Hailey Friedman
Hailey Friedman is a San Francisco resident passionate about sharing tips and advice on health, wellness, and the best fitness services in San Francisco.
Are you an avid hiker looking for a new hiking adventure in San Francisco? In this article, we share some of the best hikes to explore in San Francisco for any nature lover.
Popular hikes like Lands End Trail and Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park are some of the most scenic ways to enjoy the Bay Area in all its splendor. After a long hike, end your day with one of the best spas in San Francisco at Live Fit Gym.
Benefits of Hiking in San Francisco
With just a short drive to the majestic redwood forests and the many coastal landscapes, San Francisco is an ideal spot for hikers. If you plan on hiking in San Francisco sometime this year, the best time to do it is during the Springtime! Some of San Francisco’s hiking trails have fewer crowds at this time, and you can get a clear view of the Golden Gate Bridge.
You can fully enjoy all the wonderful benefits of a hike by remembering to fully recover after. In addition to its fitness facilities and classes, Live Fit Gym offers wellness services to help your muscles recover. Explore Live Fit Gym’s masseuses, yoga classes, chiropractic, acupuncture, saunas, and more for ultimate post-hike relaxation.
Strength
Hiking builds stronger bones and stronger muscles. As you naturally age, you start to lose muscle mass. Your muscle mass decreases approximately 3-8% per decade after the age of 30, and this rate is even higher after the age of 60. You can combat the aging process with strength training and moderate to higher intensity hikes.
Coordination
If you struggle with stability, balance, and coordination, hiking may be your new friend. According to a recent study, hiking can support your balance and coordination. Taking a hike on a trail with an uneven surface provides a natural way for you to engage your core muscles within a lateral motion.
Heart Health
Studies reveal the many benefits of exercise on the heart, including reducing your risk of heart disease. When you work out, your circulation improves, and your heart becomes stronger. It’s recommended that everyone do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week.
Sleep
According to a recent study, about 30% of adults have symptoms of insomnia, with 10% having insomnia that impacts their daily activities. Exposure to vitamin D can help control your wake-sleep cycle. Hiking outside and exercising will raise your body’s temperature, so when your internal temperature goes back down, it can lull you into sleep.
Mental Health
A Stanford study finds that walking (or hiking) in nature yields measurable mental benefits and may reduce the risk of depression. The study found that those who walked for 90 minutes in a natural area, rather than participants who walked in a high-traffic urban area, showed decreased activity in a brain region associated with a key factor in depression.
Best Hikes Near San Francisco
Here are some of the must-try hikes in San Francisco, featuring iconic sites and stunning landscapes.
1. Lands End Trail
Location: 680 Point Lobos Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
Length: 2.9 miles
Difficulty: Moderately challenging
One of the most scenic hikes in San Francisco is the breathtaking Lands End Trail in the Sutro District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. This coastal terrain hike includes the most iconic vantage point with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop.
2. Twin Peaks
Location: 501 Twin Peaks Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94114
Length: 0.7 miles
Difficulty: Very easy
Discover the beautiful views of San Francisco and the Bay Area from the Twin Peaks hiking trail. This easy hike is enjoyed by hikers of all ages year-round. Journey through the charming neighborhoods of San Francisco through grassland and coastal shrubs up to the mountainside of the two adjacent peaks. You can enjoy the scenic views of the busy city like Market Street, the Golden Gate Bridge, Corona Heights, Mount Diablo, and more.
3. Mount Davidson
Location: Myra Way, San Francisco, CA 94127
Length: 0.9 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Mount Davidson is the highest point in San Francisco, at 938 feet. This hike has a concrete cross at its peak and, seen from above, clearly divides the mountain’s eucalyptus forest on the west and coastal scrub and grassland on the east. Hikers can enjoy the western slopes, where the overgrown vegetation and fog drip give the feeling of being in a rainforest.
4. Presidio Hiking Trails
Location: Finley Rd, San Francisco, CA 94129
Length: 24 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Just south of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio offers trails for everyone, from rugged coastal hikes to gentle paths. Twelve major routes of miles of trails crisscross this national park site, connecting the bay, the ocean, the forest and native habitats, and all the historic places in between.
5. Kirby Cove
Location: Kirby Cove Road, San Francisco, CA 94941
Length: 1 mile
Difficulty: Moderate
The Cove Beach hikes are breathtaking. Their sandy shores, west of the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge, look east to a beautiful panorama of the city. The steep, mile-long trail to the cove begins at the parking area above Battery Spencer on Conzelman Road. Eye-level with the bridge’s towers—it descends through a grove of cypress, eucalyptus, and pine.
6. Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park
Location: 7867 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619
Length: 40 miles of trails (9 hiking trails)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Whether you’re hiking, biking, or horseback riding, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park offers many varied trails to explore. This redwood forest park is just a few miles from downtown Oakland, San Francisco Bay Area, and is part of the East Bay Regional Park District.
