.3.
Mile 9.3 to 10: After following Back Creek Trail north, you'll hit yet another trail junction. This time you want to stay left and hike along Bruce Lee Road. This will lead up to Murchio Road once again.
Mile 10 to 11.3: After hitting the Bruce Lee Road junction, you'll hike for another half-mile to Murchio Road. Follow Murchio Road west (take a left-hand turn) to Oak Road and back to parking.
Parking: The trail can be accessed at the end of Regency Drive in the town of Clayton – parking at this locations is free. The trail can also be reached from Mitchell Canyon Interpretive Center – parking there is $6 and this option adds a mile or two to the trip. Please note that this recording starts along Mitchell Canyon Rd. A good map of the park is essential. Trail maps can be purchased at the Mitchell Canyon visitor’s center or at REI.
Pets: Dogs are not allowed on trails or fire roads, so please keep your dogs off of this trail.
For more details, check out the Norcalhiker blog post on this trip.
