Bay Nature Hike: Butterflies of Mount Diablo with Liam O’Brien

Join Bay Nature with lepidopterist and illustrator Liam O’Brien for a butterfly hike at Mount Diablo’s Mitchell Canyon on Saturday, June 6 from 11:00am-2:00pm. We’ll take a gentle out-and-back walk along one of the top five routes featured in Liam’s newly released book, Butterflies of the Bay Area, and (Slightly) Beyond, keeping our eyes open for the colorful winged residents that call this area home. We hope to spot at least 15 butterfly species during the hike, including one of the Bay Area’s most spectacular butterflies: the Two-tailed Tiger Swallowtail. Along the way, Liam will share stories, identification tips, and insights into butterfly ecology and conservation. We’ll pause partway through the hike for a bag lunch before continuing our search.

Details

• Location: Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center (Map: 96 Mitchell Canyon Rd, Clayton, CA 94517)
• Distance: ~3 miles out-and-back
• Difficulty: Easy; mostly flat trail with minimal elevation change
• Parking: Available at the Mitchell Canyon parking lot; $6 park entry fee
• Restrooms: Bathrooms available near the trailhead; no water on site

What to bring: Water (1–2 liters), a bag lunch, snacks, sun protection, layers, cameras, binoculars if desired, and all your butterfly questions. Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes recommended.

Weather note: Expect warm temperatures and sun exposure. Please come prepared with plenty of water, sunscreen, and sun protection.

Meet your guide: Liam O’Brien’s stage career peaked with a three-year run on Broadway in Les Misérables, but a chance encounter with a Western Tiger Swallowtail in San Francisco sparked a lifelong passion for butterflies. Since then, he has led butterfly conservation efforts across San Francisco, including the Green Hairstreak Corridor and restoration projects for Mission Blues, California Ringlets, and other native species. Liam received Bay Nature's 2014 Environmental Educator Award.

Tickets: This hike is free for Bay Nature members. Registration is limited.

Additional information

• All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
• Dogs are not allowed on Bay Nature hikes
• Please note you may encounter ticks, poison oak, and other trail hazards

Photo by © Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC-BY) via iNaturalist