Sunset BBQ on Mount Diablo: The Bay Area's Best View
At 3,849 feet, Mount Diablo claims one of the largest viewsheds of any peak its size in the world. We went for the BBQ and stayed for one of the best sunsets I've ever seen.
Mount Diablo rises out of the flat East Bay like it doesn't belong there β 3,849 feet of bare rock and scrubby chaparral above a landscape of suburbs and highways. From the summit on a clear day, you can see the Sierra Nevada to the east, Mount Shasta to the north, and the Pacific coast to the west. The viewshed from the top is one of the largest of any peak under 7,000 feet in the world.
We went for sunset and a BBQ on the mountain. Both delivered more than expected.
About Mount Diablo State Park
Mount Diablo is the dominant peak of the Diablo Range, rising 3,849 feet above the East Bay. The state park covers about 20,000 acres and includes the entire mountain plus surrounding land.
The mountain has cultural significance to several Native American groups and appears in both Spanish-era and Gold Rush history. Its current name β Spanish for "the devil" β dates to the 1800s, though the origin of that particular name is contested.
Ecologically, the park spans multiple plant communities from valley oaks at the base to rock outcroppings and exposed chaparral near the summit. In spring, the lower slopes are covered in wildflowers. By August, they're the golden-brown of California's dry season β beautiful in a different way, and a serious fire risk.
Getting up there
The park has two entrance stations (North Gate and South Gate), both with paved roads that wind up to a summit parking area just below the peak. The drive itself is good: exposed ridgeline, golden hills, views that expand the whole way up.
We arrived in the afternoon with a portable grill, chairs, and enough charcoal to outlast the daylight. There are designated BBQ areas near the summit β nothing fancy, just flat ground and the horizon open in every direction.
The BBQ, and then the sky changed
The food was good. The conversation was better. And then the sun started dropping toward the marine layer.
The moment the sun hit the marine layer, the whole sky changed color. Not a gradual fade β more like someone adjusted the white balance on the entire world. Orange. Then deep orange. Then something between red and purple that I don't have a word for.
We stopped grilling. Everyone looked west. The Bay caught the light. The hills went dark in sequence from east to west. Stars appeared above the ridge before the sun was fully down.
Tips
- Arrive early for sunset. The parking area near the summit fills on clear weekend evenings. An hour before sunset is the minimum β two hours is better if you want a good spot.
- Bring layers. The summit is consistently 10β15Β°F cooler than the base, and the wind picks up after dark. We were underdressed.
- BBQ areas are first-come, first-served. On summer weekends they get claimed early. Weeknights work much better.
- The $10 entry fee is collected at the entrance stations. The park is open year-round but some facilities close in winter.
- The summit road is steep and winding. Nothing technically difficult, but give yourself time and don't rush it in the dark on the way down.
- Clear days make the difference. In summer, mornings are clearer than afternoons (marine layer rolls in). For sunsets, check the air quality before you go β wildfire smoke turns the distant views hazy.
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