Hiking Trails and Trips
Trips
This hike is a good cardio workout all the way to the top. The trail is mostly on utility and fire roads which get old fast. However, the views keep getting better and better as you top out: San Jose, Mt Umunhum, Mt Thayer We parked at the back of Lexington Reservoir next to the road. Parking is $6 and the kiosk takes credit card and cash. Limekiln Tr up and crossed over...
Point Reyes is a magnificent place and we never get tired of it. Exit Hwy 101 and take Hwy 1 north near Mill Valley. Continue on Hwy 1 north past Stinson Beach. Just prior to Pt Reyes Station, turn left on Sir Francis Drake Blvd and stay on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. Turn left on Estero which is a narrow paved road to the Estero TH where there is parking and restrooms. ...
Rancho Canada del Oro OSP & Calero CP Loop
Mountain Home, California, United States
Hiking | 12.3 miles
Hiking | 12.3 miles
We parked at the end of Casa Loma Rd at the trailhead - bathroom and picnic area available. Hike began on Mayfair Ranch Tr, L on Bald Peaks Tr, L on Chisnantuck Tr, R on Cottle Tr, continue R on Cottle Tr, L on Javelina Loop Tr, R on Figueroa Tr, R on Canada del Oro Tr, stay L on Cut-Off, L on Serpentine Loop Tr back to parking. Take plenty of water. ...
Park at Curry Pt. Down Knobcone Point Rd past Balancing Rock to the gate. Turn right and go down the utility road. Look for an unnamed unmarked single track which goes off to the right. One of the best kept secrets on MD. Follow the single track through the beautiful canyon. Amazing rock formations. Turn R at the next utilty road. At the 5-way intersection, turn hard right on Black Hawk Ridge Rd to...
A very nice thru-hike from Rock City on Mt Diablo to Hap McGee Ranch Park on the west side of 680 at the end of La Gonda Way on the border of Danville of Alamo. We went down Summit Tr, right on Green Valley Tr to Macedo Ranch. We then turned left on Las Trampas to Mt. Diablo Tr. A real gem through some of the most valued real estate in all...
Parking at the gate on Dutra Rd (off Franklin Canyon Rd). There is room for a couple of cars on the side of the road just before the gate. Do not drive past the "END" sign.The hike starts out on a Feeder Rd for 1 mile to main trailhead. We hiked just about all there was to hike in the 3 ranches. Trail markers are limited so best to print off a map from...
After entering the Park off Guadalupe Canyon Parkway, we circled around and crossed just on the other side of the Parkway. Past the trail sign we turned right, went 100 yards and turned right on Summit Loop Trail. We looped around and climbed until reach the radio towers. We turned right for a short sidetrack on pavement. The views of the Ocean and Bay were spectacular. We returned to the trail and turned right...
Five Finger Falls in/out The Forest of Nisene Marks
Aptos, California, United States
Hiking | 14.0 miles
Hiking | 14.0 miles
This is one of my top 3 hiking parks in the entire Bay Area. Nisene Marks offers thick second-growth redwood, creeks with awesome riparian zones, and geological wonders. The park is dark and can be damp and cool. The amount of vegetation is remarkable. We parked at Mary Easton Picnic Area because the winter gate was closed. This added 2 miles to an already lengthy trip but at least it was level. It...
Parked at the Interpretive Center - back down Walnut Tr, L on Eagle Ridge Tr, L on Vista Grande Tr, L on Crest Tr back to parking. Awesome views.
Free parking at Trailhead off Woodside Road. This trail and old logging road has a relatively gentle climb. It has numerous switchbacks as you climb through Wunderlich. It mostly all forest with with redwoods, madrones, oaks, eucalyptus. We saw several deer on the trail bur difficult to photograph in heavy dark forest. Directions: Bear Gulch Tr, through The Meadows, R at The Crossroads on Alambique Tr to just prior to Skyline Dr and turn L...
Marin Headlands Loop - Fort Cronkhite/Rodeo Beach
Marin City, California, United States
Hiking | 5.0 miles
Hiking | 5.0 miles
Spectacular views when the weather is right. We parked at the end of Fort Cronkhite near the beach and started up the Coastal Trail. Magnificent views as we continued to climb. At the top, we turned right on Wolf Ridge and had great views of the Tennessee Valley down below. We turned right on Miwok Trail and worked our way around Hill 88. This Trail took us all the way down and...
The trailhead is on the left side of the road before the dam. Enter the Sabrina Basin Trail and trek along the left side of the Lake. Soon the trail begins to climb on rocky terain. The trail continues to climb up to Blue Lake where the views are very nice. Blue Lake is cold but you can get at least get your feet wet. If you like to fish, Lake Sabrina is...
One of the best moderate dayhikes in the Sierras. As you ascend, more and more Alpine Lakes come into view. We parked at the trailhead at South Lake and took the Bishop Pass Trail. South Lake, Long Lake, Spearhead Lake, Timberline Tarns, Saddlerock Lake, and finally Bishop Lake. This trek just kept on giving better and better views until the final climb to Bishop Pass for the Grande Finale - a breathtaking...
We started at the Whitney Portal at 2:30 am and summited just before noon. We hung around and rested for less than an hour and got back underway. We were out just in time for a burger at the Portal Store at last call 6:45 pm. It is truly an epic journey and sooo worth it. We were blessed with great weather in mid-September. There was not a single cloud in the sky. ...
Ramage Peak Trail - Las Trampas to Chabot Staging
Moraga, California, United States
Hiking | 11.8 miles
Hiking | 11.8 miles
Dropped one car off at Chabot Staging Area on Redwood Road. Lucky for us, the gate was already open at 6:30am. We then drove up Crow Canyon and parked at Las Trampas Trailhead at the end of Bollinger Canyon Rd. Hiked up the paved Rocky Ridge View Tr and just prior to the gate, turned left on Rocky Ridge to the top. Went through the EBMUD gate and turned left on Rocky Ridge...
One of the best hikes on Mt Diablo. Rewarding views as you hike around the mountain. Parked at Juniper Campground and hiked the Loop in a counter-clockwise direction. Juniper Tr up and across the lower Summit parking Lot. Down North Peak Tr to Prospector's Gap and go left on Bald Ridge Tr to the 5-way junction. Left on Meridian Ridge, left on Deer Flat Rd and climb back up to Juniper Campground.
Dropped a car off in the large Squaw Valley parking lot directly across from the old fire station. As you drive back in, stay to right near the entrance to the main resort hotel area and the old fire station is down a few hundred feet on the right. The Granite Chief Trail is on the right side of the fire station as you face it. We then drove to Donner Pass...
