Find Northern California's Best-Kept Secrets on These Hiking Trails
Hike the more than 1,250 miles of trails in the Bay Area to discover secret labyrinths, volcanoes, and more.
Northern California is known for its amazing hiking, but for whatever reason, the East Bay isn’t usually the first (or second, third, or even fifth) place most people think of when they’re in the mood to take advantage of the great outdoors. But that’s our bad because the East Bay has proximity to incredible open-air spaces (the East Bay Park District alone is 125,000 acres) and, therefore, lots of amazing public parks (73) and trails (1,250 miles). And the cherry on top? The East Bay’s trails aren’t as crowded as a lot of the ones in Marin. And they lead to insane views, ancient seabeds, secret labyrinths, volcanoes (?!), and probably a desire to relocate if you haven’t made that move already. Or at least to visit a helluva lot more often.
There’s a hike for everyone on this list since some days you’re in the mood to trek 13 miles to reach the Bay Area’s highest waterfall, and other days you just want to meander until you find a vista perfect for enjoying a picnic. And while we don’t want to sound like your mom, please prepare for intense sun (the East Bay gets a lot more than the North Bay) and reapply your sunscreen often. Also, bring lots of water (some parks don’t have access to any), and don’t forget snacks. Not like you ever would.
Berkeley
Distance: 1.25 miles
Los Angeles has the Hollywood sign. The East Bay has the Big C, UC Berkeley’s large, concrete yellow “C” built into Charter Hill overlooking the school. And while you’re not legally allowed to hike to the Hollywood sign, you’re absolutely permitted to take in all of the views from the Big C—views that include almost the entire Bay Area, literally North Bay, SF, and all of the East Bay. This hike is super short but mildly strenuous since you gain about 1,000 feet of elevation, and is perfect for enjoying the sunset. Check out this side stop on the way—a trail split mid-way up that will take you to Tightwad Hill, where students/alums without game tickets get a not-bad view of Cal football in action right next to the victory cannon. Oh, and there's a swing!
Lafayette
Distance: 8 miles
Briones is the right-in-your-East-Bay-backyard spot you’ve been missing out on, with lots of rolling hills and secluded canyons you may not have even known existed. It’s seemingly right in the middle of everything but still has peaks where you can’t see anything but nature for miles. To reach the highest of those peaks, you’ll take the eight-mile Briones Crest Trail, which has stunning vistas all along the way, but especially at the top where you’ll get panoramic views of Mount Diablo to the east, the Sacramento River and Delta to the north, the East Bay hills and Mt. Tamalpais to the west, and Las Trampas Regional Wilderness to the south. If you’re only going to visit this park once a year, go in the spring when all the wildflowers are popping. Parking is $3 per vehicle and $2 per dog.
Oakland
Distance: ~10 miles
Redwood Regional Park is home to most of the East Bay’s redwoods (all second-growth since the original ones were logged in the mid-1800s—how naive were all were in the not-so-distant past). Enter at the Redwood Main Entrance, where, besides the towering trees, you can also check out the constructed fish ladder that helps a unique strain of rainbow trout migrate around obstacles and reach their upstream spawning grounds. And while you’re hiking, keep an eye out for two rare species—the golden eagle and Alameda striped racer. Potential fees include $5 per vehicle and $2 per dog.
Clayton
Distance: 7.9 miles
Waterfalls in the East Bay? Maybe not in the summer and fall when it’s hot and dry, but possibly in the winter and spring when they’ve been activated by Mother Nature. Head to Mt. Diablo State Park after a recent rainfall to see for yourself. The hike is pretty hard, and the going can be slippery if there’s been precipitation recently, but there’s a series of lovely waterfalls throughout all the hard work (especially if you’re there during the springtime; you may be out of luck during the high-drought season). The trail loop isn’t terribly complicated, but the trail names switch up a bit, so stay alert. If mesmerizing, flowing water isn’t your thing, skip the falls and take in the Mount Diablo Summit. Usually, there are two ways to do this: 1) hike the North Peak like a badass and enjoy your hard-earned views, or 2) take the lazy way and drive up to the Summit Parking Area. But the reward is always better when you really earn it, right? Go on a clear day for visibility over 40,000 square miles that includes segments of 35 of California’s 58 counties. Vehicles are $6 or $10, depending on which entrance you use.
