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Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve

Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve

About The Park

The East Bay Regional Park District began acquiring land for Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in the early 1970s. Today, most of the mining district is within the Preserve's nearly 6,286 acres. The area is an ideal location for hiking, picnicking and nature study. Naturalists conduct a variety of programs relating the Preserve's natural and historic resources. For information phone (925) 757-2620.

View movie clips.

Read the Article in Bay Nature. Back to top

History

Indians

Native Americans have lived in the greater Bay Area for thousands of years. Black Diamond was located in the back country between three tribes: Chupcan (Concord), Volvon (Clayton) and Ompin (Pittsburg). All three nations spoke the Bay Miwok language. With the arrival of Spanish, Mexican and American settlers after 1772, the Bay Miwok way of life changed rapidly. Back to top

Ranching

Until the discovery of coal, cattle ranching was the major industry in this area. After the mines closed, some miners found a new career in ranching. Abandoned mining town buildings became barns, railroad ties were used as fence posts, and boilers were converted into water troughs. Descendants of original mining families still graze cattle in the Preserve. Back to top

Coal Mining

From the 1860s through the turn of the last century, five coal mining towns thrived in the Black Diamond area: Nortonville, Somersville, Stewartville, West Hartley and Judsonville. As the location of California's largest coal mining operation, nearly four million tons of coal ("black diamonds") were removed from the earth. The residents of the mining towns were from all over the world, and their life was characterized by hard work and long hours. Occasional celebrations and a variety of organizations and social activities served to alleviate the drudgery of daily existence.

The coal mines had a significant impact on California's economy. By the time operations ceased due to rising production costs and the exploitation of new energy sources, much of California's economy had been transformed from a rural to an industrial base. Back to top

Sand Mining

In the 1920s underground mining for sand began near the deserted Nortonville and Somersville townsites. The Somersville mine supplied sand used in glass making by the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company in Oakland, while the Nortonville mine supplied the Columbia Steel Works with foundry (casting) sand. Competition from Belgian glass and the closing of the steel foundry ended the sand mining by 1949. Altogether, more than 1.8 million tons of sand had been mined. Back to top

Park Features

Rose Hill Cemetery

Although little remains of the coal mining communities, a historic cemetery serves as a monument to the lives of the former residents. Buried here are children who died in epidemics, women who died in childbirth, and men who died in mining disasters and of other things. Although over 10 nationalities resided in the mining area, Rose Hill Cemetery was a protestant burial ground, and many of the people buried here were Welsh.

Over the years, vandalism has taken its toll on the cemetery, which the Park District is attempting to restore. If you have information concerning people buried here or the location of missing gravestones, please call the Black Diamond office at (925) 757-2620. Back to top

Greathouse Visitor Center

The Greathouse Visitor Center is located in an underground chamber excavated in the mid-1920s. View the workings of a 20th-century sand mine and learn about the lives of 19th-century coal and 20th-century sand miners. The center contains displays, photographs, videos, brochures and artifacts depicting the park's coal and sand mining eras. The Greathouse Visitor Center is open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays beginning the first weekend in March through the last Sunday in November. Admission is free. Parking fee is $5 per vehicle on weekends and holidays. For information call (925) 757-2620. Back to top

Hazel-Atlas Mine Tour

From the mid-1920s to the mid-1940s, the Hazel-Atlas Mine produced silica sand to make jars, bottles, and other glass items. Today, tour participants can take a 800-foot walk into the mine to see mine workings, ore chutes, the shifter's office (mine boss), and ancient geological features. Because of its size and the need for safety, visitors will be taken in only on guided tours, with a limit of 15 persons per tour (minimum age seven years, parental participation is required). First come/first served tours lasting one and one half hours are offered at noon and 3 p.m. weekends only April to November. Arrive at least an hour early to have time to get to the mine entrance and to ensure a spot on the tour. The tour costs $3 per person, and tickets can be purchased at the Greathouse Visitor Center. Hour-long, advance-reservation tours are offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. on weekends April through November. A 10 a.m. tour is available on weekends (April through November) to groups of 10 or more by advance-reservation only. For advance-reservation tours, call 1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757, option 2, then 3).

