Where San Francisco Locals Hike: 10 Easy Bay Area Trails

One of the things I love most about living in The City is how easy it is to step out of everyday noise and into something that feels like a completely different world. Even when the weather is chilly (and sometimes because it is), the Bay Area has this gift for transporting you into fog, forest, and ocean air within minutes of leaving home.

Living here means “getting away” doesn’t require packing, planning, or an entire day off. Sometimes it is a warm drink, a jacket, and a quick walk from the car to the trailhead. These local hikes remind you how rare it is to be so close to every urban convenience while also being surrounded by nature that feels almost sacred.

Below are ten of the best easy and moderate hikes in the Bay Area, all five miles or less, based on more than a million AllTrails reviews. Each one offers its own quick escape, from coastal cliffs to redwood cathedrals to rolling hills that feel far from city life. Wherever you end up wandering, I hope it brings a little breathing room, even on a crisp day.

10 Beautiful, Easy Escapes Around the Bay Area

1. Lands End Trail – San Francisco – 3.4 miles. Dramatic cliffside views, cypress tunnels, and the perfect reveal of the Golden Gate Bridge. A classic fog walk with sunset potential. 

2. Stream, Mill & French Loop – Oakland – 4.5 miles. Redwood Regional Park at its best. Ferns, cool shade, and a peaceful loop beneath towering redwoods. 

3. Saratoga Gap & Ridge Loop – Los Gatos / Castle Rock – 4.9 miles. Sandstone formations, forest shade, and wide valley views. A little rocky in spots, but worth the scrambles. 

4. Dipsea to Steep Ravine Loop – Mill Valley / Mt. Tam – 3.7 miles. Pacific views, fern-filled ravines, redwoods, and forest magic. 

5. Fern Creek, Lost & Canopy Trail Loop – Muir Woods / Mill Valley – 3 miles. Quiet forest vibe, creek crossings, and redwood shade — a peaceful hidden gem. 

6. Grabtown Gulch to Purisima Creek Loop – Half Moon Bay / Purisima Creek – 4.6 miles. Hidden redwood serenity behind the coast. Shady, lush, and quiet with forest deepness and occasional ocean glimpses. 

7. Ace Trail to Pedro Point Loop – Pacifica / Pedro Point Headlands – 3.1 miles. A steep climb up, then sweeping coastal views south toward Montara Mountain and north over Shelter Cove. Wild and stunning. 

8. Upper, Basin & Black Rock Falls Loop – Morgan Hill / Uvas Canyon – 2.8 miles. A rare Bay Area waterfall loop with three falls, mossy forest, and lush greenery.

9. Bodega Head Trail – Bodega Bay / Sonoma Coast – 1.6 miles. Coastal loop with sweeping Pacific views — perfect for sunrise coffee or a sunset stroll, maybe even a whale sighting. 

10. Bon Tempe Lake Loop – Fairfax / Mt. Tam Watershed – 4.1 miles. A calm, mostly flat walk around a quiet reservoir beneath Mount Tamalpais. Forest shade on one side, sunshine on the other. 

I’d love to hear your go-to hike, the one you recommend to friends, or better yet, you keep to yourself because it feels like a secret - it’ll be safe with me! 🤫