Look on the Bright Side

Winter sunsets get a glowing review in California, whether you're watching one from a sand dune surrounded by mountains or pedaling your bike down by the sea. Here are some of the best hikes, bike rides, and viewpoints for catching one of nature's best light shows.

Week: 02.02.2022
Regions: Northern CA

Hawk-Eyed Sunset

Sunset Hike at Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands

Woman hiking Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands at Sunset
It's one of the best sunset spots in the Bay Area. Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands is magical, with a sweeping panorama 923 feet above the Pacific.
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Rise and Shine in Camarillo

Visit Camarillo for a Mix of Outdoor Bliss and Urban Comforts

point mugu state beach
Ventura County beach sunset
VW Ventura County Beach
Camarillo shines in more ways than one—including nearly year-round sun. Bathed in a Mediterranean climate and surrounded by agricultural “charmland”—especially wineries and vineyards—Camarillo is the perfect blend of outdoor bliss and urban comforts.
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Ride and Seek

Bike the Coastal Trail to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay

Bike the Coastal Trail to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay
Oceanside breezes, beautiful beaches, a car-free pathway for biking, and beer at the end: You’re on a roll! The San Mateo Coast was made for beach hopping and beer tasting …
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Dune Swoon

Sunset at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park

Woman standing on top of a sand dune at Mesquite Flat in Death Valley National Park at Sunset
Of all the places to catch a sunset in Death Valley, we still think there’s none better than the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, inspiring many things, including log rolls, cartwheels, and sundown selfies.
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Bernal Desire

Sunset Hike at Bernal Heights Park in San Francisco

Bernal Heights Park in San Francisco sunset
It's one of the best views in San Francisco. Bernal Heights Park is an underrated hilltop park that simply beams at sunset, with views of downtown SF, the Golden Gate, and the Bay Bridge.
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Bike to the Brews and Views

Alameda Bike Ride from Crown Memorial Beach to Breweries

Woman biking waterside on car free trail in Alameda
An island city on San Francisco Bay, Alameda is home to a craft beer and spirits boom that has a firm foothold in its industrial westside. Ride your bike from Robert W. Crown Memorial State Beach to Faction Brewing.
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Gone With the Windy

Watch a sunset at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve in Portola Valley

Man standing at Windy Hill and watching a fiery sunset at Windy Hill Preserve
You don’t have to trek far to enjoy a hiker’s high at Windy Hill Preserve on the Peninsula. Its panoramic attraction is easily accessed via the 0.7-mile Anniversary Trail, and it’s magnificent at sunset.
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  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

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  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

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  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

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  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

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  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

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  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

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  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

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  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

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