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

Zen Peak Hikes to Keep Your Calm

Ready to rise and find your calm? Gain some fresh perspectives on these three outings that take you higher for quietude and contemplations, including the newly re-opened Dragon Mountain. Gorgeous panoramas absolutely included.

Week: 01.21.2026
Regions: Northern CA

Dragon Quest

Hike to Zen at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas

A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas
Two hikers are ascending the "Stairway to Heaven" at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas
Happy buddha statues are on display at the top of the hill at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas
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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Hidden Botanical Garden

Hike & Picnic at Sonoma Botanical Garden in Sonoma Valley

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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Peak Pondering

Hiking Wildcat Peak Tilden Regional Park

Some magical hikes begin like a magic trick: The start is filled with lots of people, and then, within minutes, it's quiet. All you have to do is find the entrance to Narnia—or, in this case, Laurel Canyon Trailhead in the East Bay’s Tilden Regional Park.
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    New Year, New Goal: IRONMAN 70.3 Northern California

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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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  4. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

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