Bay Area · Day hikes
All trail guides
6 detailed guides covering the East Bay, Marin, and South Bay. Distance, elevation, tips, access — everything before you lace up.
Mission PeakEast Bay — Fremont
The Bay Area's most iconic summit hike. Mission Peak climbs steadily from the Ohlone College trailhead to a 2,517-foot summit with 360-degree views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Mount Diablo, and the Bay on clear days. Brutally honest: it's steep, sunny, and busy. Go early.
Mt. Tamalpais East PeakMarin — Mill Valley
Mount Tamalpais dominates the Marin skyline at 2,571 feet. The East Peak loop via the Hoo-Koo-E-Koo and Eldridge Grade trails winds through Douglas fir and chaparral with sweeping coastal views — Stinson Beach, the Pacific, and the Golden Gate on clear days. Quieter and more varied than Mission Peak.
Marin Headlands — Hawk Hill LoopMarin — Sausalito
A compact loop from Rodeo Beach over Hawk Hill with Golden Gate views the entire way. September through November, Hawk Hill is one of the top raptor migration watch sites in North America — thousands of hawks pass on good days. Year-round, the views of the bridge, San Francisco, and the Marin coast are some of the best accessible from the Bay.
Black Mountain via PG&E TrailSouth Bay — Monte Sereno
Black Mountain (2,800 ft) is the high point of the Rancho San Antonio system and one of the most rewarding strenuous day hikes in the South Bay. The PG&E Trail climbs through shaded canyons and open chaparral ridgelines, finishing at a bald summit with views stretching to the Pacific and across the South Bay.
Henry W. Coe — Hobbs Road LoopSouth Bay — Morgan Hill
Henry Coe is the largest state park in Northern California, yet it sees a fraction of the crowds of closer parks. The Hobbs Road loop takes you through rolling oak woodland, open grassland, and small seasonal creeks. In spring, the hillsides bloom with lupine and poppies and the solitude feels earned.
Point Reyes — Tomales Point TrailMarin — Inverness
Tomales Point is the northernmost tip of the Point Reyes peninsula, and the Tomales Point Trail runs along a narrow ridge above both Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The tule elk reserve at Pierce Point Ranch is one of the most reliably good places to see free-roaming elk in California. This is a long, breezy out-and-back that rewards patience.
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