Short Hike, Sweet View!

Hike to Big Views at Claremont Canyon in the East Bay

Woman and her dog looking out to view of the Bay at Claremont Canyon Preserve in the East Bay

Steady as you go ... all the way up to a sweeping Bay vista at Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve. This 208-acre haven has a 4.3-mile loop hike to one of the best views in the East Bay. Begin your hike on the aptly named Stonewall Panoramic Trail, which rises quickly out of the eucalyptus forest to ridgeline chaparral.

Hike Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve

As you approach Panoramic Way, soak in the birds-eye view of the bay and UC Berkeley’s campus below. At Panoramic Way, take a right and link up with the East-West Trail, which takes you deeper into the canyon. After a slight descent through a wooded section, take a left onto the connector trail that drops quickly to the Upper Jordan Fire Trail.

Woman walking her dog through a forest at Claremont Canyon in the East Bay

This section of the trail offers a glimpse of the back side of Claremont Canyon. After about 1.5 miles take a left onto Panoramic Way and follow the quiet street through woodlands. At the T-intersection, take a right and then a left to access the Clark Kerr Trail (marked by a few dog water dishes). The hillside should soon be blooming with California poppies.

Woman sitting on a bench with her dog overlooking a view of the San Francisco Bay

At the peak, you're rewarded with uninterrupted vistas of the Bay and San Francisco's skyline. Take it all in at the bench, then take a left and continue into the woods and over a small footbridge; this trail leads back to your final descent on Stonewall Panoramic Trail.

Limited parking can be found on Stonewall Rd. off Claremont Ave. Because much of the climbing section is exposed, this hike is best for cooler days. No water or restrooms are available. Dog-friendly!

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. 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
  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.

    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. 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.

    View