Outbound Collective logo

Run the Mt. Diablo Foothill Loop

Walnut Creek, California

5.0/5
based on 2 reviews

Details

Distance

6.2 miles

Elevation Gain

875 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Kim Suarez

This is a great 10k for those of you looking to get some trail running experience. There is a lot of climbing, but the views are worth it! This trail winds up and down beginning at Castle Rock staging area in Walnut Creek and ascends through the Mt. Diablo Foothills.

Continue by car down Castle Rock Road until it dead ends at the beginning of the trail. Parking is usually easy to find. If full, there is another overflow lot about 500 ft back the way you came in.

You'll walk a good half mile down the trail before getting the main gate. As you're walking, you'll see a swimming pool, baseball diamond, volleyball courts, basketball courts, restrooms and picnic tables. Begin the 10k at the gate just past the picnic tables.

You will travel down Stage Rd. about 1.5 miles until you see Sunset Trail on your left. Keep an eye out because it's easy to run past. Make a sharp left and you'll find yourself on single track trail winding up through a narrow valley.

Once at the top of the single track, take a left and descend into another valley. Conserve your energy because a climb is coming up! Rest on the downhill immediately after and you'll find yourself in another valley.

You should be on Little Pine Creek Rd. as you ascend the final and largest ascent of the run. Stay to the left as the trail also veers off to the right. At the top, you'll begin your final descent back to Stage Rd. Catch Burma Road down to the right to start looping back down.

Once back to Stage Road, you'll need to turn left for about 0.25 miles before making a U-turn and heading back down Stage Road to the starting point.

Congratulations on crushing a challenging 10k!

Read More

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Fitness
Photography
Mountain Biking
Running
Hiking
Bathrooms
Dog Friendly
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Groups
Picnic Area
Scenic
Wildflowers
Wildlife

Run the Mt. Diablo Foothill Loop Reviews

this is a great 10k loop but i recommend running it during the spring, fall or really in the morning before it's 100 degrees.

So many things to do at Castlerock foothills. Trail running or biking down Stage road is great. Shaded so it's nice most anytime of the day. Quick out-and-backs are good, or you can add onto your mileage and adventure by adding loops that all connect like Wall Point, Little Yosemite (hiking only) and others. You can peel off and rock climb and Boulder rocks which adds a fun level of fitness to your hiking or running. Lots of nice nature to look at, and the trail follows and intersects a creek several times. Depending on season it will have water in it.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Castle Rock Trail

Southern Lime Ridge Loop

Sugarloaf Open Space Loop

Hike Mt. Diablo

Camp at Juniper Campground in Mount Diablo SP

Juniper to the Summit Loop Trail and Meridian Ridge