Things to Do
Parks, trails and Mount Diablo hikes from the operators' and guides' own pages, the outdoor events we know about, and what kids can do. Days written by people who did them will live here too.
Family
What can my kid do?
11 youth sports and activity programs from Clayton organizations, with who they are for and the next step.
Outside this weekend
Dated outdoor events this Saturday and Sunday, by Clayton's calendar.
September 12, 2026 at 5:00 PM–7:15 PM
How I Learned to Love Tarantulas: evening nature walk
Park naturalists lead a talk and a nature walk of a little over two miles.
Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center, 96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Clayton · Mount Diablo State Park
Reservations required through the organizer's ticket page; availability was not readable when checked. Organizer recommends ages 6 and up; not stated as a minimum.
September 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM–9:30 PM
Are You Solar Powered?
Mt. Diablo Astronomical Society
An astronomy program at the summit: solar viewing, then evening sky observation.
Lower Summit Parking Lot, Summit Road. Reached by the park road, not through Mitchell Canyon. · Mount Diablo State Park
No registration route is shown; the event page gives arrival instructions and asks you to enter the park at least 45 minutes before the program.
Coming up outdoors
Guided walks and programs at Mount Diablo, until each one ends.
September 9, 2026 at 8:30 AM–12:30 PM
Wonder Hike, September 9
Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
A guided nature-observation hike of about four miles in Mitchell Canyon, part of MDIA's Wonder Hikes series.
Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center, 96 Mitchell Canyon Road, Clayton · Mount Diablo State Park
Reservation by email is required; the event page gives the address.
Get outside
Clayton's parks, the dog park and the trail system that ties them together.
City park · Clayton
Clayton Community Park
A city park with ballfields, picnic areas and two play structures.
City park · Clayton
The Grove
The downtown park: play features, picnic seating and reservable gathering spaces.
The splash pad runs on a seasonal schedule; whether it is on today is not something this page knows.
City park · Clayton
Lydia Lane Park
A neighborhood park at the northeast end of Lydia Lane with picnic and play facilities.
City park · Clayton
North Valley Park
A neighborhood park on Keller Ridge Drive with a children's play structure.
City park · Clayton
Westwood Park
A city neighborhood park reached from the ends of Haviland Place and Ohara Court.
Dog park · Clayton
Clayton Dog Park
A fenced dog park supported by the City and the Clayton K-9 Coalition.
The amenity list is the city's account of what was installed; today's condition is not verified.
Trail system · Clayton
Clayton Trail System
The citywide open-space trail network: paved creek routes and hill trails connecting neighborhoods, downtown and the regional parks.
About 27 miles of trail across roughly 515 acres, as the city describes the whole network; no single route is that long.
Popular Mount Diablo hikes
Routes the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association and Save Mount Diablo describe as popular, starting from Clayton's side of the mountain.
Mount Diablo hike · Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
Mitchell Canyon nature walk
Starts at Mitchell Canyon Staging Area
Mount Diablo hike · Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
Mitchell Canyon–Back Creek loop
Starts at Mitchell Canyon Staging Area
Mount Diablo hike · Save Mount Diablo
Donner Canyon–Falls loop from Regency
Starts at Regency Drive Trailhead
Mount Diablo hike · Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
Falls loop from Mitchell Canyon
Starts at Mitchell Canyon Staging Area
Mount Diablo hike · Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
Mary Bowerman summit circuit
Starts at Lower Summit Parking Lot
A drive-up summit loop, not a hike from town.
Short scenic outing
Under a mile, at the top.
Mount Diablo hike · Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
Mary Bowerman summit circuit
Starts at Lower Summit Parking Lot
Drive to the Lower Summit lot; the first third is described as accessible, the rest is not.
Longer adventures
More climbing and more of the day: the guides' moderate and demanding routes, and the regional preserves within a drive.
Mount Diablo hike · Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
Twin Peaks–Mitchell Rock loop
Starts at Mitchell Canyon Staging Area
Mount Diablo hike · Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
Black Point loop
Starts at Mitchell Canyon Staging Area
Described by both guides as less visited.
Mount Diablo hike · Mount Diablo Interpretive Association
Mitchell Canyon to Mount Diablo summit loop
Starts at Mitchell Canyon Staging Area
Regional preserve · At Clayton's edge
Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Trails and mining heritage; check gate hours and the district's notices.
Regional preserve · Nearby
Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Reached along Morgan Territory Road; the staging-area gate keeps shorter hours than the park.
Days
No Days written yet.
A Day is an afternoon or a day out, written by someone who did it, with the places in order. None has been contributed yet.