Mount Diablo SP Snow & Clouds - Contra Costa County, CA (Cellphone Photos)

During night of the 17th February 2026, the San Francisco Bay Area got some very rare snow on top of the mountain peaks. On the 18th of February 2026, my mom and I went to Mount Diablo State Park in Contra Costa County, CA to see the snow. Unfortunately the road to the summit was closed at Juniper Campground. While I did get to see the snow, I did not hike the remaining 2 miles to the summit due to health complications of Long COVID. I took photos with my cellphone. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

Message from the Photographer: I learned the hard way how intolerant of the cold I am now with Long COVID. That was a sucky experience at Diablo Valley Overlook. I brought my winter Lake Tahoe and Yosemite clothes and gloves, and it was not enough. That amount of clothes used to be enough even in below freezing weather. This disease continues surprising me in new ways. I still stayed near the summit for close to 5 hours though, warming up in the car as needed. It snowed for around an hour while I was there, which was so fun to watch because I haven't seen snowing for years now due to this disease. I can no longer tolerate altitudes above 1500m (≈ 5000 feet).

A scenery photo of South Gate Road (left), trees, fog, clouds, mountains, and Danville (in the distance on the right).

A scenery photo of clouds, trees, mountains, and Walnut Creek & Concord (in the distance). The photo was shot from South Gate Road.

A scenery photo of clouds, fog, mountains, trees, and fog. The photo was shot from South Gate Road.

A scenery photo of picnic tables and fog. The photo was shot at Livermore Valley Overlook on Summit Road.

Next, we arrive at Diablo Valley Overlook and Juniper Campground, where Summit Road was closed due to snow. It snowed for around an hour for the 5 hours I was up there.

A scenery photo of fog, snow, Summit Road closure (left), and trees. The photo was shot at Diablo Valley Overlook.

A scenery photo of fog, snow, Summit Road closure (left), and trees. The photo was taken at Diablo Valley Overlook.

A scenery photo of fog, snow, trees, grill, picnic table (right), cars (background), car park (background). The photo taken shot at Juniper Campground.

A scenery photo of fog, snow, trees, grill (left), picnic table (right), cars (on the left in the background), car park (on the left in the background). The photo taken shot at Juniper Campground.

This photo was taken early in the day but there were still quite a lot of people there seeing the snow as well. Later in the day as people got off work, the area became even more packed.

A scenery photo of fog, cars, car park, people, trees, and Summit Road (left). The photo was taken at Diablo Valley Overlook.

A scenery photo of fog, snow, trees, and Summit Road closure (right). The photo was taken at Diablo Valley Overlook.

A scenery photo of clouds, fog, snow, mountains, and trees. The photo was taken at Diablo Valley Overlook.

A scenery photo of fog, snow, trees, and Summit Road. The photo was taken at Diablo Valley Overlook.

A scenery photo of fog, snow, Summit Road closure (left), trees, and people. The photo was shot at Diablo Valley Overlook.

A scenery photo of clouds, trees, mountains, snow, Danville (in the distance on the left), Alamo (in the distance in the center), Walnut Creek (in the distance on the right), San Francisco Bay (in the distance), and San Francisco (in the distance in the center). The photo was shot at Diablo Valley Overlook.

A scenery photo of clouds, mountains, trees, Tri-Valley Area (in the distance), and Summit Road (left). The photo was shot at Diablo Valley Overlook.

A scenery photo of clouds, mountains, trees, Alamo (in the distance on the right), Danville (in the distance in the center), San Ramon (in the distance on the left), San Francisco Bay (in the distance), and San Francisco (in the distance on the right). The photo was shot at Diablo Valley Overlook.

