Bike & Hike Classic

Bike and Hike at Bear Valley in Point Reyes

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 beautiful coastal vistas. Get a jumpstart on hikers by biking the first 3 mellow miles along the creekside fire road, through towering Douglas firs. Lock your bike at the rack and continue on a foot trail that parallels the creek for another mile; near the end, the canopy thins and you pop up to huge views up and down the coast. Wander north to Kellham Beach, a lovely 1.4-mile stretch with hulking cliffs and large tunnels. On the ride back, take a break at Divide Meadow, a sunny expanse prime for picnics; from here it’s a sweet stretch of gradual downhill back to the trailhead.

Bike Rentals: Bring your own two-wheeler or rent one from Point Reyes Outdoors or Blue Waters Kayaking.

From the Bear Valley Visitor Center bike the Bear Valley Trail. After 3 miles, you’ll reach a junction and bike rack. Lock your bike and continue 1 mile on the Bear Valley Trail to the coastal vistas. NOTE: There used to be a very short spur trail to Arch Rock, a jutting promontory; but that trail is no longer, as Arch Rock broke off in 2015. You can still walk trails for great views, just not Arch Rock. Pay attention to any warning signs posted about unstable ground, and use caution in general near coastal vantages. Return the way you came. No dogs. 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Keough's Hot Springs

    Soaking Up History

    When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.

    View
  2. woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato

    Buck Wild!

    Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.

    View
  3. Grover Hot Springs

    State Park Soaker

    Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.

    View
  4. Hike to New Lights

    For an enlightening late-day hike, catch the San Francisco skyline at sunset from high atop Ring Mountain in Tiburon. This 2-mile (round-trip) hike to Turtle Rock is a perfect late afternoon wander.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Redding Ironman Whiskeytown lake
    Sponsored

    New Year, New Goal: IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California

    2026 is off and running! And swimming. And biking. Don't get left behind! Commit to one of the upcoming year’s most exciting endurance events—IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California in Redding.

    View
  2. Woman swimming in Carson Hotsprings natural thermal pool

    Hot Springs, Naturally

    Thermal spring waters are famous for their curative, relaxing elements, and Reno Tahoe is filled with them! Sink into these amazing thermal respites for a wellness super soak.

    View
  3. O Enchanted Night!

    Prepare to be mesmerized! Holiday-season nights in Descanso Gardens are a magical interplay of lights and natural beauty that dazzle as you stroll through the Enchanted Forest of L

    View
  4. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

    View