Hiking near San Leandro, California

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...

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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...

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....