Reservation7/10
Juniper Campground cancellations
Reservable campground on North Gate corridor....
Live Oak Campground Permit
Mount Diablo State Park · California
One date at a time
Reservable campground on South Gate corridor.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Live Oak were gone within 5 minutes.
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Live Oak Quick Facts
Permit RequiredYes
Booking MethodReservation
Demand LevelHigh7/10
Live Oak Permit Facts
- 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.
- The Live Oak route covers 1 miles, rated easy.
- Cancelled Live Oak permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
TypeOvernight
Booking MethodReservation
Demand Level7/10
LocationDiablo Range, CA
What to Expect
Route Details
Distance
1 miles
Route Type
Out & Back
Duration
1-7 nights
Difficulty
EasyHighlights
- •22 sites at 1,450 feet, a mile above the South Gate entrance
- •Picnic tables, fire pits or stoves, water and restrooms at every site
- •Showers at no additional cost
- •Being locked into the park from sunset to 8:00 am
- •Fire restrictions that tighten with the weather — the park can close entirely in fire season
- •$30 a night all seasons
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.
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.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Today
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73°
53°
Mon
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80°
56°
Tue
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85°
49°
Wed
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75°
50°
Thu
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77°
50°
Fri
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82°
50°
Sat
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74°
50°
View full NWS forecast →Mountain weather changes rapidly. This forecast is a guide—always be prepared for worse conditions.
How to Get This Permit
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
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
3
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
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
Difficulty Assessment
Physical Demand1/5
Fitness and endurance required
Technical Skill1/5
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Exposure Risk2/5
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Navigation1/5
Route finding and trail clarity
Commitment1/5
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
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.
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 — 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 Experience
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 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 approximately 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.
The Feeling
Oak woodland and sandstone at 1,450 feet, with the East Bay spread out below. Summer is genuinely hot; spring and fall are why people come.
Trailhead Information
South Gate Entrance Station
Registration point for all camping in the park, and the access road to Live Oak one mile above.
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.
Rules & Regulations
- •Check-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.
- •Maximum length of stay 15 consecutive days, 30 days in a calendar year.
- •Maximum trailer, camper and motorhome length 20 feet.
- •Quiet hours are from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am. No electric generators from 8:00 pm to 10:00 am.
- •Collection of firewood is prohibited in the park, and weather conditions may restrict smoking or prohibit fires entirely.
- •Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the park.
- •Dogs 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.
- •Campers are not allowed to drive in the park at night unless there is an emergency or a scheduled Public Astronomy Program at the Summit.
- •During fire season, generally May to October, call the park one day prior to arrival to confirm park status.
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
- 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
Plan Your Trip
🎒
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Live Oak
🚐
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Guide Services
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Key Landmarks
South 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.
Rock City
Approximately 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.
Mount Diablo summit
The Summit Visitor Center, in a historic stone building built in the late 1930s of fossiliferous sandstone quarried in the park.
Diablo Valley Overlook
Near Juniper Campground, where you can see the Golden Gate Bridge.
Live Oak FAQ
How do I get a Live Oak permit?
Live Oak permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Live Oak?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally 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.
👥Community
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
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Questions
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Trip Reports
Write ReportPhotography 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
- 📍The Wind Caves at Rock City
- 📍Sentinel Rock and Artist Point in low sun
- 📍Spring wildflowers on the Diablo slopes
- 📍The Summit Visitor Center's stone tower
- 📍Fog filling the valleys below with the summit clear
Can't Get a Live Oak Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Juniper Campground
Same AreaThirty-six sites at 3,000 feet, approximately two miles below the summit on Summit Road, with three accessible sites.
Permit required
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.
Manzanita Point Hike-In Group Camp
Similar ExperienceHike-in group camps in the Coe Ranch corridor at Henry W. Coe State Park.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
The same Diablo Range oak country at a bigger scale, built for groups rather than single families.
Castle Rock Trail Camp
Easier AlternativeTwenty backcountry campsites in the Santa Cruz Mountains, fifteen reservable and five held first-come.
Permit required
Tradeoffs
Cooler, forested and genuinely backcountry. But it is walk-in only, with a 60-day request system and payment by phone.
🏕️
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Live Oak trip
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