Woman jumping on the beach at Pescadero Marsh

Autumn Taking Flight

Autumn brings new light. Ease into the season with these mellow hike and bike adventures at wetlands and beaches across the Bay Area. Savor peaceful trails, see birdlife, and relax waterside.

Week: 09.06.2023
Regions: Northern CA

Mellow in the Marsh

Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve on the San Mateo Coast

Hike Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve
Woman leaping off a tree log by a lagoon at Pescadero Marsh Preserve
Woman standing at a lagoon at Pescadero Marsh Preserve
Woman walking alongside the water at Pescadero Marsh Preserve
Beach, birds, ice plant popping purple flowers: That’s a hiking slam dunk! Hike about 2 miles at Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve using their easy to navigate (well-signed) Sequoia Audubon Trail.
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Watershed Moment

Take an easy 2-mile hike that traces the Presidio's largest watershed, Tennessee Hollow

Woman wearing a white backpack walks down a winding path
The Presidio in San Francisco offers some of the best urban hiking in the country! And the new marsh bridges under Presidio Parkway offer more habitat for plants, fish, and bird life... and trails for us!
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Wetland Reawakening

Bike or hike the Hamilton Wetlands in Novato

A woman biking on a wide flat dirt path next to the water at Hamilton Wetlands in Novato
Woman riding her bike at Hamilton Wetlands in Novato
Walkers on the wide open dirt trail at Hamilton Wetlands in Novato North Bay
Woman stopped on her bike looking at information signs and the San Pablo Bay at Hamilton Wetlands in Novato
Once an army airfield and now a thriving wetland, Novato’s Hamilton Wetlands is a glimpse into both the past and the future. Take a mellow bike ride or walk on the flat Bay Trail to enjoy the sights.
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Wetlands & Works of Art!

Hiking Palo Alto's Baylands Nature Preserve

If the only bird you pay any attention to is the one you see on Twitter, then Palo Alto has an outdoor surprise for you. Baylands Nature Preserve is considered one of the best birding spots on the West Coast and gets bragging rights as one of the largest tracts of undisturbed mar
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Barbary Coast Trail medallion hike in San Francisco

    Medallion Walk SF

    The Barbary Coast Trail is a 3.8-mile historical walk and treasure hunt through San Francisco. Be on the lookout for hubcap-sized bronze medallions placed on the city sidewalks with arrows pointing you in the right direction.

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  2. Greater by the Dozen

    This hike is anything but a dime a dozen. The all-new "Golden Gate Dozen Trail" links 12 National Park sites on a spectacular 13-mile journey across San Francisco's coastline.

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  3. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

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  4. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Roaring Redwoods

    Tucked next to brilliant Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz, the folks at Roaring Camp Railroads had a bright idea: When the sun goes down, the rainbow lights come up. Sequoias at Night brings big magic to some of the tallest trees in the world.

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  2. There's Always To Moro!

    Looking for a rock-solid itinerary in Sequoia National Park? Pair the park's most famous viewpoint with one that's often overlooked.

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  3. Rancho Style

    Vicente Bluffs Reserve dazzles anytime, but during the golden hour it’s an absolute knockout. Majestic rocky bluffs, dreamy ocean views, and a picturesque lighthouse are just a few of the reasons.

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  4. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

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