Bikers taking a break to overlook Lexington Reservoir from El Sereno Open Space Preserve Bay Area Ridge Trail South Bay

Favorite Ridge Trail Hikes & Bike Rides

The Bay Area Ridge Trail (aka Ridge Trail) comprises over 400 miles of trails encircling the bay. That's a lot of hiking and biking and multi-use adventures! We've rounded up three of the best sections to do in San Francisco and the East and South Bay.

Week: 09.07.2022
Regions: Northern CA

Serenity in El Sereno

Hike or bike a new section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail in El Sereno Open Space Preserve

Bikers checking out the view of the reservoir from a bench in El Sereno Open Space Preserve on the Bay Area Ridge Trail
Sign for the Bay Area Ridge Trail in El Sereno Open Space Preserve in the South Bay
Person taking a break to take in the view at El Sereno Open Space Preserve
This one’s for solitude seekers. The El Sereno Open Space Preserve leg of the Bay Area Ridge Trail is a new 7-mile (out-and-back) adventure for hikers and cyclists, winding through the chaparral with 1,000 feet of elevation gain and gorgeous views as payoff.
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Enter to Win this Central Oregon Vacation

Experience Sunriver Resort and Go on a Culinary Adventure

couple hiking in Central Oregon
Couple hugging in Central Oregon
Deschutes Brewery Bend
Enter to Win the Central Oregon Fall Sweepstakes: Winner gets a $500 gift card toward a stay at the luxury Sunriver Resort plus $500 in gift cards for local dining spots.
Enter to Win the Central Oregon Fall Sweepstakes

Plateau Perfection

Hike a loop of the Bay Area Ridge Trail at Vargas Plateau in the East Bay

Vargas Plateau withe cows in the background in the East Bay
Hiker on a trail at Vargas Plateau in the East Bay
Bay Area Ridge Trail sign pointing the way in Vargas Plateau East Bay
Set deep in the East Bay hills, Vargas Plateau Regional Park is a secluded grassland that’s home to several endangered and threatened species. Hike a 4-mile loop of the Bay Area Ridge Trail here.
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National Park City Walk

Hike the Ridge Trail in Presidio National Park for Classic San Francisco Views

Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them
Person in bare feet walking at Marshall Beach in San Francisco, with a view of the Golden Gate bridge
Marshall Beach in San Francisco with a northern view of the Golden Gate Bridge
See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Talk of the Town

    We're spilling the tea on this bountiful 5.5-mile loop to Gossip Rock in Hayward’s Garin Regional Park (currently whispering all the right springtime notes).

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  2. Swing into Spring

    Swing into this 7.1-mile hike in the hills of Half Moon Bay! It’s got gorgeous views, fields of spring wildflowers, and a hidden rustic tree swing.

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  3. The Carson Show

    Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike.

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  4. woman kneeling and signing peak book at Mount Olympia in Mount Diablo State Park

    Double Up on Diablo

    Set the tone for 2024 with this twofer summit hike at Mount Diablo State Park. Embark on a 7-mile out-and-back up Mount Olympia and Diablo’s lesser-known summit, North Peak.

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  1. Hiker overlooking Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park near Monterey

    Pinnacles of Spring

    Why hike at Pinnacles National Park? Spring's a beautiful time of year here. And you might spy the magnificent California condor soaring while you gain soaring views from the High Peaks Trail.

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  2. Caves in Mojave

    No one expects to see caves when they visit the desert, and that’s part of what makes Mitchell Caverns in the Mojave Desert such an interesting place. Go on a two-hour guided adventure tour through Mitchell Caverns in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area.

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  3. Hikers by the reservoir at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks

    Triumphant in Triunfo

    Go on a hike with a peaceful reservoir, charming meadows, and beautiful spring blooms at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks.

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  4. William Kenyon Overlook

    Some of the best vistas of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are easily accessible via a short and sweet 1.25-mile (round-trip) hike just off the CA-78. Enter your next favorite desert viewpoint: the William Kenyon Overlook.

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