The main park entrance is located off of Redwood Road. It’s known for its old-growth redwood forest that was once an extensive logging operation and is the largest remaining natural stand of coast redwood in the East Bay.
7. Mount Diablo State Park
Location: Summit Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Length: 160 miles of trails
Difficulty: Easy to Hard
Mount Diablo has abundant, diverse trails for hikers at all levels, with enchanting winter hikes. With more challenging ascents and simple hikes, its trails cater to many types of hikers who want to explore its rugged terrain and breathtaking vistas. Mount Diablo State Park has stunning beauty, panoramic views, and varying levels of challenge.
8. Angel Island
Location: Angel Island, Tiburon, CA 94920
Length: 5.5 miles around the island
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Angel Island State Park, the largest natural island in the San Francisco Bay, offers some of the best views of the surrounding Bay Area and hiking opportunities. It’s a hidden gem in the midst of the urban Bay Area. On a clear day, from the San Francisco side of the island near Battery Ledyard, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, and Alcatraz from a single vantage point.
9. The Barbary Coast Trail
Location: Tenderloin, San Francisco, CA
Length: 3.8 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Go back in time with the wonderfully historic Barbary Coast Trail. This trail is a walking tour connecting 20 historic sites and local history museums in San Francisco, California. Around 180 bronze medallions and arrows are embedded in the sidewalk to mark the trail. Each end of the Barbary Coast Trail is connected by the Powell-Hyde cable car line, so you can begin anywhere on the trail and make your way back to where you started.
10. The Crissy Field Promenade Trail
Location: Crissy Field Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129
Length: 3.44 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Crissy Field is a gorgeous gem of the Parks Conservancy. The former military airfield is now a smooth promenade with views of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, and the North and East Bays. This hike consists of an easy paved and dirt trail with wonderful views of the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge while walking west and cityscape views on the return.
11. Glen Canyon Park
Location: Elk St and Chenery St, San Francisco, CA 94127
Length: 3.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Glen Canyon Park Trail is a trail most commonly used for running or hiking in the southwestern side of San Francisco, California. The breathtaking Glen Canyon offers lively spring wildflower displays, dramatic rock formations, and Islais Creek, one of the few remaining free-flowing creeks in San Francisco.
12. Philosopher’s Way Trail
Location: 1229-1399 Mansell St, San Francisco, CA 94134
Length: 2.7 miles
Difficulty: Easy
Wrapping around the perimeter of John McLaren Park in southeastern San Francisco, Philosopher’s Way is a scenic trail meant to inspire contemplation. The trail connects to existing park trails but with an addition of fourteen “musing stations.” The stone markers are created to highlight the interrelationships between the area’s ecology, geography, and history.
More on Hikes in San Francisco
Whether you’re an avid hiker or a beginner, you might still have some questions about hiking in San Francisco.
Is San Francisco good for hiking?
San Francisco is a hub for many fitness and wellness enthusiasts. The city’s year-round temperature and climate make it a regular hiker’s dream. From the Redwoods to coastal trails to lush valleys, there is a hike for any intensity and desired terrain.
Not only is San Francisco good for hiking, but it is amazing for fitness enthusiasts in general. At Live Fit Gym, you can enjoy access to many fitness and wellness services to help you reach your fitness goals.
What is the hardest hike in San Francisco?
There is definitely more than one challenging hike in San Francisco. Rose Peak is known as the most vigorous hike near San Francisco. This 19.1-mile hike was once thought to be the highest point in Alameda County and is 10 miles along the Ohlone Wilderness Trail from Del Valle Reservoir, and 10 miles from the Sunol parking lot.
What is the most scenic hike in San Francisco?
One of the most scenic hikes in San Francisco is the Lands End Trail. It’s a favorite among locals and travelers from afar, as it trails along the historic Sutro Baths with the most amazing views of the Golden Gate Bridge.
How should I recover after a hike in San Francisco?
Recovery after a hike in San Francisco is essential to preventing injury and giving your muscles the love they need. Be sure to do extensive stretching, hydrating, and fueling your body with a high-protein meal.
You can also cool down after a fun day of hiking at one of the best gyms in San Francisco. Live Fit Gym’s wellness services include services like massages, chiropractic care, acupuncture, steam/saunas, and more for the best spa day. Their holistic approach to fitness gives you the comprehensive care you need to thrive.
Unwind After Enjoying the Best Hikes in San Francisco
After enjoying the jaw-dropping and sometimes physically intense hikes in San Francisco, your body needs time to recoup and relax.
Enjoy your next post-hike routine at Live Fit Gym to help your body relax and recover. Revitalize the connection between your mind and body with their many wellness services. Unwind in their sauna or get one of the best massages in San Francisco.
If you are local to any of Live Fit Gym’s locations, get a free day pass to see if it’s a good fit for your health and wellness lifestyle.
