Today I want to bring you my guide to the best hiking trails in the Bay Area. If you love heading outdoors as much as you enjoy the San Francisco Bay Area’s stunning scenery and sweeping views, this list will show you some of the top places to hike in Northern California. From the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to Mount Tamalpais, waterfall hikes, Pacific Ocean trails, and dog-friendly paths, it covers a range of locations, terrain, and themes. I’ve included a map of all the trails on my list, too.
Best Hiking Trails in the Bay Area
Given how much people in the San Francisco Bay Area enjoy spending time outdoors, there are a lot of good hikes in this part of California. Whether you want to find a Bay Area hiking trail on the coast, in the hills, up a mountain, or with your kids, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to paths in this part of the Golden State.
I’ve been hiking in the Bay Area since I was old enough to walk. I was born and raised on the Peninsula, and I covered many of the paths in this part of Northern California with my family and friends when I was growing up. I still get out on the paths a lot now, and I’ve enjoyed finding some of the best hiking trails in the Bay Area over the years.
From the Marin Headlands to Windy Hill, Coyote Hills Regional Park, and Mount Tam, I’ve covered a lot of ground. My routes have traversed everything from easy coastal walks to challenging vertical climbs. This list has my favorite Bay Area hikes, and I hope you’ll have fun doing them as much as I have.
I’ll add more hikes to this blog post as I write about them, so you can bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest for future reference. Given how much I love getting out on the trails, I know I’ll be publishing another one soon.
Tips for Hiking in the Bay Area
As with all Northern California hikes, there are some good things to remember when you’re on the hiking trails in the Bay Area. Namely, bring plenty of water, pack sunscreen, wear sturdy shoes, and dress in layers. The weather and temperature can change quickly, particularly on the coast where fog can roll in out of nowhere.
If you’re taking a longer hike, it’s a good idea to bring snacks. Always pack out your litter and leave no trace, too. Bringing a good backpack can help you organize extra clothes, water, food, sunblock, and waste bags.
Don’t forget to stick to the trails to protect local wildlife and avoid things like rattlesnakes and poison oak. Be sure to check yourself (and your dog, if you bring one) for ticks at the end as well. They’re common around the trails in the San Francisco Bay Area, and they can carry Lyme disease.
1. Cataract Falls Hike
First on my list of the best hiking trails in the Bay Area is the Cataract Falls trail. This waterfall hike in Marin County is a popular place to hit the hills, particularly after heavy rain or a big storm. It’s a dog-friendly hike, too, which is a bonus for many local residents.
The Cataract Falls trail is located in the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. The trailhead is right off the Fairfax-Bolinas Road near Stinson Beach.
Cataract Falls is one of the most famous waterfall hikes in the San Francisco Bay Area. It features a narrow woodland path that hugs a series of falls cascading down Cataract Creek. Getting to see waterfalls the whole way up the hill is one of the things I love most about hiking this trail.
A moderately challenging route, the Cataract Falls trail involves hiking up large stone stairs and across wooden footbridges. There’s a decent amount of elevation gain along the way as well.
The Cataract Falls hike can be done as an out-and-back or a loop. The former is around 3 miles on the Cataract Trail (1.5 miles each way). It involves an elevation gain of around 1,055 feet.
The loop is around 7.5 miles, and it will take you on a number of different paths. It has an elevation gain of around 1,985 feet. You can see a map of both routes on my blog post about the Cataract Falls hike if you want more information.
How long this hike takes depends on your physical fitness and how fast you want to walk. The 3-mile hike generally takes 2 to 3 hours, and the 7.5-mile loop trail takes around 3.5 to 5 hours. If you’re in really good shape, you can do it faster. If you take your time, stop frequently, or hike with kids or a dog, it could take longer.
You can do this hike at any time of year, but because the waterfalls are the reason people come here, it’s usually a good idea to do it after heavy rain. In Marin County’s case, that often means winter. If you time your trip to take place during a break in rainy weather, you can see the falls at their fullest.
