Best CA: San Francisco Bay

See all our San Francisco area Trail Reviews

Living and hiking around the San Francisco Bay Area for fifteen years has given us plenty of opportunity to build a strong list of our favorite hikes. San Francisco itself offers up in almost infinite amount of mostly urban trails which are best explored in your own way and at your own pace.

Beyond this we list the best hikes in the Bay Area which transport you out of urban and suburban environments and into nature. We have broken them up into three regions to help you find the best hike for you, but also check out our map which includes many more hikes that we don't have the space to feature here.

Marin County (North Bay)

	4★ Mt Tamalpaias East Peak 1 mile • Easy Short hike to the summit of Mount Tam, one of the most prominent peaks in the area.
	4★ Steep Ravine & Matt Davis Trail 6 miles • Moderate The grassland of Matt Davis Trail hike combines with a redwood canyon return up Steep Ravine for a magical hike.
	4★ Muir Woods via Tourist Club 5 miles • Moderate Explore the famed giant redwoods of Muir Woods on this hillside trail, without having to deal with all the crowds.
	4★ Mount Barnabe 5 miles • Moderate One of the best uncrowded spots in Marin, this grassy mountain hike rewards with views of Tomales Bay and surrounding headlands.
	4★ Angel Island Perimeter Loop 5 miles • Moderate Take a ferry from San Francisco or Tiburon in search of tranquility, great San Francisco Bay views and a history lesson or two.

San Francisco Peninsula

	4★ Presidio Ecology Trail & Lover's Lane 2 miles • Easy You'll likely find more locals than visitors on this loop around Presidio. Includes links to Walt Disney Family Museum and Yoda's Fountain!
	4★ Montara Mountain, Pacifica CA 6-11 miles • Moderate Head for Montara Mountain if you're looking for sun along a fog-bound San Francisco Peninsula. Pick your favourite trail and enjoy the chaparral covered hillsides and the ocean views. We prefer the one from San Pedro Park.
	4★ Mori Point, Pacifica 1-3 miles • Easy & Moderate Savor in the splendor of the coastal bluffs of Mori Point while watching over the ocean for whale and dolphin sightings.
	4★ Monte Bello Open Space Preserve 6 miles • Moderate The San Francisco Peninsula contains surprisingly large expanses of wilderness, and this place is an excellent showcase of coastal mountains, sweeping grassy plains and peek-a-boo ocean views.

South Bay

	4★ Mission Peak 6 miles • Moderate Towering over Fremont, CA the 2517 foot Mission Peak is a very popular summit to bag for hikers and casual walkers alike, although the latter often struggle with the punishing steep trails.
	5★ Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 1-6 miles • Easy & Moderate Diverse experiences including tall redwood trees and a hike up to an observation platform among sand hills that were once the sea floor.
	5★ Pinnacles High Peaks & Balconies Cave 2-9 miles • Moderate Two hours from San Jose it's a stretch to call this a Bay Area hike, but it's worth the journey. This route combines caves, tight squeezes in high places, and condor spotting.

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Regional Map

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