Guides
A 40-minute audio guide to a panoramic trail encircling one of the Bay Area's highest peaks.
The Grand Loop offers a bird's-eye view of the Bay Area, and sometimes glimpses far beyond, of the Farallon Islands, Mount Lassen, the Sierra Nevada, and the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's also a a hotspot for wildflowers in the spring. At each of 12 stops in this audio guide, naturalists point out the sights and sounds, tell tales of the mountain's...
Skip the summit crowds and see Mount Diablo's North Peak. Strenuous 10-mile hike.
If you're bugged by the existence of a parking lot atop Mount Diablo -- the East Bay's signature peak -- you're probably just the type to check out nearby North Peak, which gets far fewer visitors and offers just as many awesome vistas. My favorite path to North Peak is definitely the hard way: five miles and over 3,000 feet of climb on some of the...
Seasons signal ideal times to hike Bay Area trails; best hikes for each season of the year
The San Francisco Bay Area enjoys excellent hiking weather year-round -- ample sunshine, rare storms, scant snow -- but savvy local hikers still match their destinations to prime weather conditions. Spring, for instance, brings an explosion to wildflowers. Summertime gets warmer the farther you get from the coast, so most hikers look for deep shade...
Best places to hike in the San Francisco Bay Area
If you have just one chance to hike in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of these destinations should be on it. The North Bay is primarily Marin County, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, and some of San Rafael County. East Bay includes Contra Costa and Alameda counties. South Bay encompasses the Santa Cruz Mountains south of...
Winter and spring rains create scenic waterfalls in this hike at Mount Diablo, the East Bay's signature peak.
While Mount Diablo State Park is best known for towering vistas from the mountain's twin East Bay summits, the seasonal rains that visit the San Francisco Bay Area every year create several scenic waterfalls in the mountain's rugged canyons. This hike starts out from the Regency Gate in the East Bay town of Clayton -- parking is free in the neighborhood:...
The lush greenery of Mitchell Canyon leads to an invigorating climb to Eagle Peak, a favorite of local hikers.
Everybody loves to visit the summit of Mount Diablo, but many seasoned San Francisco Bay Area hikers prefer this hike to Eagle Peak via Mitchell Canyon, which takes in all the features that make Mount Diablo State Park unique. Mitchell Canyon is shady with abundant wildflowers in the spring; Eagle Peak culminates a rugged hike to jaw-dropping vistas...
Learn about the coal mining era while hiking the rugged hills of Black Diamond Mines east of Concord.
The hills of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve east of Concord, California, have been returned to their natural state, making them ideal for hiking, birdwatching and other outdoor adventures. It wasn't always like this: In the 1800s, a coal economy ruled the region. When the coal ran out, the miners moved on, leaving tombstones where towns once...
This is a simple, short hike, appropriate for beginners and perhaps kids. Most of the uphill occurs in the first half mile. After the first mile, it's pretty much all downhill.
Open grasslands and ocean vistas with stair-climbing in a deep Redwood canyon
This trail has numerous vistas of Mt. Diablo, much of the East Bay, and up into Napa Valley. Down in Secret Valley the trail gives a solid sense of what the early explorers and settlers experienced in this part of the state. One absolutely gets the feeling of traveling down one of the old stage roads. Portions of the trail are open to equestrian...
This park is one of the ecological treasures of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Many visitors to Mount Diablo head straight for the summit to enjoy the famous view. Summer days are sometimes hazy, and the best viewing is often on the day after a winter storm. Then, you can look to the west, beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, to the Farallon Islands; southeast to the James Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton at 4,213 feet elevation;...
Hike from South Gate Dr. on the Summit Trail to Sentinel Peak and assorted 'Wind Caves' on Mt. Diablo
The hike starts by the south entrance to Mt. Diablo State Park and follows the Summit trail past the Live Oak camping area. From there it's just a short walk to the Rock City area in the park which is marked by a wide variety of rock structures including the so-called 'wind caves'. These were actually formed through erosion by flowing water creating...
Undulating hill views and an expansive valley unfold in the foothills of Mt. Diablo at Shell Ridge Open Space Park
Kovar, Ridge Top, and the Briones - Mt. Diablo trails are the heart of this trip from the western edge of Shell Ridge Park in Walnut Creek Open Space in Contra Costa County. This is a highly scenic, friendly feeling park that blends rugged and gentle terrain in one package, leading towards Mt. Diablo wildlands from this lesser used entrance. This...
