{"id":146374,"date":"2026-01-23T14:45:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T14:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/146374\/"},"modified":"2026-01-23T14:45:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T14:45:09","slug":"7-best-under-the-radar-trails-in-the-bay-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/146374\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Best Under-the-Radar Trails in the Bay Area"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last fall, travel guide guru Moon put out a new version of the San Francisco Bay Area edition of its 101 Great Hikes series. <\/p>\n

It was author Ann Marie Brown who laced up her boots to sleuth out the dozens of local trails that appear in the book, from the best dog-friendly hikes to the best summit vistas.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Bay Area has a wealth of natural diversity, which means hikers can pick a landscape to suit their mood: redwood groves, coastal dunes, oak woodlands, tidal marshes, grassland prairies, pine-studded ridges, and more,\u201d says Brown. But what astounds her most \u201cis how much terrain is still relatively wild\u2014about 29 percent of the Bay Area\u2019s land is protected open space. That\u2019s an amazing gift for anyone who hikes or lives here.\u201d <\/p>\n

In the guide, Brown not only provides a map and elevation profile for each hike; she breaks them down mile-by-mile, noting nice spots for views and snack breaks, and where the siren\u2019s call of sneaky spur trails might throw you off course. The end of each entry offers an added bonus: the best nearby cafe, brewery, market, or restaurant to refuel and toast to the miles completed.<\/p>\n

A bona fide expert on Bay Area hiking<\/a>, we asked Brown to share some of the most overlooked, under-the-radar trails in the book\u2019s new edition. She selected seven of them from Napa to Santa Cruz and told 7×7 why they\u2019re well worth seeking out in 2026.<\/p>\n

Big Rock Ridge Trail, Lucas Valley Open Space Preserve (7.4\u00a0miles out-and-back)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

(Ann Marie Brown)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I need a fresh perspective, I hike to a summit or high point,\u201d says Brown. \u201cBig Rock Ridge is Marin County\u2019s second highest peak, and it offers dramatic views of Mount Diablo, Mount Tam, San Francisco, and three graceful bridges (Golden Gate, Bay, and Richmond-San Rafael). When the fog rolls in, the high ridge towers above the puffy marshmallow layer and delivers an even dreamier vista.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difficulty: Moderate<\/p>\n

Dogs Allowed: No<\/p>\n

Best Nearby Bites + Brews: Big Rock Deli Cafe<\/a> (1500 Lucas Valley Rd., San Rafael)<\/p>\n

\/\/ More info on page 121 of the Moon 101 Great Hikes Guide<\/a>; Lucas Valley Rd. (San Rafael), parks.marincounty.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Old Cove Landing Trail, Wilder Ranch State Park (2.4\u00a0mile loop)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

(Ann Marie Brown)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy to love this easy trail for its mesmerizing ocean views, carved sandstone formations, and a hidden fern cave tucked into the back of a pocket beach,\u201d Brown explains. \u201cOn top of all that, moments of wonder occur frequently on these coastal bluffs: A bobcat slips through the grasses, a gray whale rises from the sea, or a squadron of pelicans flies past at eye level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difficulty: Easy<\/p>\n

Dogs Allowed: No<\/p>\n

Best Nearby Bites + Brews: Davenport Roadhouse<\/a> (1 Davenport Ave., Davenport)<\/p>\n

\/\/ $10 day-use fee per vehicle; more info on page 338 of the Moon 101 Great Hikes Guide<\/a>; 1401 Coast Rd. (Santa Cruz), parks.ca.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Coast, Fire Lane, Laguna Loop, Point Reyes National Seashore (6 mile loop)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

(Ann Marie Brown)<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite beaches are the ones you can\u2019t drive to, and Santa Maria Beach is one of several delightful hike-in beaches at Point Reyes,\u201d Brown explains. \u201cLaguna Trail\u2019s single-track leads through dense foliage to a broad stretch of sand, where I like to break out a picnic or a book. The loop\u2019s return leg on Coast Trail often reveals tule elk grazing on the grasslands.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difficulty: Easy-moderate<\/p>\n

