Lands End and Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA

I started my afternoon of hiking by parking at Ocean Beach near the Cliff house, as the Lands End parking lot was full when I got there at around 3pm on a Sunday. You can access the trail head from the beach though it is a somewhat steep walk.

Go about 1.5 miles along the Coastal trail, taking in views of the ocean, rock formations, cypress trees, and the Golden Gate bridge. For a 3-mile round-trip you can turn around at Eagles point (at the end of Lands End), or continue on El Camino Del Mar/Sea Cliff Ave for a bit more mileage if you are feeling adventurous and can safely find your way around. I ended up at Baker Beach before turning around and finishing my hike back at Ocean Beach. There is also a jogging trail parallel to Highway 35 and Ocean Beach.

View from Lands End


Ocean Beach

Difficulty: Moderate, >Moderate (if connecting to Baker Beach)

Pescadero State Beach & Marsh, CA

Situated along Highway 1 somewhere between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, Pescadero State Beach is good for short hikes along the beach and adjoining marsh. To get there take Highway 92 west, then head south on Highway 1 for about 15 miles.


The park also provides many opportunities for viewing wildlife. I was lucky enough to spot a group of napping seals.


Slightly inland, the North Pond Trail is a short < 1-mile loop located near the marshlands. Deer, ducks and other wildlife can be seen there.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (unshaded, thick vegetation in some areas)

Henry W. Coe State Park, Morgan Hill, CA

If you like rugged, beautiful day-hikes and have 4 or 5 hours to spare, then Henry W. Coe State park is a great hiking opportunity. To get there, take the Dunne Avenue exit off highway 101 in Morgan Hill and head east on Dunne Ave. The last 10 miles of this road narrows and steepens as it winds its way up Pine ridge. Water and sunblock are a good idea.

I started my 5-mile journey at the Coe Ranch Headquarters. You can purchase a parking pass for $8 and get a free trail map at the visitor center. Go 0.5 miles on Monument trail before turning left on Hobbs Road. Note that if you detour along the 1.1-mile Ponderosa trail loop before hitting Hobbs Road, it can be difficult to follow due to the trail's narrowness and the overgrown plant life.


Follow Hobbs Road downhill for 0.8 miles before turning left on Flat Frog Trail and following the signs to Frog Lake. You'll be rewarded for your persistence with great views of the lake!


Retrace your steps for 0.2 miles, then continue left on Flat Frog Trail towards headquarters for 2.3 miles. Continue westwards on Coral Trail for 0.6 miles towards the park headquarters and the hike is complete.

Trail: Frog Lake Loop, with Ponderosa Trail extension, 5.3 miles
Difficulty: >Moderate (unshaded, thick vegetation in certain areas)

Thanks to Emilia for suggesting this hike!

Sweeney Ridge, Pacifica, CA

Near the coastal town of Pacifica, Sweeney Ridge provides views of the Pacific ocean as well as the San Francisco bay. The ridge can be approached from the west via the Mori Ridge Trail (described below) or the east via Sneath Lane (see April 9th hike).

To get to the Mori Ridge trail head, Take Highway 1 and turn east onto Mori Ridge Road and continue uphill past Shelldance Nursery. Parking is available at the end of the nursery.

Take Mori Ridge trail 1.3 miles until reaching Sweeney Ridge trail. From here you may turn back, or continue on Sweeney Ridge trail until you hit a Nike Missile Control site or reach Sneath Lane or Bacquaino trail further beyond that. Total elevation change is around 1000ft.

Pacific coast, west side


SF Bay. Note Sign Hill Park in the distance.

Trail: Mori Ridge + Sweeney Ridge trails, 4.6 mi round trip
Difficulty: Moderate (elevation change)

Photos courtesy of Mike Y.

Shark Fin Cove, Davenport, CA

Along Highway 1 near Santa Cruz, Shark Fin Cove is an ideal hangout spot for a weekend.

I started my hike at Bonny Doon Beach. Walk north less than 0.5 miles to reach Shark Fin Cove. Both beach areas are accessible by a steep, short trail.



There are also many photo opportunities in the surrounding area.


Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (steepness)

Thanks to my Uncle David for suggesting this beautiful hike!

Cisinshan, Yangmingshan National Park, Taiwan

Cisinshan ("7 star mountain"), a dormant volcano, is known for its fumaroles that emit sulfur gases.

To get there from Taipei, take the 260 bus from the Taipei Main MRT station 35+ stops to Yangmingshan. Take the internal 108 bus to Xiaoyoukeng ("small oil pit").

After taking in closeup views of the fumaroles, begin your hike at the trail head. Walk uphill over a 1.6 kilometer-long series of steps to the summit. Take note of the steam vents, rocky landscape, views of Taipei, and vegetation. At the summit, you can turn back and retrace your steps or descend along Lengshuikeng ("cold water pit") trail. I did the former due to time constraint.

