Hiker walking on a trail festooned by lupine wildflowers at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve

Short & Quiet Hikes in the Bay Area

You don’t have to “go long” to have an outdoor adventure. These three quieter preserves and parks across the Bay Area offer small hikes with big scenery, lingering greenery, zen spots, seasonal flowers, and redwoods.

Week: 04.06.2022
Regions: Northern CA

Hidden Wilds of Healdsburg

Hike the Less Traveled Healdsburg Open Space Preserve

Hiker at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve hiking amid lupine wildflowers
Hiker passing trail sign for All the Oaks Trail and Ridge Trail at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space
Hiker crouching to take a phone photo of lupine wildflowers at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve
Hiker on trail festooned by lupine wildflowers at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve
When you arrive at Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve, you may wonder what could possibly be tucked behind a subdivision. But within minutes of hiking in this 155-acre preserve, the beauty reveals itself: majestic oak trees, wetland, spring wildflowers, and wowing views of the Mayacama Mountains and Russian River.
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Guide to the Best Wildflower Walks

POST's Digital Guide to Wildflower Walks

POST digital guide to wildflower hikes
purple wildflower
California Poppy flower
Coyote Valley wildflower hike
Where will you wildflower this season? Check out POST’s 2022 digital guide to Wildflower Walks and find the best in bloom around the Peninsula and South Bay.
The Best Wildflower Walks

Sibley Amazement

Labyrinth Hike at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in the East Bay

Labyrinth Hike at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in the East Bay
A 10-million-year-old volcano and a couple of labyrinths are part of this 2.2-mile hike in the Oakland Hills at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve.
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Simply Wunderful

Hike the Woodlands and Redwoods of Wunderlich Park

Hike among redwoods at Wunderlich Park
Hike the mixed evergreen woodland and coast redwoods in the South Bay's Wunderlich Park. Sunlight filters naturally through the trees on this lovely 3.4-mile lollipop loop.
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  1. Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) standing in front of his wood-fire oven at the Sonoma Valley Farmers' Market

    NEW! Walkin' and Talkin': Break Bread, Go On a Panoramic Hike

    What’s a world-traveling, medal-winning baker’s favorite local hike? Weekend Sherpa co-founder Brad Day caught up with Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) at Sonoma’s Friday farmers' market, where his wood-fired loaves draw loyal crowds. Between bites of fresh-baked bread, they talk baking, travel, and why Sonoma's Overlook Trail is one of his favorite quick, panoramic hikes.

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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. 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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    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

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  2. 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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  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. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

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