The Peninsula
Like most of the Bay Area, the Peninsula is full of variety in both terrain and ecosystems to hike in. You'll find every ecosystem from the sloughs and walks beside the bay, prime spots for seeing many migratory bird species and wind and kite surfers, to the huge Oak and Bayberry shaded forest, home to deer and Mountain Lions (don't worry I've seen plenty of deer but no Mountain Lions yet!). In the Santa Cruz Mts. there are even a number of even a large number Redwood forests. There is similar diversity in the types of terrain from flat, paved multi-use trails to narrow, single track dirt paths that follow each and every rise and fall of a rugged mountainside.
Some of the following categories are, to say the least, meant to be loosely interpreted. To be honest, rather than being set-in-stone categorizations presenting them in this manner was more a way of avoiding presenting you with just a really, really long list of hikes.
All that said, it's time to start your journey and pick a trail and start hiking! Anything in green I've hiked at least some part of and recorded my observations.
Some of the following categories are, to say the least, meant to be loosely interpreted. To be honest, rather than being set-in-stone categorizations presenting them in this manner was more a way of avoiding presenting you with just a really, really long list of hikes.
All that said, it's time to start your journey and pick a trail and start hiking! Anything in green I've hiked at least some part of and recorded my observations.
City Parks & Streets |
County Parks |
Open Space Preserves |
San Francisco Bay Trail |
State Parks |