Fumaroles at Xiaoyoukeng


View from the summit




After completing the hike, take the 108 bus back to the Yangmingshan bus stop at the park entrance.

Trail: Xiaoyoukeng, 3.2km round trip, 286m elevation gain
Difficulty: >Moderate (steepness)

Yehliu Geopark, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Located in Northern Taiwan, this natural wonder is valued for its unique rock formations and coastal views. It was formed millions of years ago in the Miocene.

"Queen's Head" rock formation


Yehliu Cape/Promontory


Difficulty: Moderate

Thanks to my Uncle David for playing tour guide on this hike and also the previous post!

Tamsui Fisherman's Wharf, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Located in Northern Taiwan, this area makes for pleasant strolls with views of the Tamsui River and Taiwan Strait.

Difficulty: >Easy (afternoon heat)

Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, Portola Valley, CA

Just off I-280 on Alpine road, Windy Hill provides a formidable hike, with an 1100+ foot elevation gain over 2.5 miles (>5-mile round trip). Start at the trail head, then go 0.7 miles along Meadow Trail before turning left when you hit Spring Ridge Trail. Continue for 1.6 miles up the steep rolling hillside paths, then take Anniversary Trail 0.2 miles to the summit. You'll enjoy excellent views of the bay. Be sure to bring water and sunscreen. For those who want to skip the uphill struggle, park at Skyline Boulevard and take the 0.7-mile Anniversary Trail loop.

Trail: Spring Ridge Trail + Meadow Trail, 5.4 miles, 1100ft elev gain
Difficulty: >Moderate (elevation change, steepness, exposure to sun)

Sweeney Ridge, San Bruno/Pacifica, CA

This scenic hike features views of San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Park at the trail head at Sneath Lane, and continue 1.7 miles on foot. Along the way, the trail overlooks the San Francisco Watershed and San Andreas Reservoir (which is situated along the San Andreas Fault). Further into the hike you'll get excellent views of SF bay. Once you hit a crossroads near the top of the ridge, you can continue northwards on Sweeney Ridge trail or go southwards on Baquiano trail for a longer hike and views of the Pacific coast before turning back.


Trail: Sneath Lane trail, 3.3 mile round trip, 540ft elev change
Difficulty: Moderate

Marin Headlands, Sausalito, CA

Just north of the Golden Gate bridge, the Marin Headlands offers several trails with excellent coastal views. To get there, exit on Alexander Avenue, turn left on Danes Drive/Bunker Road (stopping at the tunnel until the 5-minute stoplight turns green), and follow the signs to the visitor center, where you can get a trail map. Parking is free everywhere in the park. Visitor center staff and hikers are courteous and helpful. It may be a good idea to check the weather beforehand.

There are several points of interest in this scenic area.

The first, Point Bonita Lighthouse, is accessible via Field Road. Walk 0.5 miles along the Point Bonita trail while taking in pleasant ocean views before hitting a tunnel. Between 12:30 and 3:30pm on weekends and Mondays, one can reach the lighthouse through this tunnel. The surrounding area is also home to several historic military installations including Fort Barry (with several gun batteries), built around 1900, and a Nike Missile Site active during the cold war.


From a hiking standpoint, the main attraction is the Coastal/Miwok trails. Park at the northeastern corner of Rodeo Lagoon and walk 1.6 miles on Miwok Trail, which rises hundreds of feet in elevation. Bear left on Wolf Ridge Trail for 0.7 miles. The journey is somewhat strenuous but worth it. As soon as you hit Coastal Trail you'll be rewarded with stunning views of Rodeo Cove, Bird Island, and the Pacific Ocean. Continue west, then south, descending along the Coastal trail for 1.5 miles. Point Bonita Lighthouse should be visible in the distance (photo #1b). Turn left on Lagoon Trail and continue for another mile or so until you return full circle to the trail head.



Trail: Miwok + Wolf Ridge + Coastal trails, 4.8 miles
Difficulty: >Moderate (elevation change, length)

Del Valle Regional Park, Livermore, CA

Situated just south of Livermore, Del Valle Regional Park offers scenic trails around Lake Del Valle, a reservoir formed in 1968 from a dam of the same name. Both are part of the South Bay Aqueduct. Late winter/ early spring is a good time to visit as heat can be a factor on hotter days, due to the lack of cover from trees. Parking is available at the Arroyo Road staging area on the north side of the lake.

At the start of the hike, we were treated with a stunning
view of the surrounding hillside/cliffs.



After an uphill hike of several hundred feet or so, Lake
Del Valle becomes visible. The East Shore Trail then
winds around the northeastern edge of the lake, providing
different viewing angles.



