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. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View