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...
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...
Top redwood hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area
California's coast redwoods are the planet's tallest living things, and some of the oldest. A drive down the spine of the Santa Cruz Mountains on Highway 35 offers an inkling of their uncanny mystique, but you have to get out of the car and walk among them to get the full effect. Redwood hikes in the North Bay and East Bay will do if you're short...
As sure as the earth moves in Berkeley, there's a volcano just off Skyline Boulevard.
As sure as the earth moves in Oakland, there's a volcano just off Skyline Boulevard. Not just any volcano, mind you. This one's lying on its side with its guts exposed. You might not recognize it right away, owing to its reclining position and the grassy coat it's adopted. But among the shrubs and grasses at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, you'll...
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...
An interpretative hike highlighting the unique geology of the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
This route begins at the park entrance off Old Tunnel Road and follows the Bay Area Ridge Trail along Round Top Creek to the Sibley Staging Area. From the staging area, grab a park map and head up to the water tower to tour the park's interpretative features, labeled 1-11 on the park map. The route will take Volcanic Trail through the park's unique...
Get a good workout and explore the history of the hills east of Hayward at Garin-Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park.
Ancient traditions and recent tragedies form the backdrop for this 10-mile hike at Garin-Dry Creek Pioneer Regional Park in the hills east of Hayward, California. The tradition: mortar holes the Ohlone peoples used to grind acorns into flour near Gossip Rock, a loop/spur from the park's High Ridge Loop Trail. The tragedy: a 1951 airliner crash...
6.7 mile trail near Berkeley, California with Awesome Bay Views
Panoramic Hill - Chaparral Peak - Strawberry Canyon Loop is about 6.7 miles long and located near Berkeley, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. A favorite weekend hike, with awesome views of San Francisco, Oakland and the Bay, seen from Eucalyptus, pine and oak forests. A great workout too. Up Panoramic Hill...
The best hike in Dry Creek Pioneer Park provides great scenic views on the east bay and solitude you're looking for.
Tolman Peak (997 ft. elevation) is located at the southeast side of Garin / Dry Creek Pioneer Park, which is part of East Bay Regional Park System. This site was also famous for a plane (MD DC-6B) crash in 1951. This 5 miles round-trip hike takes you from the park's Tamarack entrance to the peak and back. It starts with easy uphill hike , several creek...
Rolling terrain hike through a jungle-like setting
This hike is on a very nice portion of the Skyline National Trail which starts at the Tilden Park Steam Trains parking lot, going to Redwood regional park, and returning. The hike covers EBMUD lands, and goes through several East Bay regional parks, including Tilden, Sibley, Huckleberry, and Redwood Regional Parks. The terrain and scenery actually...
Gentle climbs, scenic bay views and traces of American Indian heritage await at the west edge of Fremont, California
Coyote Hills Regional Park is a great place to introduce a friend to hiking: scenic and steep enough to warm somebody to the idea of nice days walking on dirt. If the modest hills overlooking San Francisco Bay force you to work up a sweat on the way up the Red Hill Trail, you can cool down by walking the wide gravel Bayview Trail along water's edge....
A loop traversing open grassy ridges and forested pathways in Tilden Regional Park
The trail that loops from Quarry trailhead in Tilden Regional Park traverses open grassy ridges and forested pathways in the East Bay Regional Park District above Berkeley, California. These trails and TrailPhotos offer spectacular unfettered ridgetop vistas over the Bay towards San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge to the west, and over scenic...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Hike the popular wilderness preserve on this great San Francisco Peninsula hike.
Looming large over San Francisco and the northern peninsula, the wilderness preserve of San Bruno Mountain state and county park is home to several rare and endangered species of flora, fauna and wildlife, including the elfin butterfly. Our guide focuses on two popular hikes. The 3½ mile Summit Loop trail takes a counter-clockwise route around...
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;...
Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park is an excellent escape from the East Bay suburban sprawl.
Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park is an often overlooked getaway from the seemingly never-ending suburbs that fringe the San Francisco Bay Area. This hike from the Foothills Staging Area is an excellent introduction to the park: long enough to get your heart rate up, but not nearly as arduous as some hikes in the nearby hills. Trails on this track:...
Great way to see the Bay
The Perimeter Road provides access to pretty much everything else one can see and do on the island! It's got fantastic views around the bay, it's a fun walk and a pretty good bike ride. When taking a ferry, all walks start at Alaya Cove (formerly Hospital Cove). Pick up a map while there. The Cove also houses segway and bike rentals, a small store...
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...
12.9 mile trail in Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
This oop is about 12.9 miles long and located near East Richmond Heights, California. The trail is great for hiking or horseback riding and normally takes a half to full day. Wildcat Canyon Creek Trail to Laurel Canyon Road up to Nimitz Trail. Turn left on Nimitz and continue on Nimitz to Mezue Trail. Follow Mezue down into the valley. At the intersection...
See gorgeous Bay vistas and visit the Immigration Station.
Angel Island State Park offers one of the best ways to see San Francisco Bay from sea level. Fortunate local boat owners have long plied its shoreline and picnicked on its grounds, but the boatless can get in on the fun via ferries that stop on the island. There are good times galore for hikers, bikers and sightseers, but the island has abundant...
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...
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:...
Camping in the middle of San Francisco Bay offers a window on the region's wonders after dark.
Angel Island can charm the socks off a day-hiker, but it's even better by night, when the state park closes up shop and sends the tourists home. After that, campers lucky enough to reserve one of the island's 11 sites have the place to themselves. Urban attractions ringing San Francisco Bay light up as the night darkens, creating shimmering opportunities...
In the middle of San Francisco Bay sits Angel Island State Park, with spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline.
In the middle of San Francisco Bay sits Angel Island State Park, offering spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline, the Marin Headlands and Mount Tamalpais. The island is also alive with history. Three thousand years ago the island was a fishing and hunting site for Coastal Miwok Indians. It was later a haven for Spanish explorer Juan Manuel de...
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...
Picture perfect San Francisco Bay views on this tranquil tour of a remote island with hardly a car in sight.
Away from the hustle of the city, Angel Island offers a retreat to tranquility surrounded by magnificent San Francisco Bay views. This six mile biking tour is great for both beginners and intermediate cyclists, highlights all of the major sights, an occasional side-trips and introduces some of the island history. If you're concerned about hills,...
"I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people,"
The Pulgas Water Temple was built at the terminus of the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct as a monument to the new water system. It’s located within the watershed, just south of Crystal Springs reservoir. An inscription at the top reads, "I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people," a biblical quote from Isaiah. The...
3.3 mile trail in Edgewood Park, California
Edgewood Park Serpentine Trail is about 3.3 miles long and located near Emerald Lake Hills, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours
Gradual route is a less-strenuous option for hiking to the top of the popular East Bay peak
Mission Peak gets throngs of hikers but only a few savvy trekkers take this route to the summit -- an eight-mile out-and-back that stretches out the 2,000-foot ascent to the summit (the most-popular route ascends a similar height in a 5.2-mile out-and-back). It starts from the parking lot at Ohlone College along Mission Boulevard in Fremont, California....
See San Francisco Bay from high atop Mission Peak in Fremont, CA, USA. Strenuous 6-mile loop hike
Mission Peak, one of the most popular East Bay hikes, is a great workout with 2,000 feet of climb in two miles and spectacular views of San Francisco Bay and the Diablo Range once you reach the summit. Most hikers are content to take the so-called Hidden Valley Trail (which is neither hidden nor in a valley) to the summit, but there is a far more...
Temperature, terrain and amenities make the Bay Area one of the world's top destinations for outdoor recreation.
You've been to Alcatraz and done the Golden Gate Bridge, so what's next? Well, if you're into outdoor recreation, you'll have the time of your life in the hills, waterways and forests of the Bay Area. The boom times after the Gold Rush of 1849 created great fortunes and nearly destroyed much of the region's natural wonders, but preservation efforts...
