Autumn Roll Call

That cooler morning air, followed by midday sun splashing across golden hills as leaves float down from the trees … yeah, let’s go for a ride! These three Bay Area bike (and hike) trails serve up a mix of signature big views, bold reds (redwoods and wine!), and wide-open spaces.

Week: 10.21.2026
Regions: Northern CA

Hike or Bike the Skyline

Hike or Bike the Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail

Peninsula & South Bay
Bike Rides
A new section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail is open for biking, hiking, or horseback riding along the 12-mile (out-and-back) Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail.
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Chasing Dark Skies: Southern Oregon

Explore Southern Oregon and the Outback's International Dark Sky Sanctuary

Deserts, Points Beyond
Relaxing, Overnight Escapes, Hikes
Sponsored
Hot springs, hiking, lodging, antelope, and one of the world’s best places for looking up at night.
Southern Oregon’s Certified Dark Sky Sanctuary & Parks

Through the Grapevine

Bike the Vine Trail to Yountville in Napa Valley

North Bay
Bike Rides, Dog Friendly
Woman riding a bike on the the Vine Trail in Napa Valley
Cycle California’s most famous wine valley on the car-free Vine Trail, an ambitious project going through the heart of Napa Valley. Park your car and ride 6 miles from Napa to Yountville for lunch.
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Wheels Down Calero

Mountain Bike a Beginner Friendly Trail at Calero County Park

Peninsula & South Bay
Dog Friendly, Bike Rides, Hikes
Person riding bike on wide dirt trail next to a lake at Calero County Park
New to mountain biking and searching for beginner-friendly trails? Head to Calero County Park! This 9.5-mile loop is a gentle, scenic ride through rolling hills.
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A Hiker looking over a mountain range

Your Inbox to the Outdoors

Stay up to date with our weekly recommendations on where to explore locally in California.

Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Sponsored

    Chasing Dark Skies: Southern Oregon

    Hot springs, hiking, lodging, antelope, and one of the world’s best places for looking up at night.

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  2. Woman with her arms outstretched to the rolling hills scenery while on a rock outcrop at Barnabe Peak in Samuel P Taylor Sate Park in Marin

    Barnabe Bonanza

    Sure, there are higher mountains in Marin (Mount Tam) and easier ascents (Mount Burdell), but is there a more expansive North Bay view? Barnabe Peak in Samuel P. Taylor State Park offers a glorious panorama including Mount Tam, Mount Diablo, and Mount St. Helena.

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  3. Tamtastic Sunset

    Sure, the East Peak of Mount Tam is absolutely spectacular at sunset, but some magic-hour enthusiasts head to a nearby spot, Trojan Point, for a little more personal space in their panoramic viewings.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Lagoon Swoon

    We all love an underdog story, especially in the shadow of the greats. Enter a truly SoCal coastal version: Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Though situated next to Surfrider Beach, a fa

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  2. Woman hiking the San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail to San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County

    Bluffing Good!

    Lovely coastline, beautiful beaches, unique geological history, and picturesque sandstone cliffs with limited foot traffic in San Diego County? Head to San Onofre State Beach and the 5-mile San Onofre Bluffs Loop Trail.

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  3. Tahoe's Trio of Lake Vistas

    They say good things come in threes, and it’s true when you embark on this 8-mile (round-trip) hike in Tahoe’s Desolation Wilderness. It gives you three excellent lake vistas: Eagl

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