Bikers taking a break to overlook Lexington Reservoir from El Sereno Open Space Preserve Bay Area Ridge Trail South Bay

Favorite Ridge Trail Hikes & Bike Rides

The Bay Area Ridge Trail (aka Ridge Trail) comprises over 400 miles of trails encircling the bay. That's a lot of hiking and biking and multi-use adventures! We've rounded up three of the best sections to do in San Francisco and the East and South Bay.

Week: 09.07.2022
Regions: Northern CA

Serenity in El Sereno

Hike or bike a new section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail in El Sereno Open Space Preserve

Bikers checking out the view of the reservoir from a bench in El Sereno Open Space Preserve on the Bay Area Ridge Trail
Sign for the Bay Area Ridge Trail in El Sereno Open Space Preserve in the South Bay
Person taking a break to take in the view at El Sereno Open Space Preserve
This one’s for solitude seekers. The El Sereno Open Space Preserve leg of the Bay Area Ridge Trail is a new 7-mile (out-and-back) adventure for hikers and cyclists, winding through the chaparral with 1,000 feet of elevation gain and gorgeous views as payoff.
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Enter to Win this Central Oregon Vacation

Experience Sunriver Resort and Go on a Culinary Adventure

couple hiking in Central Oregon
Couple hugging in Central Oregon
Deschutes Brewery Bend
Enter to Win the Central Oregon Fall Sweepstakes: Winner gets a $500 gift card toward a stay at the luxury Sunriver Resort plus $500 in gift cards for local dining spots.
Enter to Win the Central Oregon Fall Sweepstakes

Plateau Perfection

Hike a loop of the Bay Area Ridge Trail at Vargas Plateau in the East Bay

Vargas Plateau withe cows in the background in the East Bay
Hiker on a trail at Vargas Plateau in the East Bay
Bay Area Ridge Trail sign pointing the way in Vargas Plateau East Bay
Set deep in the East Bay hills, Vargas Plateau Regional Park is a secluded grassland that’s home to several endangered and threatened species. Hike a 4-mile loop of the Bay Area Ridge Trail here.
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National Park City Walk

Hike the Ridge Trail in Presidio National Park for Classic San Francisco Views

Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them
Person in bare feet walking at Marshall Beach in San Francisco, with a view of the Golden Gate bridge
Marshall Beach in San Francisco with a northern view of the Golden Gate Bridge
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.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. 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.

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  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

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  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

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  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

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  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

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  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

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  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

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  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

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