Respect the Tread and the Dig Day Volunteers
Please let the trails at Mount Diablo State Park drain and dry out for a few days after this weekend’s atmospheric river.
So much heart, soul, teamwork and service from more than 500 volunteers have been dedicated to repairing many trails at Mount Diablo over the past 13 months.
IT TAKES ALL OF US
Respecting the tread applies to Hikers, Equestrians, Runners and Cyclists, especially those on E-Bikes. The heavier E-bike and its motor-driven torque put more pressure on saturated trail tread than acoustic bikes.
Equestrians - Please Abide, Too
Check out the below photos of Horse-caused damage on a trail’s tread and in its backslope, as observed on Secret Trail this past winter. Similar damage has been observed on Little Yosemite Trail and Sunset Trail over the past year.
Secret Trail is where more than 200 hours of service were logged by Dig Day volunteers in December 2023, making the trail better and safer for park visitors, the environment, and the plants, flowers, and animal species.
That Horse-caused damage required immediate repairs to reduce incremental risk of pooling water or ruts from forming.
Even with Trail Repairs, the Tread Needs Time to Dry
Dig Day repairs include new full bench cuts, more uniform tread surface, and many grade reversals and water knicks that all are designed to improve surface water drainage during winter storms.
Despite these trail improvements, the soil composition in the lowlands (below 2,000-feet elevation) at Mount Diablo can turn into soft "peanut butter" when the water saturation point is reached.
This temporary condition can result in trail damage occurring very quickly when trail users pass through. As a result, let the lowland trails dry out for 1-2 days for every 1-inch of rain that falls.
The waiting period can be hard, but it is very important to respect the tread and the Dig Day volunteers’ service for the greater good.
When It Rains …
Please consider exploring upper mountain trails and save the following trails for a future visit when conditions are more favorable:
Buckeye, Camel Rock, Castle Rock, Little Yosemite, Secret, Sunset and other trails below 2,000 feet.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us to preserve the hard work of our Dig Day volunteer community.
Note: Big thanks to the good folks at Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship for the PSA Drawing.