Sunol
Distance: 2.5 miles
You’re going on this hike for fantastic views across the valley, reservoir, and watershed, as well as sandstone formations with fossils of life from ancient seabeds and maybe even a bobcat sighting. It’ll take a steep slope with lots of switchbacks to get there, but it’s well worth it. If you don’t get the fix of wildlife sightings you were hoping for (the park is home to ground squirrels, raccoons, skunks, black-tailed deer, and the occasional mountain lion), you can always stop at the Sunol Visitor Center to meet the park’s animal ambassadors: a gopher snake, rattlesnake, western toad, western pond turtle, and a tarantula. If you consider yourself an ornithologist, this is the park to visit. Go early in the morning, and you can often see between 20 and 40 different bird species along Alameda Creek (the county’s largest stream), including the acorn woodpecker, black phoebe, titmouse, turkey vulture, and golden eagle. If you’re looking for amazing wildflowers, go in the spring, when you’ll see a rainbow of oranges, yellows, and blues in the form of California poppies, mustard, goldfields, and lupines. Sadly, there is no public transport to this park, and parking is $5 per vehicle and $2 if you bring your dog.
Oakland
Distance: 2 miles
Due to unique soil and climatic conditions, the native huckleberry plants found in Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve can’t be found anywhere else in the East Bay. Even better? Huckleberry has blossoming plants year-round (many labeled with names and facts), so you don’t have to wait until spring to enjoy them. This trail is short and sweet but also very narrow, so be prepared to step aside for others. You’re also going to want to go to town with the bug spray before you set out. There’s no parking fee, and dogs are not allowed because the ecosystem is so fragile.
Castro Valley
Distance: 3.64–9 miles
We can’t promise you’ll see a bald eagle soaring above the water searching for trout if you go on this hike, but we can promise that this one’s your best chance of spotting this rare endangered species. Getting to Lake Chabot is extremely easy (and can also be done on a bike), but if you want something a little more strenuous, continue from the damn to circle the lake. Just keep your eyes open for trail markers because they aren’t always obvious. If your dog is up for it, he can come along, but just be absolutely sure to keep him out of the water, which is full of toxic blue-green algae. Note: Hiking is free, but you’ll have to pay $5 per vehicle and $2 per dog.
San Ramon
Distance: 6.2 miles
If you’re looking for super steep hikes, Las Trampas Regional Wilderness is the place to go. The park is expansive, which means you’ll find more seclusion than in some of the East Bay’s other parks. The park is known for animal tracking, salamandering, and fossil hunting, but the biggest draw is the geological formations due to the fact that the Hayward and Calaveras faults have been buckling rock layers for millions of years, occasionally pushing rock types from different geological periods right next to each other. (Eugene O’Neill described the landscape as having a “courdory texture,” which led to their “Courdory Hills” nickname.) The sun is fierce in this area, so do all of the sun protection things (hats, sunglasses, lots and lots of water), and also keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantulas, and wasps. As well as protective mama cows who look nicer than they are.
Fremont
Distance: 7 miles
Due to the popularity of this hike, Mission Peak Regional Preserve requests hikers park at Ohlone College to relieve overburdened staging areas in residential neighborhoods, and —if feeling like you’re on top of the world is a thing you’re into, you'll understand why it’s so popular once you get there. View the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west, Mt. Tam to the north, and the Sierra Nevadas and Mt. Diablo to the northeast. Winter is a great time to go for glimpses of snow-capped mountains. Spring also yields tons of wildflowers. You’ll gain about 2,000 feet in elevation (it takes about five hours round-trip), so you’ll definitely want to bring lots of water and probably also snacks. (Seriously though—dogs are known to die of heat stroke on this trail, so either bring plenty of water for the both of you or leave Fido at home for this one.) Parking is $3 per vehicle (when the kiosk is attended) and $2 per dog.
Livermore
Distance: 13 miles
Del Valle Regional Park is known for its five-mile-long lake where you can boat, fish, and swim, which are all things you should definitely do but are not why you’re going on this particular hike. You’re going on this hike to either see the Bay Area’s highest waterfall or experience the utter frustration of having just hiked six miles and 4,500 feet of elevation in order to see a dry rock.
The 100-foot fall that ends in a small plunge pool isn’t going to be the most magnificent cascade you’ve ever seen, but the point is: it’s the highest waterfall in the Bay Area, and you worked your ass off to see it. That being said, if you want to up your chances of seeing an actual waterfall, go during the winter after a few days of steady rain. If not, you’ll still get to see lots of vistas (year-round) and wildflowers (spring). Note: Del Valle Regional Park charges $6 per vehicle and $2 per dog.