School groups (third grade and up) and other organized groups (10 persons minimum) can take a mine tour on weekdays. Advance reservations are required: call (925) 757-2620 for information. Back to top

Natural Features

Vegetation:
The Preserve's 42 miles of trails traverse areas of grassland, foothill woodland, mixed evergreen forest, chaparral, stream vegetation and exotic plantings. Notable among the latter are several tree species introduced by the coal miners. These include the black locust, pepper tree, almond, eucalyptus and tree of heaven.

Black Diamond is noted as the northernmost location of Coulter pine, black sage, desert olive and dudleya. In addition, several species that are restricted to the Mt. Diablo area occur here, including the Mt. Diablo globe lily, Mt. Diablo helianthella and Mt. Diablo manzanita. In the springtime, the hills are covered with some of the most remarkable wildflower displays in the Bay Area.

Wildlife:
Black Diamond supports a healthy wildlife population. Coyotes and snakes are commonly seen. Mountain lions, bobcats, foxes and deer are occasionally spotted, while birds of prey soar overhead. Over 100 species of birds have been seen, from the rare golden eagle to the ever-present meadowlark.

The side-blotched lizard has its northern limit in the Preserve, and one rare animal species has been found here--the Alameda whipsnake. Back to top

Park Activities

Camping

There are two camping areas in Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. Reservations are required for both--call 1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757.

Star Mine Group Camp Area is available all year for organized, educational groups only. It can accommodate up to 40 people. It is located in a grassland/oak woodland community at the eastern edge of the Preserve. Overnight camping is limited to two nights. Parking (maximum eight cars), picnic tables and a pit toilet are available at the site. Campers must bring in their own water and haul out their own garbage. No water is available at the site.

Stewartville Backpack Camp is for the general public. The fee is $5 per night per person. Camping is limited to two nights during the spring, summer and fall. There is room for 20 campers. Picnic tables and a pit toilet are available, as well as water for horses (the water is non-potable and must be filtered or treated for human consumption). The camp is located 3.2 miles from the Preserve headquarters, near the Stewartville and Upper Oil Canyon trails. Back to top

ADA accessibility iconPark Accessibility

The Interpretive Information Headquarters and the restroom and drinking fountain in upper parking lot are wheelchair accessible. Greathouse Visitor Center is also accessible. Please call ahead at (925) 757-2620 to arrange for a shuttle to the center.

Trail Accessibility Reports

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To Reach The Park

Black Diamond is located in Contra Costa County, south of Pittsburg and Antioch. Take Highway 4 to the Somersville Road exit in Antioch, then drive south (toward the hills) on Somersville Road to the Preserve entrance.

Click here for public transit information. Back to top

Movie Clips

  • Movie Clip 1: Mine Features (duration: 1 min)
  • Movie Clip 2: How to Tour (duration: 51 sec)
  • Movie Clip 3: Suggested Hike (duration: 4 min 12 sec)
This is a place holder for Black Diamond movie clips.

You can also save movies to your computer in QuickTime format. If you don't have QuickTime, you may download QuickTime here.

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park info

Address
5175 Somersville Road
Antioch, CA 94509
Download Brochure
Phone Number
Toll Free: 888-EBPARKS (888-327-2757), option 3, extension 4506
Local Weather
movie clip icon Movie Clips
Maps
Download PDF Map
Yahoo Map
Park Hours
Unless otherwise posted or permitted, open 8 a.m. to dusk (closing time varies seasonally)
Park Events
Click here for upcoming events
Parking Fee
Seasonal, weekends only: $5 per vehicle (when kiosk is attended); $4 per trailered vehicle. Buses: $25/per bus
Dog Fee
$2 per dog. Guide/service dogs free.
Camping Reservations
1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757, press option 2, then 1
Picnic Reservations
No reservable sites
Naturalist Programs
925-757-2620
Browse programs online
Go to program guide
For Educators
Plan a field trip to this park
Emergency Number
911
EBRPD Headquarters
1-888-EBPARKS or 1-888-327-2757

Park Update

Greathouse Visitor Center Temporary Closed
Greathouse Visitor Center is temporary closed to widen the entrance and upgrade structural components. An interim facility housing historic photographs and artifacts will be in place during the construction which should be completed by March 2009.
Trail Update
Fire trail grading has been completed and all trails are open and in good condition. Please call (510) 544-2757 to report trail problems.
Grazing Update
Cattle have been removed for the season. For information about the District's grazing program, please click on the link to Stewardship/Resources on the left side of this page.
Source URL:
http://www.ebparks.com/parks/black_diamond