Roads to Mount Diablo reopened as people line up to see snow

On Saturday morning, employees reopened the North and South Gateways to Mount Diablo State Park to visitors. Roads in Mount Diablo State Park have been closed due to snowfall over the past few days, and park officials said on Facebook that staff needed time to clear the roads of snow and fallen tree limbs.

All Saturday afternoon, visitors crowded the winding roads into the park, waiting to see snow on one of the bay’s highest peaks. People who spoke to NBC Bay Area on Saturday said it took them a full two and a half hours to drive through a line of cars to enter the park.

In the park, visitors made snowmen, sledded and even got snowboards.

“My brother went to the hairdresser, dad took a picture of the snow in the distance and we decided to go to the mountains because we love snow,” explained Victoria Hernandez of San Leandro, who visited the park on Saturday with her family. .

Adib Osmani, 7, from San Ramon, said he saw snow outside of Lake Tahoe for the first time. Osmani spent the day on Saturday playing with his family on the mountain.

“I built an icicle and cut it in half and turned the other half upside down,” he explained.

Some visitors waited in line for cars, but eventually gave up due to traffic.

“It’s a nightmare,” explained Shiva Prakash of San Jose, who was stuck in line, “we’re going back now, we were a bit disappointed that we haven’t seen snow yet.”

One group of visitors from the peninsula jumped out of the line of cars after waiting an hour and decided to spend 40 minutes walking to the entrance to the park. Their change of plans paid off: they were able to get to the park and collect a few blocks of snow to bring home.

“It looked like it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, so we felt the need to check it out,” one team member explained.

Those who were still in line on the mountain when the sun went down were turned away from the entrance to the park.

“I went there, but the ranger was closing the gate right there, he said it was too dangerous for people to go in because they don’t want anyone to go out in the snow at night,” explained Mario Rosero from Auckland.

Many said they would return to try and re-enter the park on Sunday, hoping to enjoy rare winter mountain views.

Park staff told NBC Bay Area that it will reopen to the public at 8:00 a.m. Sunday.

A post on the park’s Facebook page on Saturday advised visitors to drive carefully (as the roads are still slippery) and bring warm clothing.