Diablo Range

The Diablo Range is a mountain chain in central California that lies to the east of the Santa Clara and Salinas valleys and forms part of the California Coast Ranges. The range includes a sequence of summits, ridges and valleys and is a prominent landscape feature southeast of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Notable features include forested and chaparral-covered slopes, oak woodlands and open ridgelines. The range contains several named peaks and foothills used for recreation, ranching and conservation. One of the range’s best-known locations is Mount Hamilton, home to the Lick Observatory, which is a long-established astronomical facility.

The Diablo Range extends southeast from the East Bay and the northern Santa Clara Valley into central California, bordering agricultural lowlands to the east and west and intersecting multiple counties. It is accessible from a number of regional highways and local roads.

• Access note: The range is crossed by a number of paved and unpaved roads that give access to trailheads, but many areas are remote and privately owned - check access before visiting.

What to See #

• Mount Hamilton and Lick Observatory: Mount Hamilton, which hosts the Lick Observatory established in 1888 and is one of the range's best-known summits and cultural landmarks.
• Ridges and valleys: A series of ridges, chaparral-covered slopes and valleys forming the western boundary of California's San Joaquin Valley and the eastern edge of the Santa Clara Valley.