Moon 101 Great Hikes San Francisco Bay Area: Plus the Best Places to Eat, Drink, and Camp Nearby

Local author Ann Marie Brown reveals the best Bay Area hikes, from the wildflowers of the South Bay to the redwood forests of Marin. Get a breath of fresh air with Moon 101 Great Hikes San Francisco Bay Area. Inside you'll find:

• Hikes for everyone: Hikes range from short, flat routes suitable for families to day-long, steep treks for more ambitious hikers, with flexible options to shorten or extend many routes
• Explore the trails: All hikes are marked with difficulty ratings, features (such as dog-friendly or wheelchair-accessible) and highlights like beaches, historic sites, wildlife, and wildflowers
• Maps and directions: Follow easy-to-use maps and point-by-point directions for each trail, including driving directions to trailheads, GPS coordinates, and public transit options when available
• Top hikes: Strategic lists of the best waterfalls, summit vistas, hikes by season, and more to help you choose the right hike in Napa, Sonoma, Marin, the East Bay, San Francisco, the Peninsula, and the South Bay
• Trusted advice: Outdoors expert Ann Marie Brown shares the experience and knowledge she's gained from hiking, biking, and camping in and around the Bay Area for more than 150 days a year
• Tips and tools: Essential information about health and safety, trail etiquette, the landscape, and more, plus lists of the best campgrounds in each region

Whether you're an outdoors expert or a first-time hiker, Moon's practical tips and comprehensive coverage will have you ready to lace up your boots and hit the trails.

Looking for hikes beyond the Bay? Try Moon Northern California Hiking or Moon California Hiking. Ready for an overnight adventure? Check out Moon Northern California Camping or Moon California Camping.

About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell--and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you.

For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

Author: Ann Marie Brown,Moon Travel Guides
Publisher: Moon Travel
Published: 10/21/2025
Pages: 392
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.80lbs
Size: 8.10h x 5.20w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9798886471328

About the Author
Ann Marie Brown made her first solo trip to Yosemite at age 22. Like many first-time visitors, she was immediately inspired by the Valley's sheer granite walls and shimmering waterfalls. Parking her car at the first trailhead she saw, she set off on the Four-Mile Trail. Carrying nothing but a water bottle, she intended to hike only a short distance but was so wowed by the scenery that she kept on walking. Two hours later she found herself at Glacier Point, considered by many to be the grandest viewpoint in the West. Scanning the scene, she noticed tourists dressed in everything from high heels to a nun's habit, and realized that she could have driven to Glacier Point instead of walking. Ann Marie vowed she'd never again go hiking without a map.

More than two decades later, Ann Marie has gained substantially more outdoor savvy and is a dedicated California outdoorswoman. She hikes, camps, and bikes more than 150 days each year. She is the author of 13 Moon guides, including several outdoors titles, like Moon 101 Great Hikes San Francisco Bay Area, and is the co-author of Moon California Hiking with Tom Stienstra. Her work has also appeared in Sunset, VIA, and California magazines.