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve (Cellphone Photos) - Danville, CA

On 28 May 2023, my mom and I took a hike in Sycamore Valley Regional Open Space Preserve in Danville, CA. I took photos with my cellphone. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

Message from the Photographer: I have actually been struggling with a pretty nasty viral infection for the past 10 days. I don't know what it is, but it was probably the cold or the flu. 😂 I have been feeling very claustrophobic from the whole ordeal as I was mostly in bed the entire time. My energy didn't completely recover, but I had to get out of the house, hence this short hiking trip. 

A scenery photo of flowers, clouds, grass, trees, and hills. The photo was shot on Sand Hill Trail.

The flowers in the photo are Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Yellow Mustard Flowers.

A scenery photo of flowers, clouds, grass, trees, and hills. The photo was shot on Sand Hill Trail.

The flowers in the photo are Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Yellow Mustard Flowers.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo, Danville, clouds, houses, trees, and hills. The photo was shot on Short Ridge Trail.

The flowers in the photo are Yellow Mustard Flowers.

A scenery photo of Danville, clouds, and mountains. The photo was shot on Short Ridge Trail.

A scenery photo of Danville, clouds, and mountains. The photo was shot on Short Ridge Trail.

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Mt. Diablo & Mission Peak Snow (Day 2) - San Ramon/Danville, CA

It is very rare to see snow in the San Francisco Bay Area, but the weather recently has been very weird. It snowed like crazy in the San Francisco Bay Area. On February 23 and 24, 2023, my mom and I went to several locations in San Ramon, CA and Danville, CA to go see snow on Mt. Diablo, Mission Peak, Mt. Allison, and more. The places we visited are Forest Home Farms Historic Park (I went to this park mainly to see the sheep and use the bathroom 😅), Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve, Memorial Park, and Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve. I took photos with my cellphones and mirrorless camera. The photos are split into 3 blog posts. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

Full Resolution Photos: If you want to see full resolution photos of any of the photos you see here, use the following links. If you wish to purchase prints of any of the photos, please contact me here. To see all of my photos from this trip, use this link.

Parts: Cellphone Photos | Olympus Photos (Day 1) | Olympus Photos (Day 2)

These are photos I shot on my Olympus mirrorless camera on Day 2 (February 24, 2023). The photos were shot on Morgan Drive in San Ramon, Memorial Park in San Ramon, and Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville. The second round of snow and rainstorms definitely hit the Tri-Valley area much harder compared to the first round. I had to abandon my second hike in Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve because the trails were way too steep and muddy for my comfort. The trails at Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve were almost impossible to walk on. I kept sinking in the mud, and the mud caked on my mom and I's shoes and hiking poles. You can see photos of that in my Cellphone Photos blog post (link). That Sycamore Valley hike was arduous, and I feel like my photos didn't even turn out that great.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow and partially obstructed by clouds, San Ramon, trees, green hills, clouds, and houses. The photo was shot on Morgan Drive in San Ramon, CA.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 45' 00" N 121° 57' 50" W

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow and partially obstructed by clouds, San Ramon, trees, clouds, and green hills. The photo was shot at Memorial Park in San Ramon, CA.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 45' 28" N 121° 58' 12" W

A black and white process of the photo above.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow and partially obstructed by clouds, San Ramon, trees, clouds, and green hills. The photo was shot at Memorial Park in San Ramon, CA.

Photo shot at the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of snow covered mountains, San Ramon, trees, clouds, and green hills. The photo was shot towards Morgan Territory Regional Preserve. The photo was shot at Memorial Park in San Ramon, CA.

Photo shot at the same spot as above.

After San Ramon, my mom and I traveled to Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The rest of my photos in this blog post are from Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve and were all shot on Short Ridge Trail.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow and partially obstructed by clouds, clouds, trees, and green hills.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 48' 49" N 121° 56' 13" W

A scenery photo of Mission Peak and Mt. Allison (center) covered with snow, Sunol Peak (right) covered with snow, cows, clouds, mountains, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of snow covered mountains, trees, clouds, and green hills. The photo was shot towards Morgan Territory Regional Preserve.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow and partially obstructed by clouds, clouds, trees, and green hills.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 48' 48" N 121° 56' 13" W

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, clouds, trees, and green hills.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 48' 49" N 121° 56' 13" W

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, clouds, trees, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, clouds, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, clouds, trees, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, clouds, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, clouds, trees, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, clouds, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, Danville, clouds, trees, and green hills.

