Suggestions of short trips near Bay Area (palo alto)?

[M F]

I just moved to the bay area and there are tons of hiking spots but very few that allow overnight trips or overnight parking… Ideally I was trying to find something very close to Palo Alto (ie I know the sierras are only 3 hrs away, but wanted something closer).  Does anyone backpack around here and have suggestions?

[Paul Wagner]

Henry Coe State Park is just south of San Jose.  Lots of nice hikes there…and good fishing in the spring, too!

 

[Rex Sanders]

Off the top of my head:

100 mile loop starting from Palo Alto:

http://tinyurl.com/100mileloop

And another 100 mile loop in Marin County:

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/90733/

I keep returning to Point Reyes National Seashore (campsite reservations required way in advance):

https://nps.gov/pore

and Henry Coe State Park (as mentioned above):

http://coepark.net/pineridgeassociation/

Amy and Jim describe many other Bay Area adventures short and long:

http://doingmiles.com/hike-sf/

— Rex

 

[David Thomas]

The “Ohlone Regional Wilderness Trail” is readily accessible in the East Bay and yet impressively removed from any development other than some sections of cattle ranching.  It’s no longer so amazing to see Bald Eagles in the SFBA, but 15 to 30 years ago it was one of the very few places you could.

It makes a great 2-3 day backpacking trip or a serious one-day semi-death march.  They are pretty strict in some portions about not leaving the trail or only going to one side of the trail to comply with agreements with ranchers and water districts that made the trail possible.

Decades ago, we’d set up car shuttles, but now you could potentially park at either end and call for an Uber ride to start your hike.

http://www.ebparks.org/parks/ohlone

[Rex Sanders]

There are a few reasons I omitted the Ohlone Wilderness Trail:

https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/ohlone-wilderness-trail-central-california/

— Rex

[David Thomas]

Fair points, Rex, although depending on winds at OAK, I’m often flying right over Point Reyes on flights from SEA.  I’ve only done Sunol-Del Valle in dry conditions.  Chabot, Redwood, Tilden and Wildcat Canyon have the same issue with mud once you’re past the pavement/gravel.

Full-disclosure: some of the views from the Ohlone trail are of Livermore suburbs and vineyards to the north.  And while cows are tasty critters, they don’t seem as “wilderness” to me as the deer and elk.  And you’re not allowed to eat them.

[Ken Thompson]

Amy’s blog could be helpful. Quite a number of unique trips.

http://doingmiles.com

[jscott]

Big Basin Redwoods state park, that includes Berry Creek canyon with three, count ’em. water falls. And lots of Redwoods. I’ve only done day trips here. As I recall, you can hike all the way to the coast. You could stay at the beach and then return the next day, perhaps.

[d k]

There are a number of trail closures at Big Basin right now; check with park headquarters before planning a trip there.

[Richard Scruggs]

 

[Ethan A.]

Welcome.

1) For a very quick getaway really close to Palo Alto (super short drive to trail head and easily done in less than 24 hours), you do an out and back to Black Mountain and camp at the site right next to the top of Black Mountain inside Monte Bello Open Space, which offers a great view of the valley below, nice at night and in the early AM. Requires advance reservations with the Open Space rangers.

http://bahiker.com/southbayhikes/ranchoblack.html

2) Sea to Summit Trail

http://www.redwoodhikes.com/BigBasin/S-to-S.html

3) A 3 Day Marin Hike back to SF. This was planned relying on B&B’s, though I’m sure you could plan this as a backpacking trip, though it might require some stealth camping.

<b>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/travel/03Explorer.html</b&gt;

Amy and Jim’s site has fantastic local trips with detailed documentation and great photos.

BA Hiker is also a great local hiking resource, which also lists favorites by season and for specific things.

Coe is a very large park – you could easily plan multi-day trips there – and it’s not that far from Palo Alto.

[Joe Lynch]

A really unique experience is Angel Island State Park in the middle of the bay. You backpack to the overnight camps from the ferry pier. Not remote by any description but the views, especially at night, are world class.

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