2. Montara Mountain Hike
Next on my list of hiking trails in the Bay Area is Montara Mountain. It’s located just south of Pacifica on the Pacific Ocean. Spanning McNee Ranch State Park and San Pedro Valley County Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains, this is the perfect place to get into nature on the San Mateo County coast.
Montara Mountain rises 1,898 feet above sea level. The area around it is home to hiking trails that lead to the North Peak and other destinations in and around Montara State Beach.
The open space spans 690 acres, and there are a number of hikes you can do here (including dog-friendly ones). They range in distance and difficulty, so there’s something for every interest and ability level.
If you’re looking for an easy hike, the 1-mile Gray Whale Cove Trail is a good option. It will bring you from Gray Whale Cove State Beach to Montara State Beach and Highway 1.
After a short hill at the start, the path is relatively flat and has panoramic views of the beaches. The trail sits right on the coastline, too, so you can see the Pacific Ocean the whole time.
If you’re after something more challenging, you can start on the Gray Whale Cove Trail and continue on the North Peak Access Road or Old San Pedro Mountain Trail. Both involve a gradual climb, so they’re more challenging than the Gray Whale Cove Trail (but still not too difficult).
The former is a fire road, so it’s a wide-open trail. The hike is 3.9 miles each way, and it goes all the way to the top of Montara Mountain. There are sweeping views of the coast and the Bay Area from the summit.
The latter has more twists and turns, but it’s also a fun hike. The trail leads to Pacifica, and it crosses the North Peak Access Road and joins it for a while. You can switch onto the road to reach the North Peak if you’d like to. It’s 3.2 miles each way.
Lastly, the Montara Mountain Trail is a fairly challenging hike that starts from San Pedro Valley County Park and leads to the North Peak Access Road. When you get there, you can follow the road to the top of the mountain. It’s 2.1 miles each way.
Interspersed among the official trails are lots of smaller paths you can take to switch from one to the other or take shortcuts. You can see the details and map on my blog post about a Montara Mountain hike.
3. Oakwood Valley Trail
Next on my list of hiking trails in the Bay Area is the Oakwood Valley Trail. Just north of the Marin Headlands, it’s home to the largest stand of oak and bay forest in the Golden Gate National Parks. More than 500 plant species can be found here, and the area features a grassland and mixed woodland habitat.
The Oakwood Valley Trail is a moderately challenging hike, and there are a few options that will allow you to make it as easy or difficult as you want to. It’s a great option if you like wooded areas and a view at the top. It’s dog-friendly, too, so you can bring your pooch if you have one.
This Bay Area hiking trail isn’t as steep as some of the others in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, so it’s a good choice if you’re looking for a relatively easy walk in the woods.
The Oakwood Valley Trail is 2.58 miles round-trip. It’s relatively flat at the start and finish, and it has an optional hilly section in the middle with stairs.
That’s because the hike is part loop trail and part out-and-back. It begins on the single-track Oakwood Meadow Trail before it meets the Oakwood Valley Trail (sometimes called the Fire Road Trail). From there it continues up to where it meets the Alta Trail.
When you arrive at the intersection with the Alta Trail, you can retrace your steps to where the Oakwood Valley Trail meets the Oakwood Meadow Trail, then hike back to the parking area via the fire road.
The Oakwood Valley Trail meets Tennessee Valley Road right by where the Oakwood Meadow Trail does, so it’s a short walk to get back to your car once you arrive at the road at the end.
This Bay Area hike begins at an elevation of 33 feet. The trail ascends to an elevation of 621 feet at its highest point. Most of the gain takes place on the out-and-back stretch in the middle, so you can skip it and just do the loop trail if you want a less challenging walk in the woods.
The Oakwood Valley Trail is well-maintained and clearly-signposted, so it’s straightforward to follow. The path is wide in most places, so there’s room for groups, families, and dogs. You can take a look at the full route and map on my blog post about the Oakwood Valley Trail if you want more information.
