5 Best Parks for Bay Area Winter Hikes

Bay Area Winters are mild and rainy compared to many other places and I want to share some beautiful trails for you to explore this Winter! Here is a list of Bay Area Winter Hikes that will cure your Winter blues!

1. Mt Diablo State Park

Mt Diablo gets super hot once the summer hits and many trails are quite exposed, so winter is a perfect time for hiking adventures.

Hiking Trails:

1. Donner Canyon, Middle Trails and Falls Trail – 5.3 mi, 1161 ft elevation gain
2. Mount Diablo via Summit Trail – 7.3 mi, 2139 ft elevation gain
3. Mount Diablo Grand Loop Trail – 6.2 mi, 1794 ft elevation gain

2. Ana Nuevo State Park

This is one of the best parks in Bay Area for wildlife especially elephant seal viewing. Elephant seal pups are born in the breeding season between December and February.

Between December and March, you can only register for guided seal walks and between April and November, self-guided hikes are allowed.

Guided walks happen between December 15th and March 31st and they cost $7 plus a $4 reservation fee for public walks.

You need to register for the hike online as the guided walks go on sale on October 20th. For more information on the guided walks, check this link.

Hiking Trails:

1. Ana Nuevo Point Trail – 4.1 mi, 203 ft elevation gain
2. Atkinson Bluff and North Whitehouse Creek Trail Loop – 2.3 mi, 114 ft elevation gain

3. Fremont Older Open Space Preserve

Fremont Older Open Space Preserve park in Saratoga is green and lush after the winter rains offering beautiful views of the South Bay Area.

Parts of the trails can be muddy, so wear sturdy shoes and carry hiking poles. These trails are also prone to ticks and rattlesnakes so keep an eye out and do a tick check after you are back from the hike.

Hiking Trails:

1. Seven Springs Loop – 2.8 mi, 557 ft elevation gain
2. Rainbow Knoll and Hunter’s Point via Seven Springs Loop – 4.1 mi, 813 ft elevation gain

4. Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve

Picchetti Ranch in Santa Clara County has acres of forested canyons of Oak, Madrone and California Bay. The trails also go to several creeks and the park connects with Stevens Creek County Park. There are amazing views of Stevens Creek Reservoir, Sierra Azul and Mount Umunhum from some of the trails.

The hiking trails also start at the Picchetti Winery so if you are a wine lover, don’t forget to stop by to grab a bottle or for wine tasting. There are also several picnic tables by the winery as well as by the Creek at the end of Zinfandel Trail.

Hiking Trails:

1. Zinfandel Trail – 4.1 mi, 633 ft elevation gain
2. Zinfandel Trail to Lookout Trail and Vista Loop to Maisie’s Peak – 7.1 mi, 1414 ft elevation gain

5. Golden Gate National Recreation Area

From amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge to several varied landscapes, this National reserve is stunning!

There are an endless number of incredibly beautiful trails here to choose from. Here are some hiking trails that are friendly for hikers of all levels.

Hiking Trails:

1. Mori Point Loop Trail – 2.6 mi, 400 ft elevation gain
2. Lands End Trail – 3.4 mi, 551 ft elevation gain
3. Kirby Cove – 3 mi, 610 ft elevation gain

If you enjoyed this list of parks for the best Bay Area Winter Hikes, leave your comments and don’t forget to subscribe for more such useful posts! Happy Hiking!