All "Hikes" Stories in Northern CA

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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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  McClures Marks the Spot

  With over 80 miles of preserved shoreline, Point Reyes National Seashore has plenty of sandy stretches for strolling. Those who like wandering in near solitude should head to the northernmost accessible coastline here, McClures Beach.

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  Winter Rush

  Where do the wild things go? Well, if you're a bird, you might head to Rush Creek Open Space in Novato. This 522-acre preserve just east of Highway 101 has one of the densest bird

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  Secret Summit

  Marin's Mount Tam is one of the Bay Area's most traveled mountains, yet even this icon of the North Bay holds some secrets … including a summit! The less-traversed West Peak is act

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  Walking with the Devil

  The Devil's Slide section of the California Coastal Trail is a 1.3-mile (one-way) multi-use path just south of Pacifica. It's usually much less crowded when gray skies and rain are around. And it's a prime spot for viewing all that's wild about the weather and the sea.

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  Owl Be the One!

  The Owl Trail, Marin's swooping seashore tramp, offers bonuses in winter: the chance to see the moody waves of the Pacific during unsettled weather, and an opportunity to spy migra

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  Russian Ridge Rambler

  If you've driven the Peninsula's Skyline Boulevard, you know there are acres of open space just waiting to be explored. And now, thanks to the efforts of the Midpeninsula Regional

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  Taylor Made Summit

  Regional parks tend to be mostly frequented by locals living near the park. Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve near Santa Rosa is worth a visit for anyone in the

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  Room to Roam and Sip

  Free-range roosters and hens, wide-open space with hiking trails, and an earthy wine tasting room twinkling with lights. Hiking and wine tasting go hand in hand at Picchetti Ranch and Picchetti Winery near Cupertino in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

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  Sublime Suisun

  It's the largest tidal marsh on the entire west coast. The Suisun Marsh in Solano County is often overlooked in favor of the Bay Area’s other impressive landscapes, but this divers

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  Finding Fall in the Redwoods

  Hundred-foot-redwoods, flowing creeks, yellow-tinged sycamores, big views of the Pacific—all these are on the Thanksgiving menu at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, just

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  You Walk, Miwok

  So close, yet far enough to get swept up in iconic coastal scenery ... that pretty much defines this classic hike in the Marin Headlands. Just over the north side of the Golden Gat

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  Crown Jewel

  Long walks on the beach, in the East Bay? Indeed. Alameda is your island in the bay with beaches meant for strolling. Crown Memorial Beach is a relaxing stretch of sand that's an i

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  Three Bears and Lots of Lakes

  Your chances of seeing a bear on the Bear Lakes Trail aren't all that high; but your chances of seeing spectacular High Sierra scenery on this 3-mile hike? Guaranteed! Located in t

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  Grave Expectations

  San Francisco's Buena Vista Park has big views and a mosaic of trails, including some with marble detailing along the path's edge: those are unclaimed Gold Rush–era tombstones recycled from cemeteries.

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  Howl of a Good Night Hike

  One of the many reasons people love the Bay Area is that great hikes in the great outdoors are accessed close to home. Take hiking the spectacular coastal Marin Headlands, just 30

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  Spooky Spelunking

  Not all of nature's stunning views come from bagging a peak. Sometimes it's what lies beneath that's more intriguing. Venture below Sequoia National Park's soil and discover an ext

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  Diablo Double Down

  Fall colors, big views, and a chance to see tarantulas? Sounds like a howl of a good hike for Halloween season! Mount Diablo State Park’s Sycamore Canyon loop trail is a 4-mile hike where you can relish the colors of fall.

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  Mulholland Magic

  To find a hidden slice of open space with great views and autumn hues, head to Mulholland Ridge Open Space Preserve, a little-known 250-acre open space area along Donald Drive on t

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  Big Baldy

  Giant sequoias are the main attraction in Kings Canyon National Park, but the granite peaks around here aren’t too shabby either. In fact, they’re epic. Venture down Generals Highw

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