All "Hikes" Stories in Northern CA

Gilroy Glory
Rolling green hills punctuated by carpets buttercups and poppies: Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park in Gilroy seems positively sun-kissed in spring. It’s the best time of y
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Abbotts Bonanza
Pure wilderness, Pacific views, lush greenery, and wildflowers galore … yep, Point Reyes National Seashore is pretty much spring loaded. For the best of landscape, sandscape, and s
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Weekend at Burney's
The 129-foot Burney Falls gushes 100 million gallons of water every day over a basalt cliff face from Burney Creek. Get up close to it on an easy 1.2-mile hike taking you down to the waterfall’s base.
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Hot, Wet, and Wild!
At Wild Willy’s Hot Springs, you can soak up a primeval landscape that’s amazingly close to Mammoth Lakes and Highway 395—it just feels a few geological epochs away.
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Multiple Choice Hot Springs
Travertine Hot Springs stands apart from other Eastern Sierra soaking sites for the astounding way that rock formations convey water to its primitive pools. Craggy ridges of traver
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Tramp at Trampas
Epic East Bay views: check! Terrain with just enough challenge to keep things interesting: check! Wildflowers blooming on spring green hills: check and check! Yep, you’ll wanna tra
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Secret Diablo
Great views, wildflowers, vibrant green hills, even a Secret Trail … Mount Diablo State Park does it again with this spectacular 6-mile loop hike fit for spring. The Briones–Mount
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Briones Bragging Rights
Behold the Briones Reservoir Loop Trail in Orinda: an epic 13.5-mile hike that’s still the secret of hikers who love solitude and spring-loaded scenery! Located just beyond the bus
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Hike the Pioneer Trail
Wildflowers unfurling from their winter slumber, birds chirping in the trees, turtles warming themselves in the sun—find your Zen early this spring with a mellow and scenic hike to
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All in for Alamere
If you’re crazy about the ocean, the beach, and waterfalls, Bolinas’s Coast Trail is bound to become one of your all-time favorite spring hikes. It’s got one killer cliffside view
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Make Way for McWay
Big Sur’s had some hard luck with fire damage and mudslides in the past few years, but that hasn’t put a stop to its wild natural beauty: epic Pacific views, iconic redwoods, and o
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Stengel Beach Bliss
One of the coolest things about Stengel Beach Waterfall is that you’ll probably have it to yourself. Few people head to this beach because the waterfall is like a ghost, appearing
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Tank You Very Much
Quietly located just below Twin Peaks, tiny Tank Hill is a premier place for gaining an incredible vista of our city by the bay. How do you get to it? Take the stairs! This 1-mile
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Excelsior!
Some of San Francisco’s most outstanding art isn’t found inside museums. It’s seen on city streets in exuberant neighborhoods. Among the most vibrant: Excelsior. Go on a 1.2-mile (
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Mellow Mavericks
This year’s famous Mavericks surfing competition may have been postponed due to weather, but even without the massive swells, Pillar Point still has plenty to get excited about. Th
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Slice of Sonoma
You’re in Sonoma, feeling pretty good—now you want to enjoy a short hike to take in the views of the valley. Where to go? The answer is just north of Sonoma’s historic plaza. The 1-mile (one-way) Overlook Trail is a local favorite for good reasons.
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Bodega Bay Gourmet
Tiny Bodega Head in beautiful Bodega Bay has long lured visitors to its dramatic cliff-above-ocean setting and excellent vantages for spotting migrating gray whales. But visit on a
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Dreamy Drake
Drake’s Estero is smack in the middle of Point Reyes. Take a sweet hike with savory surroundings all the way out to Sunset Beach.
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Point the Way
Perched on a remote promontory 124 feet above the ocean, with its dramatic setting and expansive views, Point Bonita Lighthouse lures day-visitors throughout the year. But on full-
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Sealed with a Kiss
Where do seals and sea lions go when they’re not feeling well? They head to rehab in the Marin Headlands at the world-renowned nonprofit Marine Mammal Center. The center is conveniently located just above Rodeo Beach (and right by one of the North Bay's best coastal hiking trails).
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