All "Hikes" Stories in Northern CA

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  Bag the Wright Peak

  Perched proudly over the largest freshwater lake located wholly within California’s borders, and visible for miles in all directions, Wright Peak on Mount Konocti is the tallest po

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  Two Wheel Beach Hop

  Sublime and under the radar, Santa Maria Beach is a south-facing sanctuary with a secret: After biking to it, a short stroll south also leads to one of the best intertidal zones in

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  Sunset Cruiser

  Point Reyes Peninsula just has that magic touch. Resembling a huge hand, five bays of commingling salt and freshwater make up Drakes Estero, an estuary megaplex offering expansive

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  Bike & Hike Classic

  The popular Bear Valley Trail in Point Reyes National Seashore is one of the best places to enjoy a good bike-and-hike trail, with a peaceful ride and ramble that leads to beautifu

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  Black Diamond in the Rough

  Four million tons of “black diamonds” were mined out of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve in Antioch. So what remains? A diamond in the rough! Wildflowers are adding sparkle to

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  Colorful Calero

  Tucked in the eastern foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Calero County Park has a surprise side. Its 4,455 acres are home to a well-known reservoir that’s a central attraction

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  Haulin’ Oat!

  No offense to hot air balloons, but we have a better way to get a bird’s-eye view of Napa Valley. The Oat Hill Mine Trail out of Calistoga climbs up into the Palisades on an old stage coach route. And in spring, wildflowers come out in flying colors!

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  Bedazzled Ridge

  Glitter, sparkles, bright paint … there are all kinds of ways to add a little color to your life. Nature’s version? Wildflowers! And they pop up all over the East Slope Sonoma Moun

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  Has Anyone Ever Said You Look Like ...

  UPDATE NOVEMBER 2021: Much of this area burned during the August 2020 Walbridge Fire, and while the park recently re-opened the valley floor, the two main trails of East Ridge and

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  Secret Stairways Hike

  There are over 400 little-known staircases and pathways that wind quietly unnoticed up the East Bay landscape. Originally built as shortcuts for an influx of hillside residents to

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  Jonesing For It

  Tucked just shy of the South Bay’s urban domains, the 270-acre St. Joseph’s Hill Open Space Preserve in Los Gatos isn’t bashful about showcasing great scenery. Go on a 4-mile (roun

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  The Big Short

  Size matters. So if you’re looking for a short and sweet hike that has the payoff of climbing a tall peak, head to San Jose’s Bald Mountain summit, located in the Sierra Azul Open

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  Knapp Time

  For a little taste of Pompeii in Southern California, head for Knapp’s Castle in the Los Padres National Forest above Santa Barbara. It’s a delightful oddity with stunning panorami

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  Wilder Times

  Stunning redwoods, huge ocean views, rolling hills, and gorgeous beaches … Santa Cruz has epic scenery! So how do you enjoy it all in one jaunt? Go Wilder! A 5-mile (round-trip) hi

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  The Occidental Tourist

  The Grove of Old Trees in Occidental is 33 hidden acres of towering redwoods and the only privately owned preserve in Sonoma County that's free to the public. Hike one of two flat loop trails shaped like an upside-down peace sign.

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  Los Altos High

  Big things come in small packages. Tucked in an upscale neighborhood in Los Altos, Redwood Grove Nature Preserve is just 6 acres, but it sure packs in those redwoods! This little s

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  Hidden Long Ridge

  After heavy rains, the rolling headwaters of Peters Creek in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve pulsate along the forest floor via a series of small waterfalls that cut grooves in sandstone boulders. See it on a 4.5-mile loop hike starting from the Grizzly Flat parking lot.

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  Dawn Ho!

  Tucked at the end of a sleepy residential street in Larkspur, it's easy to miss the narrow path that drops into Baltimore Canyon Open Space Preserve, where serene redwoods resemble

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  Wicked Waterworks

  Despite its devilish hot name, Mount Diablo has a cooler, splashier side. Heavy winter rains create a collection of six scenic waterfalls encircling the mountain's rugged northern

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  Harmony's Edge

  Blink-and-you'll-miss-it Harmony Headlands State Park is small but mighty. This coastal swath of land between Cayucos and Cambria has only one trail, the Headlands Trail. But don't

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