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Live Oak Campground permit area in Mount Diablo State Park - backcountry hiking destination
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Live Oak Campground Permit

Mount Diablo State Park · California

Reservable campground on South Gate corridor.

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When it opens

6 months
First come, first served from six months before your start dateYou book on the agency's site.

Source: parks.ca.gov

70% of the openings our scanner caught on Live Oak were gone within 10 minutes.

Live Oak reservation dates

route distance, out and back
1mi

How to get a Live Oak permit

As of September 2026, Live Oak in Mount Diablo State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation. Live Oak is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. Cancelled Live Oak permits are re-released on the booking system, and PermitSnag alerts you the moment one opens. The Live Oak route covers 1 miles, rated easy.

Type
Overnight
Location
Diablo Range, CA

  1. Step 1: Create an account before permits drop

    Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.

  2. Step 2: Know the release schedule

    Permits release on a rolling basis. Check the release time for your dates.

  3. Step 3: Be ready when permits drop

    Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.

  4. Step 4: Monitor for cancellations

    If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.

Learn more:
Best booking timesCancellation hunting

More on Live Oak: Live availability activityWhen Live Oak permits open up

The Live Oak hike

Distance
1 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-7 nights
Difficulty
Easy

Live Oak landmarks

  1. 1South Gate Entrance Station

    A mile below the campground, at 2675 Mt. Diablo Scenic Boulevard in Danville. All camping registration is at the South Gate kiosk.

  2. 2Rock City

    About one mile north of the South Gate kiosk: the Wind Caves, Elephant Rock, Sentinel Rock, Artist Point and Fossil Ridge, with Native American grinding rocks near Grotto.

  3. 3Mount Diablo summit

    The Summit Visitor Center, in a historic stone building built in the late 1930s of fossiliferous sandstone quarried in the park.

  4. 4Diablo Valley Overlook

    Near Juniper Campground, where you can see the Golden Gate Bridge.

Twenty-two sites a mile above the South Gate entrance, with showers included and Rock City's wind caves nearby.

About this permit

Live Oak Campground sits one mile above the South Gate Entrance Station off South Gate Road, near Rock City. It has 22 sites at 1,450 feet and is the lower and warmer of Mount Diablo's two reservable campgrounds. All campsites are provided with picnic tables, fire pits or stoves, water, and restrooms, and showers are available at Live Oak and Juniper campgrounds at no additional cost.

Reservations for the Live Oak and Juniper campgrounds go through ReserveCalifornia, six months in advance from the current date. The nightly rate is $30 all seasons, with a $2 senior discount and $10 for one additional vehicle. Junction Campground, the park's third, is first-come only.

Two things shape a stay here. Campers are locked in the park overnight from sunset to 8:00 am, and are not allowed to drive in the park at night unless there is an emergency or a scheduled Public Astronomy Program at the Summit. And during the fire season, generally May to October, the park is subject to closure due to extreme fire danger. Campers must call the park one day prior to arrival to confirm park status.

The route

Live Oak Campground is located one mile above the South Gate Entrance Station, off South Gate Road, near Rock City where one can explore rock formations. The Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, the park's partner association, lists it as 22 sites at an elevation of 1,450 feet.

All campsites are provided with picnic tables, fire pits or stoves, water, and restrooms. Showers are available at Live Oak and Juniper campgrounds at no additional cost.

Rock City is about one mile north of the South Gate kiosk and features the Wind Caves, Elephant Rock, Sentinel Rock, Artist Point and Fossil Ridge, with Native American grinding rocks near Grotto. The summit is 3,849 feet.

Why it matters

Live Oak is the lower and warmer of Mount Diablo's two reservable campgrounds, and the one closest to Rock City. Campers get the mountain after the gates close at sunset.

The feeling

Oak woodland and sandstone at 1,450 feet, with the East Bay spread out below. Summer is hot; spring and fall are why people come.

Live Oak hike highlights

  1. 22 sites at 1,450 feet, a mile above the South Gate entrance
  2. Picnic tables, fire pits or stoves, water and restrooms at every site
  3. Showers at no additional cost
  4. Being locked into the park from sunset to 8:00 am
  5. Fire restrictions that tighten with the weather: the park can close entirely in fire season
  6. $30 a night all seasons

How hard the Live Oak hike is

  • Physical DemandFitness and endurance required1/5
  • Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
  • Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
  • NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
  • CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route1/5

Best for: East Bay families and anyone who wants a drive-in base with showers, close to Rock City and the summit road. Good for a first camping trip with children.

Recommended experience: None, but during fire season you must call the park a day ahead to confirm it is open.

Not recommended for: Anyone with a rig over 20 feet, anyone who wants to hike with a dog, and anyone who needs to drive out after dark: the gates are locked from sunset to 8:00 am.

Trailhead information

South Gate Entrance Station

Primary

Registration point for all camping in the park, and the access road to Live Oak one mile above.

  • No restrooms
  • No water

Parking

Vehicle entrance fee $10.00 at South Gate: cash or check anytime, credit and debit when the kiosk is staffed. Additional vehicle $10.00 per night, limit 1. Maximum trailer and maximum camper/motorhome length both 20 feet.

