Mary Bowerman Trail: Great Views Guaranteed!

Here’s a trail that ought to make it to the top trails in the San Francisco Bay Area, in my opinion. And those of you who — like me— love the mountains are sure to see why! Apart from the fact that it’s easy to get to from any part of the Bay Area, Mary Bowerman Trail goes around the summit of Mt. Diablo and while you’re on this trail that’s less than a mile in distance, you’ll be treated to some grand views!

The Views from the Trail

Mary Bowerman Trail sits at the very top of Mt. Diablo State Park and like I said earlier, encircles the very summit of Mt. Diablo. Carved out at an elevation of around 3700 ft. this trail will show you the surrounding hills of the Diablo Range — the craggy ones as well as the rolling hills that we locals love to boast about (especially in the winter). From here, you can also see the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River meet and go on into Suisun Bay. You’ll also see the many turbines that tap all the wind energy the area is known for.

Mary Bowerman Trail

As for the trail itself, it is a loop. The loop is just around .8 miles and is a fairly easy one. Considering you’re going to have to park at the summit (although there is a smaller parking lot closer to the loop), the whole walk is going to be a little longer. Add to it the walk from the loop back up to the summit, and it might be ‘moderate’ in difficulty especially if it’s a hot day in the mountains.

It’s still a hike I’d highly recommend!

As for the terrain, a part of the trail is paved but most of it, unpaved. And there’s a slight elevation gain too. Overall, it’s a great hike considering the distance, the views and I reiterate — it’s proximity to Silicon Valley.

Things to know before you hit this trail on Mt. Diablo

• Mary Bowerman Trail is .8 miles in length. However, the total distance you might cover might be more than that as you might have to park at the summit and walk down to the trail. 
• This trail is a loop.
• It is an easy trail and there’s only a 55ft elevation gain on the actual trail. However, there is an ascent up to the summit after you leave the Mary Bowerman Trail. So be prepared for a bit of a climb from the trail to the parking lot. 
• Make sure to layer up on a cold day and carry plenty of water on a warm/hot day
• The best time to get on this trail would be in spring with the hills are green and there are lots of wildflowers adorning the slopes of this mountain range in CA.
• The views are great. Take them all in! (Make sure you have enough space on your device; you’re going to be taking a lot of pictures.)

More from the area —
Mt. Diablo State Park
Wind Caves
Bay Area Hikes

And that was my Hike 16 of 52!
If you’d like to get on the 52 hikes bandwagon, you can sign up here. It’s a great excuse to get outdoors regularly. 😉
Happy Hiking!

Linking to —
Pictorial Tuesday
My Corner of the World

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