Winter is one of the best times to catch a sunrise, especially after a recent rain scrubs the sky. Grab a thermos, and get to any of these prime spots to watch the sun come up over some of the Bay's brightest icons. Rise and shine!
Watching the sun set over the Golden Gate Bridge is awesome. But there's another way to be amazed at the beauty of the Bay Area's most famous landmark: check out a sunrise from San Francisco's Lands End Labyrinth. Get acquainted with this wild corner of the city on a thirty-minute stroll along the Coastal Trail, a prime section of what we call The Grand Walk. The path parallels dramatic cliffs buffering a surly Pacific strewn with shipwrecks, making it difficult to believe this is actually an urban hike. Take a spur trail to a small plateau where the labyrinth sits. Created by Eduardo Aguilera in 2004, the maze feels like it has been part of the landscape for centuries—and faces cleanly east toward the Golden Gate. Thrashing waves below create a bass that's better than a drumroll as the sun climbs and crowns the wispy clouds above the bridge. All that glitters is golden.Park at Lands End parking lot by the Cliff House at Point Lobos Ave and 48th Ave. (map). Walk east on the Coastal Trail and take the offshoot trail to Mile Rock Beach. Descend the stairs. When the staircase make a sharp left, continue on a trail going straight. The labyrinth comes into view. Dog-friendly. For more information, click here.
The beauty of Ring Mountain Open Space is that you've probably never heard of it. This tiny 367-acre park near Tiburon has everything you look for in catching a sunrise: a wide open expanse that can't be reached by car; a rare three-bridge view; and an abundance of boulders—small, medium, and large, with the extra-large distinction going to Turtle Rock—the perfect perch for watching the sun come up. Arrive about an hour before sunrise for a 2.6-mile (round-trip) hike that makes a stop at the rock. Starting from the Paradise Drive trailhead, climb a semi-steep rocky dirt path through coast live oak and California Bay. Continue on the Loop Trail to scale the eastern end of the 602-foot mountain, continuing a climb through low, open grasses, oak cover, and over a small bridge. A final, quarter-mile, steep jaunt followed by a downhill dip leads the way to hulking Turtle Rock. Scramble up to the top of it, and soak up the glowing pinks and reds seeping into the vistas of Tiburon, Belvedere, and the San Francisco Bay—including the Golden Gate, Bay, and Richmond-Bay bridges. The sun's not the only thing rising: Mount Diablo and Mount Tamalpais stand tall to the east and west. Return via the Phyllis Ellman Loop Trail. Glowing review!
To get there, take US 101 to Corte Madera, and exit at Paradise Dr./Tamalpais Dr. Head east on Tamalpais Dr., veering right onto San Clemente as it turns into Paradise Dr. Continue about a mile on Paradise Dr., just past Westward Dr. The preserve gate and trailhead are on the right side of the road, and free street parking is available. Find a map of the open space on the Ring Mountain Open Space website. Dog-friendly!
To get there, take US 101 to Corte Madera, and exit at Paradise Dr./Tamalpais Dr. Head east on Tamalpais Dr., veering right onto San Clemente as it turns into Paradise Dr. Continue about a mile on Paradise Dr., just past Westward Dr. The preserve gate and trailhead are on the right side of the road, and free street parking is available. Find a map of the open space on the Ring Mountain Open Space website. Dog-friendly!
Sure Mount Diablo makes a great place to watch a sunrise. The only problem? The gates don't open until 8:00 a.m. A good alternative? The East Bay's Wildcat Canyon Regional Park—where on clear days early risers will be rewarded with views of the sun casting its first rays over Diablo. Bring a flashlight and head for Wildcat's sweeping ridge-top. The quickest way is on the Clark-Boas Trail, accessed via a hidden trailhead tucked into the northern corner of the park. Begin a steady half-mile ascent, and watch your step, cows and horses enjoy the solitude here too! Connect to the San Pablo Ridge Trail, walking in the direction of the dimly lit, southeast sky. At 1.5 miles, the trail reaches its 1,057-foot peak, marked by an old wooden bench that looks out towards mid-winter's frame. Set your eyes east and watch as the sun crests over the horizon. After a few minutes, shift your gaze west and enjoy views of San Francisco's skyline and the Golden Gate Bridge. What a sun time!
To reach the trailhead, take exit 18 off of I-80 and head west on San Pablo Dam Rd. After passing the commercial strip, take a right on Clark Rd., and follow it uphill to the trailhead parking area. Hike up the Clark-Boas Trail and turn left onto the San Pablo Ridge Trail. The featured vantage point is at mile 1.5 of the hike, but any of the ridgeline high-points will work. For a five-mile-loop hike, continue on the San Pablo Ridge Trail to the next trail intersection. Turn left to follow Old Nimitz Way back to the San Pablo Ridge Trail. Retrace your steps to the parking area. Dog-friendly!
To reach the trailhead, take exit 18 off of I-80 and head west on San Pablo Dam Rd. After passing the commercial strip, take a right on Clark Rd., and follow it uphill to the trailhead parking area. Hike up the Clark-Boas Trail and turn left onto the San Pablo Ridge Trail. The featured vantage point is at mile 1.5 of the hike, but any of the ridgeline high-points will work. For a five-mile-loop hike, continue on the San Pablo Ridge Trail to the next trail intersection. Turn left to follow Old Nimitz Way back to the San Pablo Ridge Trail. Retrace your steps to the parking area. Dog-friendly!
Before there was The Lord of the Rings, and the soon-to-be released prequel, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, there was New Zealand—quite simply one of the most beautiful countries in the world. With its unspoiled landscapes of turquoise ocean enclaves, crystal-clear rivers, high-rising mountains and mint-green rainforests, New Zealand is like nowhere else on earth ('Middle-earth', that is!). It's also one of the very best places to experience an epic fantasy that goes far beyond the movies.
How do you do it? Go tramping! When it comes to outdoor recreation, this tiny country south of the equator leads the pack with classic, accessible hiking (aka 'tramping' in Kiwi speak) routes, including The Finest Walk in the World—The Milford Track, and the Routeburn Track, consistently named one of the top 10 in the world. With nearly 30 percent of the country designated protected land open to the public, there are plenty of one-hour and day hikes or longer-trek options: pristine beaches, rugged coastal trails, high country farmland, giant glaciers, and high alpine passes—take your pick.
Among the choices, New Zealand has nine 'Great Walks' guaranteed to take you through the most magnificent places in the country. Check out all of New Zealand's hiking ideas and itineraries. Yep, some fantasies do come true.
BONUS: Fly direct to New Zealand from San Francisco. Check out newzealand.com's hiking packages and deals.
How do you do it? Go tramping! When it comes to outdoor recreation, this tiny country south of the equator leads the pack with classic, accessible hiking (aka 'tramping' in Kiwi speak) routes, including The Finest Walk in the World—The Milford Track, and the Routeburn Track, consistently named one of the top 10 in the world. With nearly 30 percent of the country designated protected land open to the public, there are plenty of one-hour and day hikes or longer-trek options: pristine beaches, rugged coastal trails, high country farmland, giant glaciers, and high alpine passes—take your pick.
Among the choices, New Zealand has nine 'Great Walks' guaranteed to take you through the most magnificent places in the country. Check out all of New Zealand's hiking ideas and itineraries. Yep, some fantasies do come true.
BONUS: Fly direct to New Zealand from San Francisco. Check out newzealand.com's hiking packages and deals.