Berkeley
Distance: 4 miles
If you’re new to the majesty of the East Bay Regional Park District, consider this trail in Tilden Regional Park your gateway drug. Paved, well-marked, relatively flat, and open (the road was built in the 1950s to access a Nike missile installation), this one’s easy enough that pretty much anyone of any fitness level will enjoy it. There are scenic payoffs around every turn, including a redwood grove, eucalyptus grove, and, best of all, when you reach the Rotary Peace Grove, towering but serene sequoias, all of which were planted in honor of people and organizations who have fostered world peace. Take a look at the bronze plaques, and you’ll see names like Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Doctors Without Borders. Keep walking up to the Lookout to enjoy a 360-degree view that includes Sutro Tower, Treasure Island, and Mount Tam. If you’re bringing a picnic, this is the place to enjoy it.
Oakland
Distance: 3 miles
We have some of the best trees in California (redwoods and sequoias, obviously), and even though this hike inside of Joaquin Miller Park “only” has second-growth redwood groves (no shade metaphorically, but definitely shade literally), they’re still pretty impressive. And it’s mellow, so it’s a great option for anyone who wants an easy out-and-back experience. As you walk, you’ll find lots of lush landscapes and plenty of tree canopies (at least at the beginning and end). To enjoy the maximum amount of redwoods, start on the Palos Colorados Trail, a gorge filled with redwoods and tree limbs dripping with ivy, and then take the Big Trees Trail to get to, you guessed it: a grove of big trees (the best redwood grove in the park, in our opinion). This is the place to take a load off and enjoy a snack before heading back down.
Oakland
Distance: 3 miles
Labyrinths, volcanoes, and vistas, oh my! Not only is Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve fun for bird-watching, but it’s also of keen interest to geologists and science stars. Round Top Peak (elevation 1,763 feet) is made up of 10-million-year-old volcanic stuff and is the result of tectonic action between the Hayward and Moraga faults. Print this self-guided volcanoes tour before you go (or hope you have cell service the entire time) to get all the real geological dirt. At stop No. 5, you’ll see a labyrinth at the base of the quarry that adds a mystical touch and gives you a moment to meditate. Get a dose of ancient history, and enjoy a beautiful hike with views of the rolling hills surrounding you.
Oakland
Distance: 1.5 miles
Sometimes, all you want is a hike that does everything a hike is supposed to do (exercise, amazing views, fresh air) without spending the entire day trekking along a dirt path. On those days, head to the Stonewall Panoramic Trail inside Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, a 208-acre preserve in the Oakland Hills right behind the Claremont Hotel. The trail is pretty short, but there are four steep segments so your heart rate will definitely get going. But this isn’t about your heart rate; it’s about the vistas with panoramic views of the Bay. The higher you go, the better they get. Go on a clear day and you just might see San Francisco and a couple of Bay Area bridges, including our most famous one.
El Sobrante
Distance: 2 miles
Many of the hikes in Kennedy Grove Regional Recreation Area are wheelchair accessible, even those with fairly significant elevation gain/loss (though the person may require some assistance), which is something we love about this space. It also has a gorgeous picnic grove with a meadow for playing all kinds of outdoor games and sports (or reading a book and napping). For this particular hike, you’ll leave behind the eucalyptus trees in the picnic area and follow a trail that takes you to beautiful views of the San Pablo Reservoir. Keep on truckin’ up to the twisted and beautiful trees in the oak grove at the peak of the trail, a lovely spot to enjoy a picnic (and catch your breath). Parking is $5 (seasonally and weekends), and dogs are $2.
Richmond
Distance: 6 miles
Besides having arguably the coolest name of the parks, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is the perfect place for hikers who live in El Sobrante and El Cerrito. To take the featured loop, enter at Alvarado Staging Area and head out on (the also paved) Wildcat Creek Trail. Hopefully, the creek will be full of water as you parallel it until reaching Mezue Trail, where you turn left to begin your ascent. This portion is steep at times, but your hard work is rewarded as views of Mount Tam, San Francisco, and the entire East Bay open up. Turn left when you reach San Pablo Ridge Trail, appreciating the views of Mt. Diablo and San Pablo Reservoir. The descent can be steep, but the views sure are purdy. Watch your step as the park is home to gopher snakes, king snakes, western racers, garter snakes, rubber boas, and ringneck snakes, almost all of which call a different place in the park “home” (just to keep you on your feet). You’ll also hear all kinds of songbirds and if you’re there at night, the hoot of the great horned owl. And keep an eye out because if you’re “lucky,” you’ll spot a mountain lion or bobcat, although maybe that’s not quite how luck actually works.