Urban Trails: East Bay offers 40 routes for walkers, runners, and hikers, with an emphasis on getting out and getting fit in your own backyard. Expert local hiking guide Alexandra Kenin offers a wide range of options, from leg stretchers overlooking the Bay Area at Tilden Regional Park to an afternoon stroll through the wineries around Jack London Square to a 6-mile hike along the slopes of Mount Diablo to spot seasonal waterfalls. Other features include: Trailhead locations, including public transit options Rated appeal for walkers, runners, or hikers Info for families and dog owners Trail distance, elevation gain, high point, amenities Sidebars on area history, nature, tips, and sights Historic trails, coastal trails, stairways, peak bagging
Revised and Updated in September 2020! The hills of the East Bay contain one of the finest and densest urban hiking environments in the state of California—more than 400 paved pathways and public staircases lattice up and down the slopes of Berkeley and Oakland alone. Rising high above the city centers, with towering views of the San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, and San Francisco itself, these elegant civic walking trails—many of them shaded in oaks and redwoods, and many unknown even to local residents—present a unique landscape for both the casual walker and dedicated hiker. Charles Fleming, the Southern California author whose bestselling 2010 walking guide Secret Stairs turned the hidden public staircases of Los Angeles into popular hiking trails, now turns his eyes northward. For Secret Stairs: East Bay, Fleming has designed more than 30 individual hiking loops. Linking multiple staircases into one-to two-hour self-guided strolls, these urban treks will delight the tourist, newly arrived Berkeley undergraduate, and veteran Bay Area resident alike. The circular walks, each calibrated by length, difficulty, and duration—and each accompanied by a detailed, easy-to-follow map—are sprinkled with fascinating facts about the historic staircases, the historic homes around them, and the famous Bay Area characters who gave them their names. Walk the walks of Bret Harte, Mark Twain, and John Muir! Climb Berkeley’s massive Fred Herbert and Tamalpais Paths, hike Easter Way, and summit Sunset Trail! Mount Oakland’s Oakmore stairs, then tackle the hills of Upper Rockridge and Crocker Highlands via the public staircases. And do it all within easy walking distance from BART or bus stops, free parking, and excellent Bay Area cafés.
Completely revised and updated Every trail rehiked, with 13 new hikes and 80 new photos GPS driving directions to every trailhead No one knows this premier hiking region better than author John Soares, who now offers his fourth and fully updated edition of 100 Classic Hikes: Northern California. And while he’s still in love with many of the old trails, some of them have become unsafe or less accessible. The good news is that this gave him the chance to fall for some new trails, which are happily now included in this new edition. The old-growth forests and multiple mountain ranges of Northern California beckon the 10 million urban inhabitants of the Bay Area—who need outdoor experiences BADLY! This new edition not only gets them to the best of nature not far from their door, but looks tremendous on an urban coffee table, too. New hikes in this edition include: 2 in the Bay Area, including the Coastal Trail in San Francisco 5 in the Redwoods and along the coast north of the Bay Area 4 in the Sierra Nevada, including two summits: Ellis Peak and Sierra Buttes 2 in the Russian Wilderness in the Klamath Mountains
The official guide to the ever-growing Bay Area Ridge Trail, a proposed 400-mile route that circles the ridgeline of the San Francisco Bay, crossing over nine counties. Five new trails and 13 more miles await discovery in this new edition, bringing the mileage of the completed Ridge Trail to 225.
For every woman who has ever been called outdoorsy comes a collection of stories that inspires unforgettable adventure. Beautiful, empowering, and exhilarating, She Explores is a spirited celebration of female bravery and courage, and an inspirational companion for any woman who wants to travel the world on her own terms. Combining breathtaking travel photography with compelling personal narratives, She Explores shares the stories of 40 diverse women on unforgettable journeys in nature: women who live out of vans, trucks, and vintage trailers, hiking the wild, cooking meals over campfires, and sleeping under the stars. Women biking through the countryside, embarking on an unknown road trip, or backpacking through the outdoors with their young children in tow. Complementing the narratives are practical tips and advice for women planning their own trips, including: • Preparing for a solo hike • Must-haves for a road-trip kitchen • Planning ahead for unknown territory • Telling your own story A visually stunning and emotionally satisfying collection for any woman craving new landscapes and adventure.
Longtime San Francisco residents and intrepid hikers David Weintraub and Ben Pease have selected 44 "must-do" trips for hiking, running, and bicycling. Trails range from easy strolls to all-day treks, from 2 to 12 miles, covering the most scenic parks and preserves between Santa Rosa and San Jose. The second edition features new hikes in Muir Woods and the Presidio, more elevation profiles, and at-a-glance information helps you find the best wildflowers, fall color, bird-watching, camping, historic sites, and cool hikes for hot days.
The only guide dedicated entirely to hiking San Francisco's East Bay has been revised and updated, and features 3 new trips in Contra Costa County. Includes 56 trips for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding on oak-studded hills, grassy ridges, ...
Bob Walker (1952-1992), a self-taught photographer and environmental activist, photographed San Francisco's East Bay landscapes between 1982 and 1992. His images, together with his advocacy, helped contribute to the designation of new parklands, now permanently protected from development. Some photos document open space that has been lost forever to urban and suburban sprawl. This book includes more than 80 of the best images of the 40,000 Walker donated to the Oakland Museum of California. The photographs, combined with descriptions of his activism, create a revealing portrait of a remarkable region--what has been saved and what can easily be lost. This full-color book is published in collaboration with the East Bay Regional Parks District, which encompasses 65 parks in 97,000 acres of Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Find Solitude and Dramatic Views Around San Francisco Bay Everyone needs a break from their daily life. Escape to the oak-studded grasslands and tranquil forests of the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Hike, bike, or ride through nine counties with the official guide endorsed by the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. Discover dramatic coastlines, a range of ecosystems, former Mexican ranchos, vistas that inspired Spanish explorers, and more. Join author Elizabeth Byers—a founding board member of the council—and Jean Rusmore, and choose from 75 trail segments on a network of paths that ring San Francisco Bay. Make your way through parks and public lands like Mount Tamalpais State Park and Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. Trips range from a 2.5-mile excursion over the Benicia-Martinez Bridge to a 12.5-mile traverse of Bolinas Ridge. You can also link several trips together to create a continuous trek that is 20, 40, or even 80 miles long. Each trip includes summary information, like distance, accessibility, regulations, and facilities, as well as an easy-to-read map. Comprehensive trail directions help to ensure that you always know where to go, while details on the region’s history and culture entertain you along the way. Grab the updated, full-color edition of Bay Area Ridge Trail and start planning your next adventure. The perfect outing is closer than you think.
Hundreds of public stairways traverse San Francisco's 42 hills, exposing incredible vistas while connecting colorful, unique neighborhoods -- veteran guide Adah Bakalinsky loves them all. Her updated Stairway Walks in San Francisco explores well-known and clandestine corridors from Lands End to Bernal Heights while sharing captivating architectural, historical, pop culture, and horticultural notes along the way. A comprehensive appendix lists every one of the city's 600-plus public stairways. Long-term residents and tourists alike have used the book for over 25 years to adventurously uncover San Francisco's unexpected details.
