Going out to Alcatraz and starting to plan the trip (its about 8 weeks from now believe it our not). We have that monday after to explore somewhere. Where would you go to enjoy the outdoors? Mt. Diablo hike, Pt. Reyes seashore…thoughts. Wish Yosemite was closer.
Muir Woods is a nice place for a hike, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the Marin Headlands! They are both closer than a 1 hour drive from San Francisco and there is great hiking!
Thanks…I was up in the Marin Headlands about 10 years ago. I remember the view back on the Golden Gate to be an awesome one. Wasnt there a lighthouse way out on the point somewhere?
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Muir Woods is a nice place for a hike, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge as well as the Marin Headlands! They are both closer than a 1 hour drive from San Francisco and there is great hiking!
Muir woods is really neat, if you have never been there you should go. East bay hikes to consider would be Redwood Regional Park/Juaquin Miller Park in the Oakland Hills or Mt. Diablo. If you are staying in the City, Muir Woods is way closer. If it’s cold in the City then head over to Diablo, it will be pretty warm (perhaps even hot) in 8 weeks over here. The trails around Rock City are neat and well marked.
Dave
There’s excellent hiking around Angel Island. I recall that you ride the ferry from Tiburon, which is about 18 miles from downtown SF and costs $13.50. Makes for an excellent day with food in either Tiburon or Sausalito. There are 13 miles of hiking on the island. They have a Nike missile silo there. I believe it is now off limits, however. The website does say that there are no longer any missiles on the island however!
Make sure you check out the Angel Cam on their website.
Here’s the website: http://www.angelisland.org/
Enjoy!
Mark
You have probably 100 trails within an hour from downtown SF in any direction (except west, of course).
Muir Woods (and you can really get after it and turn off on the Dipsea Trail along the way) is fantastic.
Pt. Reyes is super nice.
East Bay you have the East Bay Regional Park system (Oleander can give you lots of ideas for Oakland) or all the way out to Diablo (a bit far for a hike IMO).
The Peninsula has so many great places, you can’t even start.
Even SF proper has some good tramping around, or Angel Island.
clm
I was a serial hiker and have done most everything around here. If I have a friend who’s only in town for one day, HERE is the hike I take them on:
Take Golden Gate Bridge north
Take the “Stinson Beach” exit
Follow the signs to the Panoramic Highway. It should wind you northward directly towards Mt. Tam.
After a few miles of winding around, uphill, look for Pan Toll Ranger Station on the left side. Park there.
Hike: Take the Matt Davis Trail, which traverses northwards along Mt. Tam (gorgeous ocean views) for about 1.5 miles before heading steeply downhill to Stinson Beach.
Have some french fries in Stinson Beach and stick your feet in the cold water.
Return hike: Ask for directions to the start of the Dipsea/Steep Ravine Trail. From there, follow the signs up the Steep Ravine Trail. That’s where the best Redwoods are.
This is a much more interesting hike than Muir Woods. Muir Woods = paved path, one zillion tourists. Matt Davis/Steep Ravine trail = ocean views from way up, ocean views close up, varying ecosystems (bay trees, open grasslands, etc.), and a very QUIET Redwood forest. Also, you’ll be traversing some of the trails of the famous Dipsea Race.
Total loop is 5+ miles, maybe 1800 feet of descent/climbing.
Bring layers. The fog can engulf you, or the wind pick up, at any moment.
p.s. If you somehow miss the Pan Toll Ranger Station, just start the hike in Stinson Beach.