Hill Yeah!

Sometimes you've just gotta head for the hills. And lucky for us, the Bay Area is chock full of hills that top out to truly outstanding views. These three parks and preserves have short hikes to brilliant vistas, and they're pretty in autumn. Bonus wine and sunsets.

Week: 10.13.2021
Regions: Northern CA

Hill of a Good Hike

Hike a panoramic loop at St. Joseph's Hill in the Los Gatos Hills

Hiker pointing towards the Lexington Reservoir at the high point of St. Joseph's Hill in Los Gatos
Mountain biker riding upa wide trail at St. Joseph's Hill in Los Gatos Bay Area
Hikers on a wide and flat trail at St. Joseph's Hill in Los Gatos
Hiker heading up a wide dirt trail at St. Joseph's Hill in Los Gatos
Located just off Highway 17 in the Los Gatos hills, St. Joseph’s Hill packs a big panorama within this 3.5-mile loop. This beautiful preserve has hiking and biking trails, and beautiful vistas.
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Tiny Hike, Mighty View

Hidden Timberhill Park in Napa

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Nestled in Napa's beautiful Browns Valley neighborhood, Timberhill Park is a hidden gem with a fantastic hike and equally fantastic views.
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Bernal Desire

Sunset Hike at Bernal Heights Park in San Francisco

A group of friends hangs out at the top of Bernal Heights Park in San Francisco, looking out at the sunset
Bernal Height Park San Francisco sunset
It's one of the best views in San Francisco. Bernal Heights Park is an underrated hilltop park that simply beams at sunset, with views of downtown SF, the Golden Gate, and the Bay Bridge.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

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  2. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

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  3. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

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  4. woman hiking Buck Gulch Falls Novato

    Buck Wild!

    Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.

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  1. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

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  2. Keough's Hot Springs

    Soaking Up History

    When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.

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  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

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  4. Grover Hot Springs

    State Park Soaker

    Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.

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