Water Falls of Mt. Diablo Hike + Raquel's Gourmet Picnic Meal

Water Fall Hike  - close to 8 miles Alltrails map

The trailhead starts at Mitchell Canyon Visitors Center. You will need to self register for parking with $6 fee (bring exact change). Clean restrooms are available at the trailhead and parking is plenty starting at 9AM. Make sure you bring trekking poles for this one if you have them.

The trailhead starts at Mitchell Canyon Visitors Center. The first mile of the hike takes us over rolling hills, through open, green meadows with views of Ygnacio valley in the distance. At around 1.2 miles we reach the first of 6 waterfalls. The trail soon becomes narrow as it starts climbing upwards. At 3.6 mile mark, we come across the second waterfalls, which is multi-tiered over Donner Creek, with different view points along the trail. Falls 3, 4, 5, 6 come in quick succession of each other, within half a mile of Falls 2, and require crossing streams at multiple points by climbing over rocks and stones. The trail gets steep and might be slippery as we navigate our way across and around these falls. After mile 4, the route starts going downhill. Falls Trail soon becomes Donner Canyon Road. At around 5.5 miles is a great place to take a break and enjoy our w.o.m.e.n snack/cava while we gaze at the jaw dropping view of the East Bay valley on one side and Waterfall #5 on the other. We continue down on Donner Canyon Road until it intersects with Tickwood Trail. Tickwood Trail meanders through a lush green forest. This Trail connects back to Back Creek Trail from which we can backtrack our way, past Waterfall #1, past the green, open meadows, all the way back to the parking lot.