North Peak–Murchio Gap, 9 sights
9.7 mi · ▲ 3,364 ft · 4 hr 55 min
North Peak–Murchio Gap, 9 sights is a 9.7-mile out-and-back in Mount Diablo State Park near Clayton, CA. The route passes Murchio Gap and Prospectors Gap before reaching North Peak at the turnaround, 4.8 miles in. It climbs 3,364 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 65/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
North Peak–Murchio Gap, 9 sights
9.7 mi · ▲ 3,364 ft · 4 hr 55 min
Elevation 593–3,539 ft
Out & Back · Mount Diablo State Park
Trailhead: Mitchell Canyon Road · 37.92028, -121.94183
Weather Aug 3: Partly cloudy, high 99°F / low 62° · precip 0% · wind 7 mph · sunrise 6:13 AM · sunset 8:16 PM
Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mitchell Canyon Road, heading S.
- 250 ftTurn left onto Oak Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Coulter Pine Trail, heading SE.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Eagle Peak Trail, heading SE.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Coulter Pine Trail, heading SE.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Bruce Lee Road, heading SE.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Back Creek Trail, heading S.
- 1.9 miPass Murchio Gap.
- 100 ftTurn left onto Bald Ridge Trail, heading SW.
- 1.3 miPass Prospectors Gap.
- 100 ftSharp left onto North Peak Road, heading SE.
- 0.7 miBear left, heading E.
- 100 ftReach North Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 0.7 miSharp right onto Bald Ridge Trail, heading S.
- 1.3 miTurn right onto Back Creek Trail, heading NW.
- 1.9 miContinue straight onto Bruce Lee Road, heading N.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Coulter Pine Trail, heading N.
- 150 ftTurn left onto Eagle Peak Trail, heading N.
- 50 ftBear right onto Coulter Pine Trail, heading N.
- 0.4 miTurn left onto Oak Road, heading W.
- 0.2 miTurn right onto Mitchell Canyon Road, heading W.
- 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.7 mi in (~121 min). Leave by 5:55 PM for the 8:16 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:39 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Drinking water at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
Other ways to reach this destination
More from Mitchell Canyon Road Trailhead
- Bruce Lee Road–Coulter Pine Trail, 4 sights 2.6 mi · ▲ 438 ft
- Coulter Pine Trail–Mitchell Rock Trail, 3 sights 3.5 mi · ▲ 1,170 ft
- Back Creek Trail–Bruce Lee Road, 5 sights 4.8 mi · ▲ 1,016 ft
- Eagle Peak–Eagle Peak Viewpoint, 4 sights 4.9 mi · ▲ 1,868 ft
- Eagle Peak Viewpoint–Coulter Pine Trail, 3 sights 5.3 mi · ▲ 1,865 ft
- Back Creek Trail–Bruce Lee Road, 7 sights 5.9 mi · ▲ 1,232 ft
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