OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Mount Diablo State Park is home to many plants and animals. Golden eagles soar above the peaks. Deer, coyotes, bobcats, and gray foxes live on the mountain. A special flower called the Mount Diablo globe lily grows here and almost nowhere else on Earth. The mountain has grassy hills, oak trees, and rocky areas.

The Miwok and Ohlone people lived near this mountain for thousands of years. They believed it was a very special and sacred place. The mountain’s name comes from a Spanish phrase. In the early 1800s, Spanish explorers called the area “Monte del Diablo.” Later, American settlers started calling it Mount Diablo. The mountain became a state park in 1931.

• On a clear day, you can see parts of 35 of California’s 58 counties from the summit!
• Mount Diablo was used as a starting point to make maps of much of California and Nevada.
• The mountain is not a volcano. It was pushed up from underground over millions of years.
• Tarantulas live on Mount Diablo. In the fall, male tarantulas walk across the trails looking for a mate!