Dogs Allowed: No<\/p>\n

Best Nearby Bites + Brews: Side Street Kitchen<\/a> (60 40th St., Point Reyes Station)<\/p>\n

\/\/ More info on page 101 of the Moon 101 Great Hikes Guide<\/a>; Laguna Rd. (Point Reyes Station), nps.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Flag Hill Loop, Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve (3.8 mile loop)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

(Ann Marie Brown)<\/p>\n

\u201cA trip to Sunol always feels like a trip to the country, even though Interstate 680 is only a short distance away,\u201d muses Brown. \u201cThis loop hike delivers a breathtaking show of California poppies in spring and lush grasslands year-round. If I can take my eyes off the long-distance views, I look for fossilized seashells in Flag Hill\u2019s sandstone boulders.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difficulty: Moderate<\/p>\n

Dogs Allowed: Yes for a $2 fee<\/p>\n

Best Nearby Bites + Brews: Freewheel Brewing Co.<\/a> (44536 S. Grimmer Blvd., Fremont)<\/p>\n

\/\/ More info on page 247 of the Moon 101 Great Hikes Guide<\/a>; 1895 Geary Rd. (Sunol), ebparks.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Franklin Ridge Loop, Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline (3.5\u00a0mile loop)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

(Ann Marie Brown)<\/p>\n

\u201cI have always been fascinated by the Carquinez Strait\u2019s eight-mile-long waterway, which links Suisun Bay and San Pablo Bay,\u201d says Brown. \u201cThis loop trail circles a grassland-covered ridge high above the strait, offering sweeping blue-water views and a chance to see catamarans, barges, and cargo ships sailing by.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difficulty: Easy<\/p>\n

Dogs Allowed: Yes<\/p>\n

Best Nearby Bites + Brews: Del Cielo Brewing Company<\/a> (701 Escobar St., Martinez)<\/p>\n

\/\/ More info on page 196 of the Moon 101 Great Hikes Guide<\/a>; Hillside Pl. (Martinez), ebparks.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Table Rock, Robert Louis Stevenson State Park (4.6 mile out-and-back)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

(Ann Marie Brown)<\/p>\n

\u201cVolcanic landscapes capture my imagination, and this trail leads through an otherworldly tableau of igneous rock outcrops,\u201d Brown says. \u201cWildfires have taken a toll on the forest, but the fascinating geology and lofty Napa Valley vistas remain. Two spiraling labyrinths make a good place to pause for introspection.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difficulty: Moderate<\/p>\n

Dogs Allowed: No<\/p>\n

Best Nearby Bites + Brews: Napa Valley Brewing Company<\/a> (1250 Lincoln Ave., Calistoga)<\/p>\n

\/\/ More info on page 42 of the Moon 101 Great Hikes Guide<\/a>; Hwy 29 (Calistoga), parks.ca.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

Peters Creek & Long Ridge Loop, Long Ridge Open Space Preserve (4.5\u00a0mile loop)<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

(Ann Marie Brown)<\/p>\n

When I want to tune out the world, I look for a serene sylvan setting where I can hear the sound of my own breathing,\u201d Brown says. \u201cOne favorite spot is on top of Long Ridge, where a sturdy bench honors author and open space advocate Wallace Stegner. I like to soak in the silence while I survey the acres of forests and meadows descending to the Pacific.\u201d<\/p>\n

Difficulty: Easy-moderate<\/p>\n

Dogs Allowed: No<\/p>\n

Best Nearby Bites + Brews: Out of the Barrel Taproom<\/a> (1875 S. Bascom Ave. (Campbell) or 201 Los Gatos Saratoga Rd., Los Gatos)<\/p>\n

\/\/ More info on page 316 of the Moon 101 Great Hikes Guide<\/a>; Skyline Blvd. (La Honda), openspace.org
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