Northern California Hiking Bucket List for 2025
Ready to lace up your boots for 2025? Here’s your month-by-month guide to explore Northern California’s most breathtaking trails.
January: Skyline Wilderness Park
Skyline Park Perimeter (9.8-mile loop)
Kickstart the year with this challenging trail through Napa Valley’s foothills. Highlights include Lake Marie, Sugarloaf Mountain, and sweeping vineyard views. With a 2,280-foot elevation gain, this hike will get your heart pumping and your New Year’s resolutions rolling.
📍 2201 Imola Ave. (Napa), skylinepark.org
February: Joseph D. Grant County Park
Yerba Buena to Halls Valley Trail (6.7-mile loop)
February brings lush green hillsides and stunning vistas in San Jose’s Mount Hamilton area. This scenic trail offers views of the Diablo Range and the iconic Lick Observatory. Start at Halls Valley Lake and enjoy this peaceful escape.
📍 18405 Mt. Hamilton Rd. (San Jose), parks.santaclaracounty.gov
March: Morgan Territory Regional Preserve
Clyma to Condor Loop (7.8-mile loop)
Spring is for wildflowers, and Morgan Territory delivers. This underrated East Bay park offers vibrant blooms, wooded valleys, and long-range views. Expect muddy trails and scenic surprises on this rollercoaster-like loop.
📍 9401 Morgan Territory Rd. (Livermore), ebparks.org
April: Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
Mount Saint Helena Trail (10 miles out-and-back)
Climb the Bay Area’s tallest peak in April! Follow trails named after Robert Louis Stevenson to breathtaking summit views. The hike’s 2,000-foot elevation gain is intense, but the panoramic scenery makes it all worthwhile.
📍 4824 Lake County Hwy #4774 (Calistoga), parks.ca.gov
May: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Fall Creek to Ridge Trail (4.2-mile loop)
Take a break from strenuous hikes and enjoy a serene loop through Santa Cruz’s towering redwoods. This trail meanders along creeks and gentle ridges for a perfect spring day in nature.
📍 Felton Empire Rd. (Felton), parks.ca.gov
June: San Francisco Crosstown Trail
16.9 miles point-to-point
Explore San Francisco like never before on this urban hike spanning neighborhoods, parks, and iconic landmarks. Take breaks for food and drinks while enjoying views from Candlestick to Lands End.
📍 500 Hunters Pt. Expwy (San Francisco), crosstowntrail.org
July: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
Eagle Lake (6.8 miles out-and-back)
Escape summer crowds and head to Eagle Lake, a stunning alpine destination at 10,000 feet. This trail features granite peaks, lush meadows, and abundant wildlife like marmots and bears.
📍 Mineral King Rd. at Hwy 198 (Three Rivers), nps.gov/seki
August: Golden Gate Park
Golden Heron Lake + Strawberry Hill (2.3-mile loop)
Soak in summer with a leisurely stroll around Golden Gate Park’s lake and up to Strawberry Hill. Don’t miss the peaceful Golden Gate Pavilion and Huntington Falls along the way.
📍 50 Stow Lake Dr. (San Francisco), sfrecpark.org
September: Mokelumne Wilderness
Woods, Winnemucca + Round Top Lakes (4.7 miles out-and-back)
This short but scenic trail offers incredible views of volcanic landscapes and alpine lakes. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic and a swim in the serene Mokelumne Wilderness.
📍 5519 Mokelumne Wilderness (Arnold), fs.usda.gov
October: Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
Stream Trail (5.7 miles out-and-back)
Cool off in Oakland’s shaded redwoods with a gentle trail along a babbling creek. The gradual incline and peaceful setting make for a perfect autumn escape.
📍 7867 Redwood Rd. (Oakland), ebparks.org
November: Joaquin Miller Park
Palos Colorados Sequoia Bayview (3-mile loop)
Before the holiday rush, enjoy a quick hike in Oakland’s redwoods. This trail combines steep climbs with bay views, making it an ideal way to reset and reflect.
📍 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd. (Oakland), oaklandparks.org
December: Los Padres National Forest
Coast Ridge Road to Terrace Creek Trail (8 miles out-and-back)
Close out the year with jaw-dropping views of Big Sur’s rugged coastline and redwood groves. This trail offers a unique blend of sea and forest, perfect for a winter adventure.
📍 Coast Ridge Rd. (Big Sur), fs.usda.gov/lpnf
From panoramic peaks to serene redwoods, 2025 is shaping up to be an epic year of hiking. Which trail will you tackle first?
Created by: Amèlia Camps-McCaffrey
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