All "Hikes" Stories in Northern CA

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  Hill Yeah!

  The East Bay's Crockett Hills Regional Park has a 3-mile loop overflowing with rolling landscape and beautiful scenery.

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  Bridge the Distance

  You like a good trail mix? Hike a blend of ridgetop rambling, bridge and bay views, and a eucalyptus forest at Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline.

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  Hike the Islands in the Sky

  Redwoods and ridgelines and phenomenal views of the Pacific: Get to Duncans Mills and hike the Islands in the Sky Vista Loop, a 4-mile charmer in Sonoma Coast State Park.

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  Seat at the Top Table

  It just might be the best view in Napa. At 4.5 miles (round-trip) the hike to Table Rock overlook isn’t a walk in the park, but it’s well worth it, packing in plenty of highlights, especially the marquee destination: Table Rock.

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  Secret Stash of Redwoods

  Located in the tiny town of Angwin, Pacific Union College has 864 acres of forest that are now open to the public for hiking.

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  Ciao Bello!

  Rising 2,800 feet over the Peninsula’s Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, Black Mountain quietly stands watch over the South Bay. The 2-mile exposed hiking trail is a feast for the eyes.

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  Owl Be there

  The Owl Trail, Marin’s swooping seashore tramp, offers the chance to spy migrating gray whales offshore, and sightings of the trail’s namesake, great horned owls.

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  The Ryan King

  At 5,456 feet, the summit of Ryan Mountain has the best view in the park. Its brilliant panoramic expanse, spanning desert to mountains, and—bonus—late afternoons can feature a sky tinged with lavender thanks to the low-sitting sun.

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  Trio of Trails

  Get into Joshua Tree National Park Park early and hit the classic circuit of short trails before the crowds arrive. We also have some food and overnight recos.

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  Split Decision

  Joshua Tree is famous for its namesake trees but it's also got some big-ass boulders! We're talking size-of-a-building boulders. See them on an off-the-beaten-path hike along the Split Rock Trail.

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  Drive-In Whale Watching

  Just north of Point Reyes, Bodega Head sits high on the tip of a curving, thumb-like peninsula and offers excellent whale watching in winter.

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  That's the Point!

  Mori Point, an exposed promontory in Pacifica with stunning ocean views, is fantastic for winter whale watching.

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  Welcome Back Bartholomew

  A few miles east of Sonoma’s historic plaza, Bartholomew Park has a winery and hiking trails with fabulous views.

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  Opt for Oljon

  There's a new hiking trail among the redwoods at El Corte Madera Creek Preserve in the South Bay.

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  Sunsational Mount Tam

  The East Peak of Mount Tam is easily reached via a short hike, and gives visitors one of the best views in the Bay Area, and sensational sunsets.

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  Go North!

  Mount Diablo's little-visited North Peak is the real summit to scale. Unlike the main mount, which you can get to by car (or bike), the North Peak can only be reached via a 1.8-mile (one-way) moderate hike.

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  Sponsored

  2020 Hiking Calendar

  Just in time for the New Year, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) has their 2020 hiking calendar ready for download (no cost). The brand-new calendar gives you the top hikes to do each month in the Peninsula and South Bay.

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  Bright Point of View

  Head to Point Reyes’s historic lighthouse. Originally constructed in 1870 to help warn mariners of the navigational hazard that we now call Point Reyes, the lighthouse was handed over to the National Park Service.

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  Cave Culture

  Cave Landing, a craggy headland between Avila Beach and Pismo Beach, is a storied stretch of the Central Coast that stirs potent reveries in the beholder.

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  Old SLO Hills

  Hike Johnson Ranch, a sprawling 242-acre open space south of San Luis Obispo and north of Avila Beach where vistas seem to ever unfold in new directions. 

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