4. Arastradero Preserve Hike
Next on my list of hiking trails in the Bay Area is the Arastradero Preserve in Santa Clara County. Situated between Alpine Road and Page Mill Road on the border of Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills, and Stanford University, this is a fun place to hike in Palo Alto.
Enid W. Pearson-Arastradero Preserve spans 622 acres of land on the Peninsula. With 10.25 miles of trails to explore, it’s a popular place to hike in Silicon Valley. It’s dog-friendly, too, so you can bring your furry friends with you.
The preserve varies in elevation from 275 feet to 775 feet, and it has a mix of rolling grassland savanna, broadleaf evergreen forest, and creekside plant habitats. It’s also an important habitat for flora like tangled blackberry, oak, yellow fiddlenecks, and wild roses.
One of the most popular hikes in Arastradero Preserve is the Arastradero Creek Loop. This 3.7-mile route takes around 2 hours and involves an elevation change of 300 feet.
To do it, you can take Juan Bautista de Anza Trail to Arastradero Creek Trail, then turn right on Acorn Trail and again on Meadowlark Trail. Meadowlark Trail will reconnect you with Juan Bautista de Anza Trail, from where you can hike back to the parking lot.
Another popular hike in Arastradero Preserve is the Redtail Loop Trail. This 1.5-mile route takes 40 minutes and has a decent amount of elevation gain. Along the way it offers views of everything from the Stanford campus to Palo Alto and the San Francisco Bay.
As an added bonus, you can go to Alpine Inn for lunch after your hike. This historic bar and grill in my hometown of Portola Valley dates back to 1852. It’s the second oldest continually operating tavern in California. The big creekside beer garden here is an ideal place to have a sunny lunch after a big hike.
If you want to get out on one or more of these trails, you can find more information and a map on my blog post about an Arastradero hike.
5. Olompali State Historic Park Hike
Next on my list of the best hiking trails in the Bay Area is Olompali State Historic Park. It’s located just off Highway 101 in Novato.
This place has a lot of history, including connections to the Bear Flag Revolt, the Coast Miwok, and the Grateful Dead. You can see the oldest surviving house north of the San Francisco Bay here, too.
Olompali is a California State Park on 700 acres of land that was once the Rancho Olompali. Hiking trails traverse the grounds, and they’re fun places to get into nature and discover this part of Marin County. There are stunning views of the Petaluma River and San Pablo Bay from the paths leading up to Mount Burdell, too.
The 2.4-mile Miwok Loop Trail will bring you up the lower hillside of Mount Burdell. It’s a moderately challenging hike that will guide you past a recreated Coast Miwok Village, into wooded areas with oak trees and wildflowers, and along trails with views of San Pablo Bay. If you’re lucky, you might see grazing deer as you walk, too.
The Miwok Loop Trail takes just under 2 hours on average. If you’re coming from the south, it’s easy to combine it with a trip to Napa or Sonoma for a fun day trip from San Francisco.
If you want a more challenging climb, you can consider the 9-mile loop trail to the peak. It reaches an altitude of 1,558 feet. You can learn more about both routes and see a map on my blog post about Olompali State Park hikes.
You can take these hikes any time of year, but this part of Northern California gets hot in the summer. I recommend doing it outside the warmer months if possible. If not, try going in the morning to avoid peak temperatures.
Map of Hiking Trails in the Bay Area
As promised, you can find a map of all the Bay Area hiking trails on my list here. If you click on the pins, you’ll be able to see my blog posts about each one. I hope it helps you find your favorite hikes to do in this part of California.
Hiking Trails in the Bay Area
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to the best hiking trails in the Bay Area. There are lots of fun hikes to do in this part of the Golden State, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy them when you’re here.
If you want to see more, you can watch my YouTube videos about the Cataract Falls hike and the Oakwood Valley trail. They’ll show you the routes and give you more information about what the paths are like.
As I mentioned before, I’ll be adding more hikes to this blog post as I write about them. Make sure to check back soon for the latest updates. Happy trekking!
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