The days are longer and yet the weekends somehow still feel too short! Whether it’s after work or starting your Saturday, make the most of the extra daylight by taking some short hikes that highlight the coast.
Back by Brunch
This easy hike in Marin’s Fort Baker has a lot going for it: it’s short and easy, it has great views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and it starts and finishes at a nice place for brunch. Hiking 1.25 miles, you’ll work up just enough of a sweat to justify the huevos rancheros or sourdough waffle at nearby Cavallo Point Lodge’s Murray Circle Restaurant. The hike starts with a gentle climb up Drown Road, a wide dirt fire road through a eucalyptus forest. For those looking to learn a little history, there’s a cell phone audio tour (just call the number on the info signs). The forest soon gives way to a beautiful and panoramic view of the Golden Gate Bridge with Horseshoe Bay and Cavallo Point in the foreground. After reaching its high point, you’ll descend the Chapel Steps to Fort Baker Chapel (popular for Saturday afternoon weddings). Wander your way through the hotel grounds to Murray Circle Restaurant and, if you’re lucky, a table on the patio!
From Hwy. 101 in Marin, exit Alexander Rd. and go toward Sausalito. Turn right following the sign to Fort Baker. Park in the large dirt parking lot east of Cavallo Point Lodge along Fort Baker/East Rd. (just before the speed bumps). Follow the directions above to make a 1.25-mile hike. The fire road is dog-friendly, but the Chapel Steps are not. Murray Circle Restaurant is dog friendly on the patio.
Activity: Hike
Region: North Bay
Pacifica Palisades
Cliffs clawing at the Pacific Ocean, curling waves, sandy beaches, and a sweet spot for potential gray whale sightings: the beautiful bluffs bordering the ocean in Pacifica don’t get a lot of hype, and that’s what makes a visit to Rockaway Point rather refreshing. Holler a few cliffside “woo-hoos!” on a short hike from San Pedro Beach to the point. The 2.6-mile out-and-back journey up Montara Mountain departs from what has to be the world’s most beautifully located Taco Bell—right on San Pedro’s sand! From there, it’s easy traveling on a paved multiuse path past orange, green, red, and pink ice plant blanketing the cliffs. With the wild ocean and a massive Monterey cypress to the west, veer toward the water on a single-track dirt path all the way to Rockaway Point, a subtle 100-foot peak overlooking the Pacific and its shoreline crags.
TIP: Continue past Rockaway Point to wind down a twisting pedestrian path carved into the hillside and leading to Rockaway Beach. Pass Rockaway Beach and you can ascend the next ridge to reach Mori Point—an excellent place for spying gray whales during migration season.
Day parking is available for $6 at San Pedro Beach, 5200 Coast Hwy. in Pacifica. Dog-friendly!
Activity: Hike ,Dog-friendly
Region: Peninsula & South Bay
Battery Charger
A coastal hike with golden views of the Golden Gate … yep, that happens right in San Francisco! This 3-mile out-and-back hike along the Batteries to Bluffs Trail has you rising to the occasion with the help of hundreds of steps—some sand-covered, some wooden, some cement from World War II relics. From the Baker Beach parking lot, stroll north on the sand until you reach the infamous "sand ladder." Ascend this first set of steps, plateauing roadside shortly before turning onto the Batteries to Bluffs Trail, which descends momentarily before challenging hikers with a thigh-burning climb. You might work up a sweat, but it’s worth it for the views of San Francisco, Point Bonita, and the rest of the Marin Headlands. Harbor porpoises splash below and brown pelicans cruise above. When you ascend again follow signs to the bridge, pausing to check out the old batteries for which the trail is named. Though trail restoration is still in progress, you can now continue under the bridge and, if you want, check out the viewpoint at Battery Lancaster (very popular with tourists). Return the way you came, heading west back to Baker Beach.
Free parking is available at Baker Beach in the Presidio (map). Dog-friendly!
Activity: Hike ,Dog-friendly
Region: San Francisco
Land. Sea. Sky. And You!
Land, sea, sky—don’t you just love scoring a hat trick in the great outdoors? Monterey County is the postcard for adventures that are pure California. Make like a local and ditch the car for a bike: miles of trails bring amazing options. Pedal the sublime waterfront of the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail, wheel right beside Big Sur’s iconic Bixby Bridge on the Old Coast Road, or head to the roller-coaster hills of Toro Park for some fat-tire fun. Monterey is also an ideal place for all abilities of kayakers to explore its famous waters. From paddling among sea otters and leopard sharks in gentle Elkhorn Slough to exploring the waters alongside Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Aquarium—close encounters of the marine kind are practically guaranteed! The Top 10 hikes in Monterey showcase land and sea, including Point Lobos State Reserve (aka “the crown jewel of the state park system”). The county is also home to California’s newest national park—Pinnacles—a place that can’t be beat for spring wildflowers, incredible caves, rock climbing, and the chance to spot the rare California Condor. End the day camping under the redwoods above the famous McWay Falls in Big Sur. This spring, grab life by the moments in Monterey!
BONUS: Check out the Top Itineraries for your next Monterey getaway, including lists of the best hikes, bike rides, beaches, campsites, dog-friendly activities, and more.