Approximate GPS location (type into Google): 37° 48' 43" N 121° 56' 04" W

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, Danville, clouds, trees, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of Mt. Diablo covered with snow, Danville, clouds, trees, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

A scenery photo of Mission Peak and Mt. Allison (center) covered with snow, Sunol Peak (right) covered with snow, Danville (foreground), San Ramon (in the distance), Dublin (in the distance), Pleasanton (in the distance), clouds, trees, mountains, and green hills.

Photo shot near the same spot as above.

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Parts: Cellphone Photos | Olympus Photos (Day 1) | Olympus Photos (Day 2)

Mt. Diablo & Mission Peak Snow (San Ramon/Danville) - Cellphone Photos

It is very rare to see snow in the San Francisco Bay Area, but the weather recently has been very weird. It snowed like crazy in the San Francisco Bay Area. On February 23 and 24, 2023, my mom and I went to several locations in San Ramon, CA and Danville, CA to go see snow on Mt. Diablo, Mission Peak, Mt. Allison, and more. The places we visited are Forest Home Farms Historic Park (I went to this park mainly to see the sheep and use the bathroom 😅), Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve, Memorial Park, and Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve. I took photos with my cellphones and mirrorless camera. The photos are split into 3 blog posts. I hope you enjoy viewing my photos!

Parts: Cellphone Photos | Olympus Photos (Day 1) | Olympus Photos (Day 2)

These photos were shot on my cellphones.

I first start off with the cellphone photos I took on February 23, 2023.

The first location we went to was Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA (19953 San Ramon Valley Blvd, San Ramon, CA 94583). I knew I wouldn't be able to see Mt. Diablo from this location. I mostly came here to see the Tractor Museum (which was closed unfortunately), the sheep, and also to use the bathroom.

A photo of sheep, houses, high voltage lines, and clouds.

The photo is from Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. The photo was shot on 23 February, 2023.

A photo of historic farm equipment near the Tractor Museum, high voltage lines and clouds.

The photo is from Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. The photo was shot on 23 February, 2023.

A photo of sheep, houses, high voltage lines, and clouds.

The photo is from Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. The photo was shot on 23 February, 2023.

A photo of sheep, houses, high voltage lines, a church, and clouds.

The photo is from Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. The photo was shot on 23 February, 2023.

A photo of sheep, houses, high voltage lines, a church, and clouds.

The photo is from Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. The photo was shot on 23 February, 2023.

A photo of a sheep.

The photo is from Forest Home Farms Historic Park in San Ramon, CA. The photo was shot on 23 February, 2023.

The second location we went to was Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve in San Ramon, CA.

A photo shot through my monocular.

A photo of Mt. Diablo with a light dusting of snow, and clouds.

The photo is from Redtail Hawk Trail in Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve in San Ramon, CA. The photo was shot on 23 February, 2023.

Monocular Used: Adasion 12x56mm HD Monocular (Product Link - Affiliate Link)

Up next, are the cellphone photos I took on February 24, 2023. Yes, I know I'm mixing my date formats. I grew up in China, where we used a different format (YYYY/MM/DD | 年/月/日), and then I was taught British date format (DD/MM/YYYY) along with British English. Some habits are hard to break. 😂 In fact, my British accent occasionally comes back into play. I also have an easier time understanding British English than American English.

