3 Fabulous Bay Area Hikes

Ok, we know it's finally raining in the Bay Area - so where can you go when you want to be outside, and you don't have much time?

 

Here are three top picks:

 

1.  Mt Diablo State Park

a.  enter off Diablo Road, south entrance.  Just after the "gate" is a sign on the left with a walking trail called "Dan Cook Trail."  Park anywhere nearby, walk up a single-track trail which is usually ok in wet conditions.  You will see a stream with a bridge and you can continue to the right all the way to picnic areas near the public road.  There are beautiful Oak and Buckeye trees along the way!  Distance: as far as you want, but probably under 2 miles gives you the idea!

2.  Shell Ridge recreation area

a.  enter off the "Sutherland Road" entrance in Walnut Creek.  Walk to the right and down a hill to a nice single track trail which winds its way up hills and through Oak trees.  At this time of year in the evenings, you will see great horned owls beginning their family cycle.  Distance: once you connect up with the Mt Diablo/Briones trail you have walked up and down for about 2 miles.  One can either continue to the right on Mt Diablo/Briones, or turn around and go down (left) the same trail, or return roughly to where you began by using the wider Mt Diablo/Briones trail.

 

3.  Pt Reyes National Seashore

a.  After driving from Contra Costa County toward "Drake's Estero" (google maps picks it up) - you can find a number of walking trails that will either take you down to the divine Drake's beach, or you can choose the dry boardwalk walkways either at Limantour Beach or Abbott's lagoon.  Various migratory birds abound, so be sure to take your parka and your binoculars!

 

Do you have other ideas?  Let me know what your favorite hikes are - and get outside!

 

Hank