Top Six Trails to Hike this Holiday Season

Views of the Hawk Hill Trail, looking north Vivien Kim Thorp/Parks Conservancy

Earn a sweat on these trails this holiday season. From Marin County to San Mateo County, here are the top pathways that’ll lead you to adventure while out with loved ones.

Trail

Battery East Trail

Difficulty: Easiest

Length

0.80 miles round-trip

One of the signature trail improvement projects of the Parks Conservancy, the multi-use Battery East Trail features eye-popping views of the soaring towers of the Golden Gate Bridge , as well as an overlook/seating area to admire the span and San Francisco Bay.

Dog walker takes her leashed dog through Oakwood Valley

Trail

Oakwood Valley Trail

Difficulty: Moderate

Length

2.58 miles round-trip

The trail loop begins on the single-track Oakwood Valley Trail and finishes on the broad Fire Road Trail.

Trail

Hawk Hill Trail

Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous

Length

0.20 miles round-trip

Some of the most eye-popping vistas in the Bay Area—beloved by Golden Gate Raptor Observatory staff and volunteers who annually monitor the fall migration from Hawk Hill—are available to individuals with a wide range of abilities.

Trail

Milagra Ridge Trail

Difficulty: Moderate

Length

1.20 miles round-trip

Surrounded by urban development in Pacifica, Milagra Ridge forms what biologists call an island ecosystem. Despite this isolation, this 250-acre park hosts a surprising diversity of natural resources. It is home to threatened and endangered species like the mission blue and San Bruno elfin butterflies.

Trail

Old Mori Trail

Difficulty: Easiest

Length

1.10 miles round-trip

Visit a beautiful part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in a loop easily accessible by car, bike, and SamTrans bus lines. This area was improved with the help of community volunteers and is a showcase of restored native plants and wildlife habitat.

Joggers enjoy the Crissy Field Promenade

Trail

Crissy Field Promenade Trail

Difficulty: Easiest

Length

3.44 miles round-trip

Restored in 2001, Crissy Field wasted no time in becoming a San Francisco icon and a gem of the Parks Conservancy. The former military airfield now sports a clean, smooth promenade with views of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz , and the North and East Bays.

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