All "Hikes" Stories in Northern CA

• 

  Backyard Sierra

  With bright blue water, ospreys soaring overhead and evergreens towering all around, Bon Tempe feels like a secluded lake in the Sierra Nevada. Surprise! It's one of the five pocket lakes on Mt. Tam's northern flank, and the water supply for many Marin homes. You'll never lose sight of this blue beauty as you hike the flat 3.8-mile trail that circles its shore.

  View
• 

  Jenner's New Views

  The beautifully developed trails at Jenner Headlands Preserve in Sonoma County offer access to quiet stretches of coastal redwood forest and huge views of the Pacific. It’s also a refreshing escape on hot days.

  View
• 

  New Castle on the Peninsula

  Castle Rock State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains is giving hikers the royal treatment with a brand-new park entrance. The Robert C. Kirkwood entrance and visitors center is exact

  View
• 

  Big Time Hike

  This is the largest grove of giant sequoias in Yosemite. We recommend this grand tour hike at 7.5 miles which includes a spectacular overlook.

  View
• 

  Easiest Best Hike in the World

  Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

  View
• 

  Bear Necessity!

  There’s an ancient forest that’s been given a new lease on life and just opened to the public in June! Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is ideal for summer hiking thanks to

  View
• 

  Battery Recharger

  Get swept up in iconic coastal scenery on this classic 5-mile loop hike in the Marin Headlands that passes a secret World War II military fortification, home to a vast network of underground tunnels.

  View
• 

  White Tank Campground

  Heaven for star buffs: the best campground in Joshua Tree National Park for night-sky viewing, in a place named an International Dark Sky Park, with a full-on observatory just minutes away! White Tank Campground is at 3,800 feet in the eastern part of the park.

  View
• 

  Dam Tam!

  Hike in the Sierra without leaving the Bay Area! Well, at least it seems that way. The sparkling reservoirs on the north side of Mount Tamalpais offer miles of hiking trails and the kind of peaceful forest sensation that could be a stand-in for low elevation Sierra Nevada.

  View
• 

  Pulgas Party

  If your idea of a good summer party is hitting the trails, then Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve makes a very festive venue. Bursting with colorful wildflowers and exuberant wildli

  View
• 

  Del Valle Daytrippin'

  Livermore is popular for its tasty wines, but it has another liquid asset for a triple-play summer day. Head to the East Bay’s Del Valle Regional Park for a reservoir-to-ridge hike

  View
• 

  Midtown Magnificent

  Stunning murals, outstanding craft beer, a lively industrial district, and farmers markets filled with tasty fare and artisan flair ... it's all happening in Sacramento! Take a str

  View
• 

  Oakland Beat & Beer Garden

  Oakland walks to the beat of its own drum with a super vibrant arts scene. One of the easiest places to check some of it out is in the Northgate neighborhood—home of the “Art Murmu

  View
• 

  Believe It!

  A hidden speakeasy, loads of extraordinary murals and sculptures, and fabulous outdoor beer gardens … where? Reno! We’ve said it before; we’ll say it again: The biggest little city

  View
• 

  Hike Napa's Skyline!

  Bottles of wine aren't the only things popping in Napa. Right now the wildflowers are popping, too! Get in a 4-mile (round-trip) hike packed with wildflowers and wonderful views. S

  View
• 

  Meditative Woodlands Hike

  Relaxation apps and calming soundtracks are nice, but stepping outdoors for this meditation hike in the redwoods is better! This 2-mile (round-trip) hike on the Dean Trail at Hudda

  View
• 

  Cheers to Chimney

  If you’re looking for all that Point Reyes has to offer in spring, Chimney Rock is the place to be. The 1.75-mile (round-trip) hike to Chimney may be short, but it packs a visual punch, quadrupling the viewing thrills during spring.

  View
• 

  Big Burdell!

  If you’re gonna go big on a hike, make it at Marin County’s biggest open space preserve, Mount Burdell. And go to the summit. You’ll be sharing the trail with grazing cows, poppies

  View
• 

  Well Rounded

  Epic views, fields of flowers, and ridgeline thrills offering one of the biggest views in the West: Hiking the Grand Loop at Mount Diablo State Park in spring is eye-candy, with reams of poppies and more than 200 miles of California landscape rolling to the snowcapped Sierra.

  View
• 
  Sponsored

  What a Rush!

  Epic waterfalls and wildflowers for days—it’s happening in Yosemite Mariposa County right now! We haven’t seen snowmelt like this in years, so get to Yosemite Valley to see the wat

  View