CLICK HERE if you are having trouble viewing these photos on a mobile device
What’s a top reason we choose to live in the Bay Area? It’s very, very pretty. And the combination of mild Mediterranean weather and beautiful parks — national, state, regional and county — lets us enjoy our stunning natural surroundings year-round.
Late fall and winter are especially inviting times to get outside for a hike or stroll. The fog lifts along the coast, and rain storms leave skies crystal clear, the hills green, and creeks and waterfalls flowing.
Of course, exercise presents a perfect excuse to enjoy another Bay Area treasure: the food. So here are eight beautiful hikes — paired with eight favorite eateries, classic and new, for apres-hike bites.
1 Lands End Trail, San Francisco
Visitors come from all over the world to take in the views from this corner of San Francisco. The often wild and windy Lands End Trail starts at the Sutro Bath ruins and follows the rocky cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, with tempting detours to beaches and the Legion of Honor museum. Jaw-dropping views of the ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands come at almost every turn. Find trail details at www.nps.gov/goga.
Après-hike: The Cliff House, where else? The nearly 160-year-old dining institution was once a destination for Gilded Age high society. Today’s Cliff House — rebuilt in 1909 after the second of two devastating fires — remains a classic spot for Sunday brunch, sunset cocktails and romantic dinners. Administered by the National Parks Service, the Cliff House has two restaurants, Sutro’s and the Bistro, which both serve bloody marys, cioppino and a Cliff House Louis with Dungeness crab. Open daily at 1090 Point Lobos Ave., San Francisco; https://cliffhouse.com.
2 King’s Canyon Loop Trail to Upper San Leandro Reservoir, Moraga
Nestled in the East Bay hills south of Moraga, this forest-fringed, serpentine body of water recalls the scenery that inspired England’s romantic poets. A 6.4-mile loop winds through pleasant woods along the reservoir’s shore, down into gullies and up into grasslands with views of the surrounding hills. Start the hike from Moraga’s Rancho Laguna Park or at the Valle Vista staging area. This is East Bay Municipal Utility District watershed land, so you’ll need to purchase and print out a permit online ($10 per year) before you go. Find trail details at www.redwoodhikes.com.
Après-hike: The new — but already incredibly popular — Canyon Club Brewery in downtown Moraga pairs beers and gastropub fare, including a Carolina pulled-pork sandwich and crispy fried chicken sammie. Opens at 11 a.m. Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday at 1558 Canyon Road, Moraga; www.canyonclub.works.
3 Waddell Beach to Berry Creek Falls, Big Basin State Park, Boulder Creek
This strenuous 14-mile hike in Big Basin State Park leads to an enchanting 60-foot waterfall in the middle of the Santa Cruz mountains, but the journey also offers many other rewards. It starts at Waddell Beach, famous for kitesurfing, and takes hikers through varied terrain of coastal marsh, oak woodland and redwood forest, crossing picturesque bridges over Waddell and Berry creeks along the way. Find details at www.parks.ca.gov and www.alltrails.com.
Après-hike: Ten minutes south of Waddell Beach is Davenport, a small town founded in the 1860s by Capt. John Davenport, an East Coast whaler. The Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily — including wood-fired, thin crust pizzas, New England clam chowder, and Fisherman’s Stew. Open daily at 1 Davenport Ave., Davenport; www.davenportroadhouse.com.
4 Mount Livermore, Angel Island
There’s no better way to see the greatest hits of San Francisco Bay than to hop the ferry to Angel Island. The perimeter trail is a 5.5-mile loop around the island, with gorgeous sights unfolding with each passing turn: San Francisco’s skyline, the Golden Gate and Bay bridges, Alcatraz Island, Mount Tamalpais and the Oakland hills. Ascend to the top of 788-foot Mount Livermore on a more strenuous 6-mile loop for panoramic views. Find trail details at https://angelisland.com.
Après-hike: Back at the mainland, unwind at Tiburon’s classic Sam’s Anchor Cafe, known for its outdoor deck, Ramos gin fizzes, lobster rolls, fresh oysters and beer-battered fish and chips. Lilikoi margaritas, vodka lemonade and Aperol Spritzers are served in shareable bowls. Open daily at 27 Main St., Tiburon; https://samscafe.com.
5 Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve’s Stonewall-Panoramic Trail, Oakland
This short but sweet — and very steep — 1.7-mile hike may not be the best choice for anyone with Jimmy Stewart’s “Vertigo” affliction. But anyone else looking for a good cardio work-out while surrounded by incredible bay views will not be disappointed. The climb starts at a trailhead just behind the Claremont Hotel and Spa and goes up, up, up. Find trail details at www.ebparks.org.
Après-hike: The landmark hotel’s Limewood Bar and Restaurant allows more bay-gazing while enjoying brunch, lunch, dinner or drinks. Open daily at 41 Tunnel Road, Berkeley; www.limewoodrestaurant.com.
6 Bear Valley Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore
This out-and-back trail to the Pacific Ocean is more than eight miles, but it’s a moderate and popular option for novice hikers and families pushing strollers. Much of it passes through a lush forest of ferns and Douglas fir that shelters it from the sun, wind and coastal fog. The approximate mid-point is picturesque Divide Meadow, with the trail ending at coastal bluffs near Arch Rock. Find trail details at www.nps.gov/pore.
Après-hike: The Station House Cafe in Point Reyes Station, a former railroad town built by Italian immigrants, specializes in comfort food: eggs benedict, burgers, mac and cheese, and fresh seafood, including oysters on the half shell or scrambled into a Hometown Fry. Open daily, except Wednesdays, at 11180 Highway 1, Point Reyes Station; https://stationhousecafe.com.
7 Sky and Kestrel trails, Crockett Hills Regional Park, Crockett
The park’s nearly 2,000 acres of rolling hills and wooded ravines offer expansive views of San Pablo Bay, the Carquinez Strait, Mount Tamalpais and Mount Diablo. A nearly 6-mile loop starts at a staging area near downtown Crockett, passes beneath the Cummings Skyway and emerges onto an open ridge and the aptly named Sky Trail. Find trail details at www.redwoodhikes.com/EastBay/Crockett.
Après-hike: Head over to quirky Port Costa, whose Warehouse Cafe retains its dive-bar charms with kitschy memorabilia and entertaining bartenders. Located in a former granary, the cafe offers 250 beers from around the world, specialty whiskey and hearty bar food, including burgers, sandwiches, and fish and chips. On sunny days, patrons clamor for spots outside on rickety chairs overlooking the Carquinez Strait. Open daily at 5 Canyon Lake Drive, Port Costa; http://www.warehousecafeportcosta.com.
8 Año Nuevo Point Trail, Año Nuevo State Park
A three- to four-mile trail around the south end of Año Nuevo State Park offers coastal sights that echo the descriptions of Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino in 1603: pristine, wild and in the winter months, populated by thousands of elephant seals and other marine mammals that come to rest, mate and give birth. During breeding season — from Dec. 15 to March 31 — visitors must join guided tours. The rest of the year, you can wander on your own, as long as you stay on the trail as it passes through coastal prairie and over sand dunes. Find details at http://www.parks.ca.gov/anonuevo.
Après-hike: Round out a lovely day trip by heading 15 minutes north to Pescadero, where fourth-generation Duarte’s Tavern serves Portuguese-inspired comfort food. It’s known for its artichoke soup, crab cioppino and fish sandwiches served on sourdough. Open daily, except Tuesdays, at 202 Stage Road, Pescadero; http://duartestavern.com.
