You can check in at either of the Entrance Stations (South Gate from Pleasanton, or North Gate from Walnut Creek). If there’s nobody at the Entrance Station one of the Park Rangers will cruise around, during the afternoon and check you off against thhe camping list. I believe one extra vehicle is allowed, at $10. Although you can check in at any time before the Park closes st dusk, I’d strongly suggest you get there around 2:00pm, if possible.

We just climbed the big stone boulders which i'm sure she would be able to do. We saw other kids her age doing them. Hope that helps.

I did go to the website and decided to try here for an answer. Since then spent one night at Juniper site no area to jump in water or fish but a very nice campground and not far to the peak. I will return for more.

Gates open at 8 am and close at sunset. Self pay.

Hi, The park opens at 8.am and closes at sun down. "Park Hours Gates open 8:00am and close at sunset. Visitors should plan to be in their vehicles by sunset and headed out to avoid being locked in".

The infamous San Francisco fog makes any prediction of best times a little hazardous :( However, we were there at sunset time and found the play of colours on the rolling hills that surround Mount Diablo very enjoyable; this would be so even if the Bay itself was fogged out. You can probably get similar effects early in the day, around the time of sunrise.