4 Long + Lovely Hikes to Kick Off Summer in the Bay Area

Many Bay Area residents can reach scenic trails within roughly a 30-minute drive, depending on traffic. Summer can start with long hikes through redwoods, coastal bluffs, or East Bay hills. A Santa Cruz Mountains loop offers steep ridges with giant trees, babbling brooks, and unusual plants and animals, providing a full day of movement in a unique habitat. The hike includes significant elevation gain of about 2,280 feet over a 9.5-mile loop. Another route in the Marin Headlands begins near Rodeo Beach, delivers sweeping Golden Gate Bridge and city views, and offers clear-day sightlines to the Farallones. A Wildcat Canyon Regional Park loop combines Bay and Golden Gate views, San Pablo Reservoir, rolling oak landscapes, and ruins of a 110-year-old sanatorium.

"This lengthy hike in the Santa Cruz Mountains is everything aficionados of redwoods and banana slugs could ever want. With steep ridges crowned in giants, babbling brooks, and plenty of bizarre flora and fauna, it's one of the few trails long enough to keep you moving through California's most unique habitat for the better part of a day. But just because it's serene doesn't mean it's easy. You'll gain some serious elevation2,280 feet to be exactover a 9.5-mile loop, more than enough to break a sweat even on cool, fog-drenched mornings."

"You've never seen the Golden Gate Bridge and the city that lies beyond look so jaw-droppingly beautiful as they do from this trail through the Marin Headlands. And those aren't the only views in store on this massive loop, which begins next to the breaking waves of Rodeo Beach. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Farallones as you drift over bluff and dale, and climb steep trails into the clouds. The AllTrails map will keep you on track as you transition from one trail to another."

"This pretty 9.1-mile loop through Wildcat Canyon Regional Park has several things going for it: terrific views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges, and the sapphire jewel of San Pablo Reservoir; a patchwork of rolling oak lands; and the ruins of the 110-year-old Belgum sanatorium. Best of all, this little parkthe lesser visited sister of neighboring Tildenis literally in the East Bay's backyard, just 12 miles from Oakland."

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