Hike 10: Lucas Valley | Marin County, CA
Hikers: Carol, Linda and Nat (humans) | Kacee, Elvis, Glory and Willow (dogs) Start Time: 8:00 a.m. at the Chicken Shack Fire Road entrance near Clay Ct and Alameda del Prado in Novato. Lucas Valley Open Space Preserve is an expansive 1271 acre gem that offers incredible views. It’s highlight, the Big Rock Ridge trail reaches its highest point at 1895 […]
Hike 9: Del Valle Regional Park | Livermore, CA
Hikers: Kristen, Joe, Bill and Nat (humans) | Nietzsche and Willow (dogs) Start Time: 4:00 p.m. at the horse trail entrance to the park at the top of the hill. Del Valle Regional Park is a true East Bay gem. Located 10 miles south of Livermore, Del Valle (meaning “of the valley” in Spanish) features a 5-mile long lake surrounded by oak-covered […]
Hike 8: Taylor Mountain | Santa Rosa, CA
Hikers: Carol and Nat (humans) | Elvis, Glory and Willow (dogs) Start Time: 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot off of Kawana Terrace. Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Open Space Preserve is prominent county landmark that offers sweeping views of the Santa Rosa Plain, and its oak woodlands, meadows, wetlands and springs are home to diverse forms of wildlife. Still in its early stages of development, […]
Hike 7: Marin Headlands | Sausalito, CA
Hikers: Jaymi and Nat (humans) | Niner and Willow (dogs) Start Time: 6:30 am at Fort Cronkhite and Rodeo Beach parking lot. The Marin Headlands are part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area. This 12,000-acre peninsula is located at the southernmost end of Marin County, just north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge. It is famous for its beautiful views and […]
Hike 6: Anthony Chabot Regional Park | Castro Valley, CA
Hikers: Jesse and Nat (humans) | Pancake and Willow (dogs) Start Time: 7:30 am at Clyde Woolridge staging area entrance on the left near the intersection of Skyline Blvd and Grass Valley Road. Anthony Chabot Regional Park is a beautiful 3,314-acre varied parkland with year-round public campgrounds, a marksmanship range, and 70 miles of hiking and riding trails to enjoy. Hiking trails through grasslands, chaparral, and shady eucalyptus groves […]
Hike 5: Redwood Regional Park | Oakland, CA
Hikers: Alta and Nat (humans) | Pe’ahi, Nalu, Leilani and Willow (dogs) Start Time: 2:00 pm at entrance adjacent to Richard C. Trudeau Conference Center off of Skyline Blvd. Redwood Regional Park is located off Redwood Road just a few miles over the ridge from downtown Oakland. A beautiful and hidden Redwood forest, it is a favorite of nature enthusiasts of a wide range. The […]
Hike 4: Hood Mountain Regional Park | Santa Rosa, CA
Hikers: Sheila and Nat (humans) | Nova and Willow (dogs) Start Time: 8:00 am, Pythian Rd trail entrance Hood Mountain Regional Park is located in Santa Rosa. This The park consists of 1,750 acres of lush wilderness, varied ecosystems in terms of flora with outstanding hiking, mountain biking and equestrian trails. It is a wonderful place for birders and scenic view lovers willing […]
Hike 3: Shollenberger Park | Petaluma, CA
Hikers: Nat (humans) | Willow (dogs) Start Time: 7:00 am, Sheraton (Alman Marsh) trail entrance Shollenberger Park is located in Petaluma. This 165 acre wetlands park (with 16 acres of accessible trails) includes pathways that connect through Alman Marsh and to the Ellis Creek Treatment Plant. Shollengerger has restrooms, drinking fountains, a fishing pier and has well-cared for walking/bicycle paths. The […]
Hike 2: Indian Tree | Novato, CA
Hikers: Nat and Bill (humans) | Willow and Niner (dogs) Start Time: 7:00 am, Vineyard Road trail entrance Indian Tree Open Space Preserve is located in west Novato, at the end of a quiet neighborhood on Vineyard road. This is a hike for tree lovers, as the trails ascend through dense groves of oak, bay and madrone, rewarding you with a lush redwood forest […]
Hiking Basics – What’s in My Backpack?
Whether you are new to the trail or old friends with it, I have outlined some basics that are always good to remember when adventuring out into the wild. Hiking is for the most part, a low-maintenance sport, but good sense, preparation and a few essentials go a long way in keeping you and your […]
