Mount Shasta (Waka-nunee-Tuki-Wuki and Uhataahkoo)
At 3,849 feet, Mount Diablo near Walnut Creek is a modest mountain by California standards. But because of its isolated position, surrounded by lower hills in the Coast Range and close to the western edge of the Central Valley, this peak that commands Mount Diablo State Park has views that extend 200 miles. And its summit is visible from spots throughout Northern California.
Despite a demonic sounding name bestowed by the Spanish, Mount Diablo had a very different symbolism for the many Native American tribes in the area that revered it. Tuyshtak, the Ohlone name for the peak, means “dawn of time.” According to the park website, the Julpun believed the mountain was the birthplace of the world, while the Northern Miwok “saw it as supernatural being that brought light to a dark world.”
According to tribal elders, Mount Diablo’s summit was used both for Pomo and Wintun religious ceremonies, as well as by individuals who came to the mountain to pray. These days you can drive directly to the top of the peak, although it’s far more satisfying to follow the 7-mile round trip Summit Trail, or a combination of different hiking routes to reach the summit.
