I was trying to think of a way to describe my group of girls as hikers.  Beginners didn’t sound quite right.  We don’t hike often but we get out once in a while, when the weather is nice and we can all peel off the couch at the same time.   By casual I mean to say, we don’t take hiking too seriously.  That said,  we’ve been known to venture out on vacation hikes, from searching for sacred pools in Sedona to chasing waterfalls in the redwoods of California.  This list is for the folks who don’t own hiking boots, only occasionally remember to bring water and plan to be done within an hour.  The folks who hike to burn off brunch, or use it as an excuse to have a great lunch afterwards.  For more experienced hikers, many of these trails are much longer than a couple miles.  Feel free to continue on, beyond where us casual hikers might tap out. With summer less than two weeks away, if you want to get some sun, enjoy beautiful ocean views and trade in your treadmill for outdoor exercise, then this list of Bay Area hikes is for you!

1. Rodeo Valley Trail, Marin Headlands

“The coldest winter I ever spent, was the summer I spent in San Francisco.”  Unfortunately, this quote tells the story of many summer days in the City by the Bay.

We discovered Rodeo Valley Trail on a brisk (chilly!) day with fog blanketing the coastline and surrounding areas.

We still managed to have a nice hike, with the fog lending a somewhat dramatic feel to the trail.  I could imagine us walking through valleys in Ireland or some other far away place, very Game of Thrones.

This hike was a bit of a challenge, as it’s downhill on the way in… which means the walk back is on an incline the whole time.  Keep that in mind and be sure to save some energy to make it back!

2. Hawk Hill Trail, Marin Headlands

We found Hawk Hill on a brief but gorgeous hike for KT’s birthday.

If you visit on a sunny weekend, it may be challenging to find parking, but the awe-inspiring, sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge are worth the effort.

You can follow a trail up Hawk Hill, or take the stairs and trail down to the beach below.

3. Land’s End, San Francisco

Land’s End is a popular location, for locals and tourists alike.  Much like the Marin Headlands, if it’s a sunny weekend you may find yourself searching for parking, and dodging large groups of tourists with selfie sticks.  To be fair, with views like these, you can’t really blame them.

I like to visit Land’s End on random weekdays, when it’s quieter and you can really enjoy the amazing views and peaceful trails.

4. Fort Funston, San Francisco

I grew up near Fort Funston and have been going there for most of my life.  My elementary school class even had a sleepover in tents at Fort Funston one year.  I opted to sleep inside (even as a kid, I wasn’t a fan of camping!), but Fort Funston has always been a place I enjoy visiting for a nice walk and great views.

A word of warning- if you are afraid of, or don’t like dogs (and I mean LOTS of them), then a Fort Funston hike is not for you.   If dogs don’t bother you though, Fort Funston is a great place for ocean views, watching hang gliders and even horseback riding.

5. Mori Point, Pacifica

Mori Point is one of my all-time favorite spots for a hike or walk in the Bay Area.

Climbing the 100+ stairs to the top, you are rewarded with a view the California coastline is famous for.

The stairs alone are a hike, but if you’ve still got energy when you get to the top, go for a walk along the trails through the hills.

Brown Lady Tips

Okay, so just because we’re not avid hikers doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a couple rules:

Don’t Go Solo

Try not to hike alone.  Grab one of your girls, or your boo to join you on the adventure.  While incidents on hiking trails aren’t super frequent, it’s always better to be safe!  And it will be more fun to have someone to experience the beautiful outdoors with…or to run with, if there’s a bear.  Totally kidding…mostly.

Lions and Tigers and Bears

While we’re talking about bears, pay attention to the signs on the trails, especially when they are warning signs about what to do if you encounter bears, mountain lions or other animals.  If you do encounter a mountain lion, your instinct on how to react is probably only half right.  Mine is to scream and run.  The screaming part isn’t so bad, you should make noise.  The running part though? Not so much.  Stand your ground and try to make yourself look larger.  We came across a deer on one hike, I’d have a awesome picture for you- if TK hadn’t started shouting, “DON’T LOOK INTO IT’S EYES!?!?!”  Not sure where she got that great animal safety tip, but it absolutely killed my photo opp.  Bambi took off.  I digress… safety first.

Location, Location

Whether you are hiking with others, or do decide to head out on your own- send a photo of the trailhead to a friend so someone knows where you are.  Even better, share your location via Google maps, so they can see where you are.  The option to share your location for a specific period of time is useful for this type of thing.

Hopefully the girls and I can add a couple more Bay Area hikes to the list this year!

Do you have any favorites that we should check out?