Mount Diablo State Park

Red Road

5.5 mi · ▲ 1,074 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Red Road is a 5.5-mile out-and-back in Mount Diablo State Park near Cowell, CA. It climbs 1,074 ft, with sections as steep as 18% grade. It scores 66/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi325 – 1,250 ft · steepest grade: 18%5.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 37.90191, -121.99331
Nearest town Cowell, CA

Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Red Road

5.5 mi · ▲ 1,074 ft · 2 hr 22 min

Elevation 326–1,249 ft

Out & Back · Mount Diablo State Park

Trailhead: 37.90191, -121.99331

Weather Sep 20: sunrise 6:55 AM · sunset 7:10 PM

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading NE.
  2. 0.9 miSharp left, heading NW.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right, heading E.
  4. 0.6 miBear right, heading NE.
  5. 0.3 miSharp right, heading SE.
  6. 450 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  7. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Red Road, heading NE.
  8. 250 ftReach the turnaround, then head back the way you came.
  9. 0.7 miTurn left, heading W.
  10. 500 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  11. 0.3 miBear left, heading SW.
  12. 0.6 miTurn left, heading W.
  13. 0.1 miSharp right, heading SE.
  14. 0.9 miArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Weather

Sunrise 6:55 AMSunset 7:10 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~48 min). Leave by 6:02 PM for the 7:10 PM sunset. Back at your car by 7:59 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp. Trailhead visible from the viewpoint

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