Bay Area Hiking

I never used to hike much. At most, I was more of a stroller than a hiker. However, when my doctor told me to get more exercise, I started hiking more after work and on weekends at nearby parks and open space preserves. I soon discovered what a wonderful place the Bay Area is for hiking. The Santa Cruz and Diablo mountain ranges that rim the Bay and the Bay itself provide thousands of acres of public land and hundreds of miles of trails. Much of these are within easy access of the Bay Area cities, providing quick escapes for city-dwellers looking for exercise, great views, or peace and solitude. I wrote an essay about these open spaces. These areas are particularly beautiful after the winter rains start to green up the hills. I wrote about the green hills on another page. So far, I've mostly hiked around the South Bay and southern Peninsula. Eventually, I hope to explore the East Bay more, particularly the Mount Diablo area. Marin County has some particularly spectacular trails, especially around Mount Tamalpais and Point Reyes, so I hope to visit them on weekend trips. So here are some places for hiking and strolling in the Bay Area. I'll list these for now, and add details as I get to them.

Contents

Santa Clara County Parks and City Parks (with a major focus on Almaden Quicksilver and Santa Teresa County Parks)

State Parks

San Mateo County Parks

Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District Preserves

National Parks and Monuments

East Bay Parks

Two Great Programs for Bay Area Hiking

Other Hiking Links

• Favorite viewspots: Coyote Peak in Santa Teresa County Park, St. Joseph's Hill Open Space Preserve.
• Favorite place in the Valley to get away from the heat: Sanborn-Skyline County Park.
• Favorite waterfall-viewing area: Uvas Canyon County Park.
• Most natural variety in a medium-size park: Castle Rock State Park.
• Most natural variety in a large park: Point Reyes National Seashore.
• Most variety, artificial and natural: Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
• Best rock formations: Pinnacles National Monument and Castle Rock State Park.
• Scariest trail for acrophobiacs: Saratoga Gap Trail around Varian Peak in Castle Rock State Park.
• Toughest trails: Upper Priest Rock Trail in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, Hacienda Trail in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. (I know there are tougher ones, but I haven't been on them yet.)
• Best wildflower-viewing: Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, Stile Ranch Trail at Santa Teresa County Park.
• Loneliest trail: Lake Ranch Reservoir trail to Bear Creek Road in Sanborn-Skyline County Park.
• Least lonely trails: Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve.
• Best redwoods in the Bay Area: Henry Cowell State Park redwood nature trail.
• Best place to take children on a hike: Henry Cowell State Park (walk-in redwood trees, river for wading, nature center, steam train rides nearby).
• Most awesome scenery: Point Lobos State Reserve.
• Most scenic spot: view of McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park.
• Best park if you hate dodging mountain bikes: Calero County Park.
• Worst park if you hate dodging horsepoop: Calero County Park.
• Worst park if you hate dodging mountain bikes: Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve.

You can E-mail me with your own opinions, and I may publish them here.

Click here to read my essay on open space.
Click here to return to my Bay Area Back Pages Home Page

If you have comments, questions, tips, or suggestions, email me at RHORII@prodigy.net

Ron Horii, San Jose
Created 10/8/97. Last update: 8/1/98, migrated & repaired 7/29/11