Mount Diablo in Contra Costa County is one of California's most popular state parks, drawing over 700,000 visitors a year, and it has remained a natural oasis in a region of rapid development and population growth. Visitors are attracted to the park's outstanding hiking, biking, and bridal trails, and come to see one of the most panoramic views on Earth, second only to Mt Kilimanjaro. The park also has one of the Bay Area's most diverse populations of plants and wildlife and is renowned for its wildflowers in the spring. This guidebook tells people everything they need to get the most from the park, including chapters on the foot trails (organized into easy, moderate, and difficult hikes) and illustrations and descriptions of Diablo's trees and wildflowers. The great range of wild animals on the mountain is also covered, from mountain lions to tarantulas. The famous view, which takes in everything from the Pacific's Farallon Islands to Half Dome in Yosemite, and the geology of the mountain are given in-depth treatment. Practical information on campgrounds and overnight facilities is also provided. This significantly expanded edition is authored by the acknowledged experts of The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association.

"Mount Diablo and the geology of the Central California Coast Ranges are the subject of a volume celebrating the Northern California Geological Society's 75th anniversary. The breadth of research illustrates the complex Mesozoic to Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the plate boundary"--

"You can't really know the place where you live until you know the shapes and origins of the land around you. To feel truly at home in the Bay Area, read Doris Sloan's intriguing stories of this region's spectacular, quirky landscapes."—Hal Gilliam, author of Weather of the San Francisco Bay Region "This is a fascinating look at some of the world's most complex and engaging geology. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an understanding of the beautiful landscape and dynamic geology of the Bay Area."—Mel Erskine, geological consultant "This accessible summary of San Francisco Bay Area geology is particularly timely. We are living in an age where we must deal with our impact on our environment and the impact of the environment on us. Earthquake hazards, and to a lesser extent landslide hazards, are well known, but the public also needs to be aware of other important engineering and environmental impacts and geologic resources. This book will allow Bay Area residents to make more intelligent decisions about the geological issues affecting their lives."—John Wakabayashi, geological consultant