Getting There

2675 Mt. Diablo Scenic Boulevard, Danville. Gates open 8:00 am and close at sunset. All camping registration is at the South Gate kiosk.

Nearest Services

Danville.

When to hike Live Oak

Best time to visit

Spring and autumn. Spring brings wildflowers, especially at Mitchell Canyon, and green hillsides; autumn brings stable weather without the summer heat. Summer is hot and often hazy, with the highest fire-closure risk. Winter is mild and, the day after a storm, gives the clearest views on the mountain.

Weather Forecast

Trailhead (5,000 ft)

Today

☀️

87°

64°

Wed

☀️

90°

67°

Thu

☁️

86°

60°

Fri

☁️

90°

59°

Sat

☁️

94°

62°

Sun

☀️

93°

61°

Mon

☀️

93°

63°

View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.

Live Oak photography guide

Golden Hour

The day after a winter storm from the summit road, when the agency says viewing is best and the range can be seen almost 200 miles.

Best Light

Spring, for wildflowers at Mitchell Canyon and green hillsides across the mountain.

Beat the Crowds

Campers are locked in the park overnight from sunset to 8:00 am, which means the mountain empties of day traffic and stays that way until morning.

Classic Shots

  1. The Wind Caves at Rock City
  2. Sentinel Rock and Artist Point in low sun
  3. Spring wildflowers on the Diablo slopes
  4. The Summit Visitor Center's stone tower
  5. Fog filling the valleys below with the summit clear

Live Oak rules, gear and safety

Gear checklist

Required
  • Extra water beyond what you expect: the park's water source is dependent on spring production and drought has affected availability
  • Camp stove, since fires can be restricted or prohibited when fire danger is high
  • Sun protection for an exposed mountain
  • Firewood bought off the mountain; collection is prohibited
  • Layers for extreme heat, wind, cold, rain and snow, all of which the park warns about

Recommended gear

  • A phone call to 925-837-2525 or 925-837-0904 the day before arrival during fire season
  • Long sleeves and long pants for ticks and poison oak
  • A minimum of one quart of water every two hours for hiking
  • Headlamp, since you cannot drive out after sunset
  • Binoculars for a viewshed the park puts at almost 200 miles

Rules & regulations

  1. 01Check-in time is 2:00 pm. Check-out time is 12:00 noon. The entrance and exit gates are closed from sunset to 8:00 am.
  2. 02Maximum length of stay 15 consecutive days, 30 days in a calendar year.
  3. 03Maximum trailer, camper and motorhome length 20 feet.
  4. 04Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. No electric generators from 8:00 pm to 10:00 am.
  5. 05Collection of firewood is prohibited in the park, and weather conditions may restrict smoking or prohibit fires entirely.
  6. 06Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the park.
  7. 07Dogs are NOT permitted on trails, fire roads, or in park buildings; only in developed areas, on leash during the day and in an enclosed vehicle or tent at night.
  8. 08Campers are not allowed to drive in the park at night unless there is an emergency or a scheduled Public Astronomy Program at the Summit.
  9. 09During fire season, generally May to October, call the park one day prior to arrival to confirm park status.

Hazards & considerations

  • Mount Diablo State Park can have extreme heat, wind, cold, rain, snow.
  • Although the park normally has potable water at the campgrounds, the water source is dependent on spring production and several years of drought has affected availability. Bring extra water.
  • Ticks are found on Mt. Diablo; check yourself and your children frequently.
  • Rattlesnakes are common in warmer months; maintain a distance of at least 6 feet and know what to do in case of a snake bite.
  • Learn to identify the shiny, three-leaf pattern of poison oak and stay on trail.
  • Many trails have limited cell service and can be very remote; airlifting injured individuals can cost over $50,000.
  • The park is subject to closure during fire season due to extreme fire danger.

Safety & planning

Emergency Info

Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Live Oak.

Food Storage

Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.

Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Live Oak · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides

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Live Oak FAQ

How do I get a Live Oak permit?

PermitSnag alerts you the moment a Live Oak cancellation opens, so you can book it before anyone else. Live Oak permits use a reservation system.

When is the best time to visit Live Oak?

Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.

How competitive is the Live Oak permit?

This permit has a demand score of 7/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.

What if I can't get a Live Oak permit?

Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.

Live Oak trail conditions and trip reports

Trail Conditions

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Alternatives to a Live Oak permit

  • Same AreaPermit required

    Juniper Campground

    Thirty-six sites at 3,000 feet, about two miles below the summit on Summit Road, with three accessible sites.

    Tradeoffs

    About 1,550 feet higher, so noticeably cooler in summer, with the views the campground is known for. It is also further from Rock City and more exposed to wind.

  • Similar ExperiencePermit required

    Manzanita Point Hike-In Group Camp

    Hike-in group camps in the Coe Ranch corridor at Henry W. Coe State Park.

    Tradeoffs

    The same Diablo Range oak country at a bigger scale, built for groups rather than single families.

  • Easier AlternativePermit required

    Castle Rock Trail Camp

    Twenty backcountry campsites in the Santa Cruz Mountains, fifteen reservable and five held first-come.

    Tradeoffs

    Cooler, forested and in the backcountry. But it is walk-in only, with a 60-day request system and payment by phone.

Where to stay near Live Oak

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