{"id":441617,"date":"2026-01-31T22:07:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T22:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/441617\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T22:07:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T22:07:11","slug":"3-great-workout-hikes-in-the-bay-area-to-try-when-you-cant-face-the-gym","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/441617\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Great \u2018Workout Hikes\u2019 in the Bay Area to Try (When You Can\u2019t Face the Gym)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just remember: always check conditions ahead of time and always bring more water than you think you\u2019ll need. On these treks in particular, hiking poles can be your friend,<\/a> especially on those fire roads that get especially slippery after heavy rains.<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re planning to take on any of these hikes for sunset, be aware of how long the hike down in the dark may take and be sure to bring a headlamp.<\/p>\n

\"\"Moises Tapi snaps a photo of Alejandro Cruz and kids, Tommy Vargas, (top) Sebastian Cruz and Alexa Cruz (right) on the summit post atop Mission Peak, above Fremont, California, on Sept. 13, 2014. Crowds of hikers can be found climbing the steep grade up to the summit of East Bay Regional Park\u2019s Mission Peak. At the top, they find a strange post embedded into an outcropping of rocks. (Michael Macor\/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
\nMontara Mountain, Montara<\/p>\n

There are a few ways to access the top of this coastal peak: either from Pacifica\u2019s San Pedro Valley County Park<\/a> ($6 to enter and park), from Highway 1 near Grey Whale Cove Beach<\/a> (limited parking, no fee) or along Pedro Mountain Road or Corona Street<\/a> in Montara.<\/p>\n

From Pacifica, the trail is slightly shorter, but more punishing. If you come from the Highway 1 side, you\u2019ll start by passing horse stables and lovely views of the farmland below before ascending for a close-up look at the treacherous Devil\u2019s Slide stretch of Highway 1 and the Tom Lantos Tunnel.<\/p>\n

\"\"Montara Mountain, which rises from the Devil\u2019s Slide area, from its base on April 3, 2021. (Sarah Wright\/KQED)<\/p>\n

The first few miles scale a very reasonable meandering grade that may be socked in with fog to start. But don\u2019t worry, you\u2019ll soon start ascending to break through the clouds<\/a>, revealing vast views of the Pacific Ocean below.<\/p>\n

Along the way, there are some benches to rest at and plenty of good views to enjoy with sips of water. But once your body burns out toward the very top, it may be time to turn around, since cell towers occupy the mountain\u2019s actual peaks and don\u2019t offer much in terms of resting spots with views.<\/p>\n

But the good news is this: Turn around, and you\u2019ll see that the descending views are even better than those on the uphill climb. On clear days, you can even keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of the Farallon Islands.<\/p>\n

Statistics: 7 miles-10 miles, 1,700 feet of elevation gain<\/p>\n

Need-to-know: This trail is shared with mountain bikers, so be aware as you take tight corners. Be sure to bring sun protection and long layers; there\u2019s poison oak and little to no shade on this hike.<\/p>\n

Mission Peak, Fremont<\/p>\n

Be warned: The seemingly endless upward trajectory of this hike<\/a> \u2014 perhaps the Bay Area\u2019s best bang-for-your-buck \u201cworkout trail\u201d \u2014 may send you through the full range of emotions.<\/p>\n

This one has two parking options:<\/a>\u00a0Stanford Staging Area<\/a>, which has limited but free parking, or Ohlone College<\/a>, where parking is $4 but plentiful.<\/p>\n

\"\"A hiker enjoys the view from the top of Mission Peak in Fremont on April 25, 2025. (Sarah Wright\/KQED)<\/p>\n

From either starting point, as you start your climb, the walk may seem casual \u2014 even doable. But after the 40th switchback with miles to go, you may start to regret your choice.<\/p>\n

And the kicker? The hardest part of this trail is the top, where the nicely graded gravel trail turns into slippery, steep dirt. But by that point, you\u2019ve committed \u2014 and not pushing to the summit isn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n

Yet after all this, the view at the top is your reward, and 100% worth the effort. You\u2019ll be able to see the entire South Bay laid out in front of you, plus the rolling green hills of the East Bay behind \u2014 and on a clear day, maybe even some other high Bay Area peaks. Sometimes, a few paragliders might even greet you at the top.<\/p>\n

\"\"A cow observes hikers scaling Mission Peak in Fremont on April 25, 2025. (Sarah Wright\/KQED)<\/p>\n

And on your way down? You\u2019ll even get the satisfaction of offering a few words of encouragement to those still trekking up.<\/p>\n

Statistics: 6 miles, 2,100 feet of elevation gain<\/p>\n

Need-to-know: There is absolutely no water or shade on the way up this trail, so bring at least two liters per person. While dogs are allowed on this trail, be mindful that dogs have died on Mission Peak<\/a> due to heat stroke and dehydration, so take care of your pup \u2014 and know that you will be sharing the area with cows and equestrians.<\/p>\n

Rose Peak, Livermore<\/p>\n

This one is for the real masochists. Maybe you\u2019re training for a trip to the Sierra this summer and want to fast-track getting your body ready. Perhaps you just want to test what you\u2019re capable of in a day.<\/p>\n

Or maybe you\u2019ve just always looked at the East Bay\u2019s expanse of open space and wondered: What is smack dab in the middle of that that\u2019s worth seeing? Here\u2019s your answer: Rose Peak<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"The view near the top of Rose Peak, a punishing 20-mile hike along the Ohlone Wilderness Trail on April 23, 2025. (Sarah Wright\/KQED)<\/p>\n

The \u201ccenterpiece\u201d of the Ohlone Wilderness Regional Preserve,<\/a> it rises to 3,800 feet and is flush with wildlife and very few people, making it ideal for escaping any semblance of civilization for the day.<\/p>\n

And be warned: it will be a full day. Whether you start from the Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve<\/a> or Del Valle Regional Park<\/a> (each costs $5 to park), expect nearly 20 miles and 4 to 5,000 feet of elevation gain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Just remember: always check conditions ahead of time and always bring more water than you think you\u2019ll need.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":441618,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[337,97],"class_list":["post-441617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fitness","tag-fitness","tag-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441617"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/441617\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/441618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=441617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=441617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}