All "Hikes" Stories in Northern CA

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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Big Love!
Every year in winter elephant seals converge on one of their favorite breeding grounds, 13 miles south of Pescadero on the San Mateo coast: Año Nuevo State Park.
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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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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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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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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 State Park 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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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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From Beer to Buena Vista
What’s brewing? How about some tasty German beers and some famous Irish Coffee! Get into the holiday spirit(s) with a classic leisurely stroll connecting the modern Radhaus Bavarian biergarten in Fort Mason with the classic Buena Vista Café near Fisherman’s Wharf.
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Boo-tifall Reno Tahoe

Fall goes fast. Good thing Reno Tahoe knows how to make the good times last, with some of the West’s best harvest fairs, haunted happenings, and only-in-Reno celebrations.

See What's Happening This Fall in Reno Tahoe