The first location we went to was Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve in San Ramon, CA. The trail was way too muddy and steep for me to make the climb again (unlike the day before). I attempted a small part of it, but gave up trying to hike Bishop Ranch just a tiny bit past the gate. It would have been too dangerous to hike that steep hill. The reason I was able to hike up Bishop Ranch the previous day was because the first round of rainstorms and snowstorms mainly hit the Peninsula and the South Bay. The Tri-Valley Area didn't get too severe of storms during the first round. Once the second round of storms came in, many of the hiking trails here became very muddy. After abandoning the Bishop Ranch hike, I took a photo near the entrance to the preserve on Morgan Drive.

A scenery photo of snow covered Mt. Diablo, San Ramon, houses, trees, and clouds.

The photo is from Morgan Drive in San Ramon, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

The second location we went to was Memorial Park in San Ramon, CA. After hearing how loud that rainstorm was the previous night, I kind of expected not being able to hike Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve, so I had several backup locations on hand.

A scenery photo of snow covered Mt. Diablo, San Ramon, houses, trees, and clouds.

The photo is from Memorial Park in San Ramon, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

The third location we went to was Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The trails were extremely muddy and it was one of the most challenging hikes I have ever done. I would not recommend you attempt this even with hiking poles. You will see later in the blog post just how muddy it was, and how caked up in mud my shoes, my hiking poles, and my camera tripod was. Those rainstorms and snowstorms the previous night were really severe.

A scenery photo of snow covered Mt. Diablo, green hills, and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

A photo shot through my monocular.

A photo of snow covered Mt. Allison (left) & Mission Peak (right), green hills, forest, and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

Monocular Used: Adasion 12x56mm HD Monocular (Product Link - Affiliate Link)

A photo shot through my monocular.

A photo of snow covered Mt. Diablo and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

Monocular Used: Adasion 12x56mm HD Monocular (Product Link - Affiliate Link)

A scenery photo of snow covered Mt. Diablo, Danville, green hills, trees, houses, and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

A photo shot through my monocular.

A photo of snow covered Mt. Allison (left) & Mission Peak (right), forest, high voltage power lines, and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

Monocular Used: Adasion 12x56mm HD Monocular (Product Link - Affiliate Link)

A photo shot through my monocular.

A photo of snow covered Mt. Allison (left) & Mission Peak (right), green hills, forest, high voltage power lines, and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

Monocular Used: Adasion 12x56mm HD Monocular (Product Link - Affiliate Link)

A photo shot through my monocular.

A photo of snow covered Mt. Diablo and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

Monocular Used: Adasion 12x56mm HD Monocular (Product Link - Affiliate Link)

A photo shot through my monocular.

A photo of snow covered Mt. Diablo and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

Monocular Used: Adasion 12x56mm HD Monocular (Product Link - Affiliate Link)

A scenery photo of snow covered Mt. Diablo, Danville, green hills, trees, houses, and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

A photo shot through my monocular.

A photo of snow covered Mt. Diablo and clouds.

The photo is from Short Ridge Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

Monocular Used: Adasion 12x56mm HD Monocular (Product Link - Affiliate Link)

After I finished taking photos of the snow covered mountain peaks, my mom and I started our slow and arduous hike back to Sycamore Valley Park where we parked. The last few photos I took was to show you exactly how muddy that trail was. I don't think the photos do it justice as the mud stuck to my shoes, my hiking poles, and my tripod blends right into the mud in the background.

A photo of my mud caked hiking shoes.

The photo is from Sand Hill Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

A photo of my mud caked hiking shoes.

The photo is from Sand Hill Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

A photo of my mud caked hiking pole and camera tripod.

The photo is from Sand Hill Trail in Sycamore Valley Regional Preserve in Danville, CA. The photo was shot on 24 February, 2023.

This is all the photos for today. I hope you have enjoyed viewing the photos! Please don't forget to share the blog post with your friends and family members! Also, if you want to get notifications when I post up more photos, "Like" us on Facebook or follow me on Instagram. These links can also be found on the top of the right sidebar.

Parts: Cellphone Photos | Olympus Photos (Day 1) | Olympus Photos (Day 2)