8.7 mile trail near Morgan Territory and Mt. Diablo, California
This hike is a nice lollypop with some very nice views. The trip starts in Morgan Territory Regional Park and goes through a section of Mt Diablo State Park. Park on south side of Finley Rd - walk 3/4 mi. on blacktop to trailhead. Continue on Old Finley Rd, R on Walnut Tr, R on Amphitheater, L on Crestview, L on Highland Ridge, continue past Old Finley...
Take a stroll around the tall rolling grassy hills East of San Francisco in the Las Trampas Regional Wilderness.
Wildflower lovers will love the springtime scenery of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness, but when the blooms have faded this East Bay park still has plenty to marvel at. Eagle-eyed hikers in autumn and winter will spot birds of prey amongst the gliding turkey vultures, and there's also the chance of a golden eagle sighting. Elevation gain: • 1,100ft...
Fun 6.6 hike into a remote area of Las Trampas. Great views East towards Mt Diablo and West towards the Oakland Hills.
Hike begins at the very end of Bollinger Canyon Rd at the Las Trampas Staging Area where there is plenty of free parking. Take Rocky Ridge View Trail (paved road) up the hill for .8 miles. The trail turns left onto a single track that runs diagonally up to Rocky Ridge. At the top, follow the Ridge Trail South for .83 miles and enjoy the magnificent...
Just a 10-minute drive from Berkeley, Briones Regional Park is a 6,117 acre park in Contra Costa County.
Just a 10-minute drive from Berkeley, Briones Regional Park is a 6,117 acre park in Contra Costa County. Its home to plentiful East Bay wildlife, including birds, snakes and newts. In some areas, it's still used as grazing land by local herds, part of a cattle ranching history that's more than 100 years old. The park's ridge tops offer stunning views...
East Bay park offers ample solitude, abundant sunshine
Briones Regional Park covers more than 6,000 acres in the rolling East Bay hills between Berkeley and Walnut Creek. Hikers gravitating to Tilden Park to the west and Mount Diablo to the east often overlook Briones, so you'll have plenty of time alone on the the trails. There's a Goldilocks "just right" quality about hiking at Briones: Hills seem...
Trail loop from the Bear Creek entrance up to Briones Crest Trail and back.
Staged out of the Bear Creek Entrance on Bear Creek Rd., approx 6 miles from Orinda. Large parking and picnic areas, great gravel lot for horse trailers, All the trails in this guide are fire roads with great footing and lots of room for all. Dogs are allowed in the park but must be under control at all times. Also note that this is a grazing...
Carquinez Straits Regional Park. From Nejedly Staging area in Martinez. 3.5 mile scenic loop.
This guide is from the Nejedly Staging area on Carquinez Scenic Dr. near the old cemeteries in Martinez. The staging area includes picnic tables, restroom and hitching rail. There is limited horse trailer parking in the upper parking lot. The trails in this guide were mostly fire roads and in good condition. The exceptions are the beginning of...
The water flowing past Big Break Regional Shoreline via the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers drains 1/2 of California.
Big Break Regional Shoreline is a part of the great 1,680-square-mile San Francisco/San Joaquin Delta estuary in Northern California. The water flowing past Big Break Regional Shoreline through the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers drains half of California's watershed, and creates the largest estuarine environment on Pacific shores. This "Inland Coast"...
5.4 mile trail in Redwood Regional Park with vies of San Francisco Bay and Mt. Diablo
Redwood Regional Park offers a cool micro-climate in hot weather. The creek running through the park is where specimens of rainbow trout were used to first describe the species. This hike starts by the creek and climbs up to the West Ridge, where you will have views of both San Francisco Bay and Mt. Diablo.
An East Bay Beauty - creeks, ravines, and lots of redwoods. 7.9 miles near Oakland, California
The French Trail Loop is about 7.9 miles long and located near Oakland, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes a half day. We parked at the Canyon Meadow Staging Area off of Redwood Rd near the intersection of Pinehurst Rd. Start off on the paved road running past the bathrooms (visible from the lot) and continue on the pavement...
Brushy Peak's beautiful 2008 addition. This 4.5-mi loop and 950-foot elevation makes a perfect afternoon hike.
Opened in 2008, this is the premier hike in Brushy Peak Regional Preserve. The park's namesake peak is a local landmark for pilots, as it's brush-covered heights stands out in stark contrast with the area's grassy peaks. After the modest climb, you'll stroll through the oaks on the peak once used by Charles Lindbergh himself on his Bay Area flights....
