hike

Near the top of the list of dreamy, bosky local rambles is the 2.5 mile loop around Bon Tempe reservoir on the northwestern slope of Mt.Tamalpais. It is encircled by a deep, cool forest of fir, madrones, redwoods with dense patches of ferns and irises. The lake itself is home to swooping families of mallards, […]

Get your calf muscles and your seaside soul back in shape after this sedentary winter with a jaunt along Old Landing Cove Trail near Santa Cruz. It’s a mostly flat 2.4 mile easy trek along the churning coast of Wilder State Park. Check out the restored dairy farm stocked with late 19th century agricultural equipment. […]

September as we know marks the beginning of summer in the Bay Area. With the sun finally burning off the fog, why not head up towards Lake Chabot to the 10-mile trail in the Cull Canyon Recreational Area? It’s a dappled, easy walk under oaks and bay laurels, across creeks and with frequent views of […]

 One of the most convincing reasons to keep reading the Chronicle is Tom Stienstra whose recommendations for outdoor Bay Area ventures are unassailable. He is a big fan of a hidden gem called Soulajule Reservoir 15 miles north of Novato. This despite the facts that there are no real hiking trails, no camping, no drinking […]

Bay seniors, even ones well versed in local landmarks, might not know that Mount Tamalpais originally had another summit. West Peak was 2,600 feet high until it was flattened for a radar station. Today all that’s left are the gutted remains of military structures and eye-popping views of Alpine Lake, the Bay and the Pacific. […]

Bay seniors hoping to walk off some of the weight gain from holiday partying can take an all day, cross-city hike on Sunday December 27. Starting at 11 am in Bernal Heights you will loop across SF’s major hills including Twin Peaks, and Dolores Park, covering over 13 miles including stairways, nature trails and mural-painted […]

Bay seniors might want to move Shiloh Ranch State Park near Windsor in Sonoma County up towards the top of their list of Great Local Trails. Its 850 acres are mostly shaded and rolling, especially the Pond Trail to the top of Shiloh Ridge. The steeper Ridge Trail leads to Cinerama views from Healdsburg to […]

Bay seniors may feel less alarmed about the current drought when they visit the Briones Reservoir in the buxom golden hills above Orinda. The 8.5 square mile body of water is currently 94% full. You can drive right up to the Reservoir and take a jaunt along the 13 mile trail that circles it. You […]