This 6.5-mile loop passes through sage, chaparral, and oak groves to a high plateau with panoramic views of the Santa Ana Mountains.

This 8.3-mile lollipop loop quickly ascends 2,500 feet into the coastal hills; bring your camera to capture striking above-the-fog seascapes.

Escape the city's smog on this pretty 7.3-mile loop into the chaparral-covered ecosystem of La Jolla Canyon. Fresh air and Pacific Ocean vistas are only a 30-minute drive from downtown.

Hike this rolling 5.8-mile loop on a weekday for quiet trails and frequent sightings of wild turkeys and deer.

Enjoy stellar views of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz and the Angel Island on this 6-mile loop through Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Go deep into a rugged creek basin teeming with towering trees and a charming waterfall on this 4.2-mile hike in Portola Redwoods State Park.

Before Napa Valley got its grapevine rep, the landscape likely resembled 2,000-acre Bothe-Napa Valley State Park, where redwoods shade this mellow 4.6-mile trail.

This 9.6-mile hike offers a tour of the Marin Headlands, then loops to include fine bluff views of San Francisco Bay and the Pacific. Bring extra clothes; the weather changes quickly.

This 5-mile loop wanders through huge redwood stands along the western slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Extend the trip with an overnight at a Sierra Club hut.

The 4-mile climb to Mt. Livermore is the most ambitious hike on Angel Island, the historic immigration station in the center of San Francisco Bay.