Hikes in the Bay Area: 10 trails with scenic endings

While en route to the popular Point Reyes Lighthouse, be sure to take notice of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard along the way. It’s a great walk for those who aren’t advanced hikers, filled with redwoods, moist air, and spectacular greenery.

East Bay residents have a volcano in their backyard. Hike up Round Top Loop Trail (elevation 1763 feet) to reach the top, or Volcanic Trail for a self-guided volcanic tour. There’s a backpacking campground at the top, plus dogs are allowed on certain trails.

The Tourist Club lodge, built by Nature Friends on Mt. Tamalpais in 1914, looks like something straight out of Austria. It’s a private club for the use of its members, but is open to the public during their festivals in May, July, and September (check their online calendar before heading out). But that doesn’t mean you can’t take a great hike around the scenic area any other time of the year.

For city dwellers who don’t want to leave the comfy 7×7-mile confines of San Francisco, a good hike up the Filbert Street Steps is ideal. Not only will you get to see Coit Tower and spectacular views of the city, the cottages dotted along the way are truly spectacular. Don’t forget to check out Grace Marchant Garden along the way, a verdant garden that’s open to the public.

Also hidden on Mt. Tamalpais, the West Point Inn was a stop on the “Crookedest Railroad in the World” for beach-bound stagecoaches. The railroad is no more, but the Inn is open to the public (you can still rent a room overnight). The easiest hiking access starts at the Pan Toll Ranger Station at 3801 Panoramic Highway or the Boot Jack trailhead parking lot.

Yosemite’s Hetch Hetchy feeds SF its water, and the Pulgas Water Temple was built at the end as a monument to the new water system. It’s located within the watershed, just south of Crystal Springs reservoir. The site (and its parking lot) are only open to the public on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., so plan accordingly.

Inspiration Point has lots of (you guessed it) inspirational views, including the stone Rotary Peace Grove lookout and an abandoned Nike missile site. It’s best to start at the Inspiration Point parking lot and choose your route from there.

Point Bonita is still an active lighthouse in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Don’t let the short half-mile hike fool you—it requires passing through a tunnel carved by Chinese laborers in 1876 and crossing over the water on a suspension bridge. A free shuttle runs Saturdays and Sundays from a designated drop off/pickup point inside the Marin Headlands, going directly to the lighthouse trail head.

This week’s rain will result in flowing waterfalls. Not to be missed! The most popular (and therefore most crowded) is the Cataract Falls on Mt. Tam. Head down the Laurel Dell Fire Road, then continue to the left on Cascade Trail to the falls.

The 140-acre bluff top has killer views of the whole coast, but also a direct view of the world-famous Mavericks surf break. It’s about half a mile offshore from the Pillar Point Air Force tracking station, but you’ll probably need binoculars to see anything. A parking lot is near the Jean Lauer trailhead.