5 Bay Area Hikes To Do This Weekend

The SF Bay Area is full of nature junkies, and while tall mountains aren’t the Bay Area’s strong point, we’ve got no shortage of hills and elevation change. These hikes are all within Bay Area proper and are perfect for getting some fresh air and quality time with nature on your weekend excursions. 

Mt. Diablo via Mitchell Canyon: 13 miles, 3800 ft gain

A must hike to quell your peak-bagging itch and also a member of the Norcal Six Pack of Peaks, Mt. Diablo is a strenuous but rewarding day hike. It is also a popular summit to bike and even drive up, but of course, this article is all about the hiking. I am a fan of doing it as a clockwise loop, taking the Eagle Peak trail on the way up and the wide fire road on the way down. The views from the top are thrilling and you have the luxuries of car-accessible summits: bathrooms, picnic tables, an observation deck, and even a visitor center. The parking lot requires a $6 cash payment. View in AllTrails

Mission Peak via Stanford Trail: 6 miles, 2100 ft gain

This is an East Bay classic and I think it’s one of the few things that puts Fremont on the map (along with Asian food and historically, BART lines). As a Fremont native, I’ve done this hike above the clouds, in peak summer sun, in whiteout fog, in the spring when the hills are Windows XP wallpaper green—basically more times than I can remember. It’s a short and sweet workout that is straight up for 3 miles. At the top are panoramic views of the East Bay and a photo op with the iconic pole. Fun fact: the pole changes outfits for holidays throughout the year (red white and blue for July 4th, Christmas trees, etc.). View in AllTrails

Muir Beach to Rodeo Beach: 11.3 miles, 3400 ft gain

When you can’t decide between hiking or the beach, this hike is the one for you. This out and back hike from Muir Beach to Rodeo Beach and back takes you through the Marin Headlands on the Coastal Trail. The views of the coastline are incredible as you ascend from Muir Beach. You can also see the San Francisco skyline in the distance as you descend to Rodeo Beach. The elevation gain is divided up over 3 up and downs, which makes 6 up and downs round trip. Since you are hiking from beach to beach, you get to start, have a midday break at, and end your day at these beautiful beaches, all while getting a killer workout in between. Since there is beach parking at both ends, you can also arrange to have a car at both beaches and do this trail as a point to point. View in AllTrails

Montara Mountain via Gray Whale Cove: 7 miles, 1800 ft gain

I think of Montara Mountain as the more mellow version of Mission Peak. After the steep initial climb on Gray Whale Cove Trail, the trail is wide the rest of the way to the top as it features access roads. During the foggy summer months, this hike takes you high enough to catch dramatic views of the peninsula obscured in clouds if the conditions are right. The peak can feel a little anticlimactic with its antenna towers, but the views of the Bay Area from San Francisco to Pacifica all the way across the bay to the East Bay are impressive. View in AllTrails

Dipsea Trail via Mill Valley: 7.6 miles, 2200 ft gain

The Dipsea Trail is part of a huge network of trails around the Muir Woods and Mt. Tamalpais. It’s one of the most popular trails in the Bay Area, and is the course of the annual (since 1945) trail-running race from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach called the Dipsea Race. This trail is an all-in-one experience: it starts in a charming and woodsy Mill Valley neighborhood, climbs 700 steps in the first mile, crosses a few roads, winds through the redwood trees of Muir Woods, and finally ends in spectacular coastal views as it descends to Stinson Beach. In the summer, there are tons of wild blackberry bushes along the way. If you’ve never tried wild blackberries you are in for a treat. Most hikers will do just a section of the Dipsea as an out-and-back hike from either Stinson Beach or Mill Valley. If you do the Dipsea Trail one-way from Mill Valley, you can get back to Mill Valley via the 61 bus (bus schedule on Marin Transit website; the bus takes Clipper card!). You could also do the Dipsea trail in both directions aka the Double Dipsea. Signal is unreliable at Stinson Beach so I’d be wary of relying on rideshare services. View in AllTrails