The days are getting shorter as winter solstice approaches, but don’t bury your head under the pillows—get outdoors with these three made-for-winter wanderings.

Winter brings the strongest ocean swells of the year, and there's no place more famed for big, gnarly surf than Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay, home to the annual Mavericks competition. But you don't have to wait for the event to enjoy this prime ocean-side landscape. Just beyond sight of the legendary Mavericks break, the bluffs north of Pillar Point offer one of the nicest ocean-watching walks on the coast. The trail we like is 150 feet above the ocean alongside rugged cliffs that descend to a protected beach, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Walking along the continent's crust, you'll have unobstructed views of Half Moon Bay to the south and Point Montara to the north. The trail ends after about a mile, but you can continue a bit farther through a residential neighborhood to the historic Moss Beach Distillery; enjoy a hot toddy, then head back the way you came.

Park at the dirt parking lot at the foot of the radar station at Pillar Point Harbor (map). Walk up the road, past the Stop Do Not Enter sign. The trail to the bluffs is just past the stop sign on the right. Dog-friendly. For more information, click here. The Moss Beach Distillery is temporarily closed until December 20.

Once a year Muir Woods is transformed into a luminous nighttime landscape. Late on the afternoon of the winter solstice, the trails are lit by luminarias, and hikers are invited to stroll along candlelit paths through some of the oldest and tallest trees on the planet. This annual winter-solstice event is a family-friendly celebration of one of the Bay Area's most beloved parks. The occasion includes stage performances, story telling, and bonfires, as well as a special "Solstice Menu" that typically features hot apple cider and other bone-warming beverages. Bring your favorite mug, winter jacket, and blanket, and savor some solstice enchantment.

The celebration is Dec. 21 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Parking is limited, so it's wise to arrive early and carpool. No dogs. Bring a flashlight. For more information, click here.

Perched on a small plateau off the main Coastal Trail, the labyrinth in San Francisco's Lands End is an inviting outdoor creation: a simple strolling circuit with unmatched views of the Marin Headlands and the Golden Gate Bridge. Created by Eduardo Aguilera in 2004, the labyrinth feels like it has been part of the landscape for centuries. It's the perfect setting for a solstice stroll. And in the winter, the waves crashing against the cliffs give the place a dramatic mystique. The labyrinth was intended to be a site for meditation and relaxation, but it's also just a lot of fun to walk on a whim. On our last visit—between big rainstorms—there wasn't a soul on the trail.

Park at Lands End parking lot behind 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 turns a sharp left, continue on a trail going straight. The labyrinth comes into view. Dog-friendly. For more information, click here.

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