Fall Coastal Hikes Guide

POST's Guide to the Best Coastal Walks

Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) is ready to fill your fall with bluffside trails, tranquil beaches, whale watching, a haunted distillery, and seasonal sweet treats.

Their complimentary Coastal Hikes Guide gives you 10 of the top walks ideal for autumn on the San Mateo County coast.

Beautifully curated and filled with photographic inspiration and detailed information, this collection of coastal hikes covers all the bases, from trail mileage and difficulty, to parking lot location links.

The guide also includes a “Local Favorites” bonus so you get trusted info on the best places to grab a coffee or craft beer, along with deli and bakery recommendations, even a tip for an overnight stay.

Find out which less-known beach is reached via Mel’s Lane and also offers a postcard vista of Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

Go on a short hike that packs in wildlife sightings like raptors, harbor seals, and whales, with an optional detour to a crescent beach.

Discover a state beach that lets leashed dogs join you on a stretch of the brilliant California Coastal Trail.

And right in time for Halloween, get into the “spirit” with a detour to a haunted distillery.

Do one hike or do all 10: Head to the coast with POST!

Since 1977, POST and their partners have been dedicated to safeguarding open spaces on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. To date, they’ve protected over 93,000 acres of landscape from developments so that natural spaces remain open for you to enjoy. Now that’s a breath of fresh (salt-tinged) air!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  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.

    View
  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.

    View
  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.

    View
  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.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    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

    View
  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.

    View
  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.

    View
  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.

    View