“101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area” by Ann Marie Brown and published by Foghorn Outdoors. Carquinez Overlook Trail Distance: 1 to 3 miles round trip, 1-2 hours Elevation Change: 150 feet Level: Easy Rating: 3 Stars “The name “Carquinez Strait” sounds like somewplace foreign and exotic…the waterfront at Carquinez Strait is far less
“101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area” by Ann Marie Brown and published by Foghorn Outdoors. Carquinez Overlook Trail Distance: 1 to 3 miles round trip, 1-2 hours Elevation Change: 150 feet Level: Easy Rating: 3 Stars “The name “Carquinez Strait” sounds like somewplace foreign and exotic…the waterfront at Carquinez Strait is far less
Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Distance: 6.0 miles round trip, 3 Hours Elevation Change: 1,300 feet Level: Moderate Rating: 3 Stars People who live on the peninsula are well acquainted with 2,800-foot Black Mountain, the peak that forms a rounded green backdrop for the communities around Palo Alto. The town of Mountain View was
El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve Distance: 6.0 miles round trip, 3.0 hours Elevation Change: 600 feet Level: Easy Rating: 3 Stars The main attraction of the 2,800-acre El Corte de Madera Open Space Preserve is the monolithic sandstone formations at the end of the Tafoni trail…the sandstone at El Corte de Madera is
Uvas Canyon County Park Distance: 3.5 miles round trip, 2 Hours Elevation Change: 700 feet Level: Easy Rating: 3 Stars “Uvas Canyon County Pak is a little slice of waterfall heaven on the east side of the Santa Cruz mountains. Although the drive to reach it is a long journey from the freeway to
Sunol Regional Wilderness Distance: 5.5 miles round trip, 3 Hours (My time=1.5 hours) Elevation Change: 800 feet Level: Moderate Rating: 3 Stars “If the main part of Sunol (See 66) is too developed for your tastes, you’ll love the Welch Creek area. You won’t find picnic areas, horse rentals, or a visitor center there;
Sunol Regional Wilderness Distance: 6.0 miles round trip, 3 Hours (My time=2.5 hours) Elevation Change: 1,700 feet Level: Moderate Rating: 3 Stars “A trip to Sunol is like a trip to the country…When you hike the grassy, oak-studded hills…all you see are more grassy, oak-studded hills…It is protected land surrounded by protected land.”
Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve Distance: 4.4 miles round trip, 2 hours (My time 1.5 Hours) Elevation Change: 550 feet Level: Easy Rating: 4 Stars June 16, 2002 “Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve is more than 1,500 acres of windswept ridge top paradise…Its acreage combines several plant environments, including lush grasslands, creeks, springs, and oak-shaded
Mission Peak Regional Preserve Distance: 6.6 miles round trip, 3.5 hours (My time 2.5 Hours) Elevation Change: 2,000 feet Level: Strenuous Rating: 4 Stars June 16, 2002 “The grassy slope of 2,517-foot Mission Peak are a prerequisite hike for outdoor lovers in Alameda County…hundreds of East and South Bay residents make the pilgrimage to Mission
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve Distance: 8.0 miles round trip, 4 Hours (My time=3 hours including 1.5 extra miles) Elevation Change: 1,100 feet Level: Moderate Rating: 3 Stars “Windy Hill Open Space Preserve is best known to two kinds of people: those who love easy to reach, panoramic views and those who fly kites…includes