Hike: Near San Francisco

Within a two hour drive of our home on the San Francisco Peninsula are over a million acres of public land. There is strong public support for open space acquisitions and outdoor opportunities continue to grow. Altitudes range from sea level to over 4000 feet and there is extraordinary habitat and scenic diversity. The weather is benign and backpacking is good year-round. We have been exploring the region for a few decades and have taken hundreds of day hikes and many dozens of multi-day backpacking trips. Public transit provides car free access to many trailheads.

Big Diablo Loop Route Guide

Amy&James2022-06-05T12:20:08-07:00Hike, Near SF, Public Transit, Route Guide|

What: scenic trail hike through 58 parks.
When: Mar 6-16, 2015.
Where: Diablo Range, east of SF Bay.
Distance: about 203 miles.

Big Sur: Boronda Loop

Amy&James2022-06-05T11:56:38-07:00Hike, Near SF|

What: Trail hiking, some of it on obscure trails.
Where: Ventana Wilderness, Los Padres NF.
When: Nov 12-14, 2010 and Nov 26-28, 2011 (3 days) and Feb 28 - Mar 2, 2022.
Distance: about 29 miles.

Big Sur: Lottie Potrero Loop

Amy&James2017-10-14T15:17:37-07:00Hike, Near SF|

What: Trail hiking, some of it on abandoned and obscure trails.
Where: Silver Peak Wilderness in Los Padres NF.
When: Nov 22-25, 2012 (4 days).
Distance: about 79 miles.

Coe Big Loop

Amy&James2022-04-02T09:57:10-07:00Hike, Near SF|

What: A loop hike in Henry Coe State Park.
Where: Henry Coe State Park southeast of San Jose, California.
When: March 24-27, 2022 (4 days).
Distance: about 67 miles.

Marin County: Backpacking Trip #5 Larkspur to Sausalito

Amy&James2021-11-10T13:54:40-08:00Hike, Near SF, Public Transit|

What: trail hiking near home.
Where: Marin County, California.
When: June 24-28, 2021 (5 days).
Distance: about 86 miles.

Marin County: Backpacking Trip #6 Inverness to Sausalito

Amy&James2021-11-13T08:33:56-08:00Hike, Near SF, Public Transit|

What: trail hiking near home.
Where: Marin County, California.
When: September 20-24, 2021 (5 days).
Distance: about 73 miles.

Marin County: Four Backpacking Trips

Amy&James2021-11-11T16:32:31-08:00Hike, Near SF, Public Transit|

What: Four short backpacking trips.
Where: Marin County, California.
When: 2010-2015; (2-5 days each).
Distance: 41-96 miles.

Overview: Coe State Park

Amy&James2021-11-09T15:51:54-08:00Hike, Near SF, Overview|

What: Overview of Coe State Park.
Where: Diablo Range, southeast of San Jose.
When: 1984 to present, over 300 days.
Highlights: Big area to hike in, camp almost anywhere, few people, rugged terrain, classic CA Oak Savannah.

Palo Alto to Santa Cruz

Amy&James2019-03-24T10:56:12-07:00Hike, Near SF, Public Transit|

What: Trail hiking through the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Where: Palo Alto to Santa Cruz, California.
When: Nov 24-26, 2010 (3 days).
Distance: about 65 miles.

Palo Alto to the Sea

Amy&James2020-10-27T19:36:04-07:00Hike, Near SF, Public Transit|

What: a hike from home to the Pacific Coast and back.
Where: Santa Cruz Mountains, California.
When: June 19-23, 2020 (5 days).
Distance: about 100 miles.

Point Reyes Circumambulation

Amy&James2020-12-30T13:43:19-08:00Coastal, Hike, Near SF, Public Transit|

What: on and off trail beach and coast hiking.
Where: Point Reyes National Seashore.
When: April 2-7 2009 (6 days).
Distance: about 120 miles.

San Francisco Bay Area 20-mile Day Hikes

Amy&James2020-08-08T17:39:56-07:00Hike, Near SF, Public Transit, Route Guide|

What: 32 day hikes.
Where: San Francisco Bay Area.
Distance: about 20 miles each.
Highlights: a collection of diverse walks throughout the Bay Area.

San Francisco Stairway Walks Route Guide

Amy&James2023-06-05T17:20:55-07:00Hike, Near SF, Public Transit, Route Guide, Top10|

One great city. 600 outdoor public stairways. 130 miles in twelve sequential routes. This is the most creative, surprising, and flat-out fun trip we have ever taken.

San Francisco Watershed Day Hike

Amy&James2020-03-13T12:08:08-07:00Hike, Near SF|

What: San Francisco Watershed Day Hike.
Where: San Francisco Watershed Lands, San Mateo County.
When: March 7, 2020.
Distance: about 14 miles.

Santa Cruz to Point Pinos

Amy&James2019-07-10T14:57:19-07:00Coastal, Hike, Near SF, Public Transit|

What: beach and coast hike.
Where: Monterey Bay from Santa Cruz to Point Pinos.
When: Feb 3-5, 2011 (3 days).
Distance: about 55 miles.

Sinkyone Wilderness State Park

Amy&James2021-07-13T15:26:35-07:00Hike, Near SF|

What: a loop hike along California’s north coast.
Where: Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, Mendocino County, California.
When: June 7-10, 2021 (3.5 days).
Distance: about 45 miles.

Vallejo to Milpitas

Amy&James2022-06-05T15:38:13-07:00Hike, Near SF, Public Transit|

Hike: Near San Francisco

What: scenic trail hike through 58 parks. When: Mar 6-16, 2015. Where: Diablo Range, east of SF Bay. Distance: about 203 miles.

What: Trail hiking, some of it on obscure trails. Where: Ventana Wilderness, Los Padres NF. When: Nov 12-14, 2010 and Nov 26-28, 2011 (3 days) and Feb 28 - Mar 2, 2022. Distance: about 29 miles.

What: Trail hiking, some of it on abandoned and obscure trails. Where: Silver Peak Wilderness in Los Padres NF. When: Nov 22-25, 2012 (4 days). Distance: about 79 miles.

What: A loop hike in Henry Coe State Park. Where: Henry Coe State Park southeast of San Jose, California. When: March 24-27, 2022 (4 days). Distance: about 67 miles.

What: trail hiking near home. Where: Marin County, California. When: June 24-28, 2021 (5 days). Distance: about 86 miles.

What: trail hiking near home. Where: Marin County, California. When: September 20-24, 2021 (5 days). Distance: about 73 miles.

What: Four short backpacking trips. Where: Marin County, California. When: 2010-2015; (2-5 days each). Distance: 41-96 miles.

What: Overview of Coe State Park. Where: Diablo Range, southeast of San Jose. When: 1984 to present, over 300 days. Highlights: Big area to hike in, camp almost anywhere, few people, rugged terrain, classic CA Oak Savannah.

What: Trail hiking through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Where: Palo Alto to Santa Cruz, California. When: Nov 24-26, 2010 (3 days). Distance: about 65 miles.

What: a hike from home to the Pacific Coast and back. Where: Santa Cruz Mountains, California. When: June 19-23, 2020 (5 days). Distance: about 100 miles.

What: on and off trail beach and coast hiking. Where: Point Reyes National Seashore. When: April 2-7 2009 (6 days). Distance: about 120 miles.

What: 32 day hikes. Where: San Francisco Bay Area. Distance: about 20 miles each. Highlights: a collection of diverse walks throughout the Bay Area.