For a closer view of the lake, we took the Heron Bay trail at about mile 3. After the trail reconnects with the East Shore trail 1.3 miles later, we turned back for the return journey. (The Heron Bay trail also offshoots earlier from the main trail at mile 1, reconnecting at mile 2 but we elected to not take that option). For a much longer hike keep hiking southward on the main trail.

Cows can also be seen resting near the trails and are friendly and unafraid of hikers (Be wary of cow dung though. Also note that it's advisable to keep your distance from such large animals).

"Don't provoke me, I'm a 1500 lb beast."
Photos 1/2/3/5 courtesy of Mike Y.

All in all, this is a good workout for the casual to serious day-hiker.

Trail: East Shore Trail + Heron Bay Trail, 7.5 miles round trip
Difficulty: >Moderate (length, unshaded)

Sign Hill Park, South San Francisco, CA

In late February of 2016 my brother and I took a short hike
at Sign Hill Park. The park is centered around an enormous
sign calling out "SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO THE INDUSTRIAL
CITY", which was created in the 1920s to attract industry to
the city. Street parking is available outside the park entrance.


The short but steep hillside hike (mild scramble) is rewarded with panoramic views of San Francisco bay. Jetliners can also be seen taking off and landing at nearby SF International Airport.


On the way back we took a different route.

Difficulty: Moderate (steep grade)

All photos courtesy of Mike Y.

Castle Rock State Park, Los Gatos, CA

This California state park is located in the south bay, along the Santa Cruz mountains. Its sandstone rock formations and forested trails make for a pleasant, distinctive hiking experience. The trail can be somewhat steep at times, especially on the approach to Castle Rock itself, but is not too strenuous on the whole--good for a weekend family outing.


Castle Rock Falls / Overlook


Castle Rock

Trail: Castle Rock + Saratoga Gap trails (to falls), 2-mile round trip
Difficulty: Moderate (steep in certain areas)

Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, WA

Cougar mountain is part of the Issaquah Alps, formed in the Miocene (up to 50 million years ago) by tectonic forces. It features tree-lined trails with a slight to moderate slope. The route we took was a 3.7+ mile loop traversing portions of Cave Hole, Fred's Railroad, Quarry, and Red Town trails. The elevation change was around 550 feet from the lowest to highest point.

Trail: Cave Hole, Fred's RR, Quarry, Red Town trails, 3.7 miles, 550ft elevation change
Difficulty: Moderate to >Moderate

Coal Creek Natural Area & vicinity, WA

Located east of Seattle, this network of trails provides many walking/jogging opportunities. The below trail is of the surrounding area, on the west summit side.

Selections from Hiking Class

In Fall 2014 I took an excellent hiking course at Foothill, instructed by Alana. Below are some of my favorite hikes.

Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont, CA
Located near the Dumbarton Bridge, this hike provides great views of San Francisco bay and marshlands. It is especially beautiful in the late fall when I went.

Note: Can get windy.

Huddart Park, Woodside, CA
This pleasant hike begins at the Zwierlein Picnic area, and goes for about 5 miles along the Crystal Springs and Dean Trails. Tall redwoods provide much of the scenery and the forest creates a damp, cool environment reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest, which is a welcome change from the dry, exposed features that one may often expect of trails in California.

The trail itself is not very hilly, and can be completed in 2 or 2 1/2 hours. Expect to pay a $6 fee for parking.



Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, Los Gatos, CA
Unlike Huddart Park, this hike is quite hilly. To get there, take Page Mill Road west for 7 miles after the 280 exit until reaching the park entrance on the left. The elevation climbs during the last few miles of Page Mill, and there are some splendid views even before reaching the park itself.

The hike itself starts out at around 2200 feet, descends to 1800 feet along the Stevens Creek trail, then climbs to 2800 feet at the top of Black Mountain in the span of 1.5 miles (if going up the Indian Creek trail). Be prepared for lots of sun exposure on the way up. Descending along the Monte Bello Road/Bella Vista Trail, there is some relief due to the downward slope and the shelter of the trees. An intense workout.

Difficulty: >Moderate (length and lack of shade)

★ Muir Woods National Monument, CA

In July of 2014 I visited Muir Woods National Monument with my family. The monument was established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt, to preserve the redwoods contained therein, some of which are well over 1000 years old.

Finding parking was somewhat of a task on a holiday weekend; it is advisable to get there early in the day, or be prepared to park on the side of the road a 15-minute walk away from the park entrance. A small admission fee is required (around $8 per person unless you have a senior discount) and the visitor center staff is friendly. Trail maps are available for $1.

The Main Trail is short and level, perfect for the casual tourist/hiker. One can spend about 2 or 3 hours on this leisurely hike.


Other trails, such as the Canopy View Trail, provide more of an elevation change and can be less crowded. All in all, this casual, relaxing day hike is time well spent.

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C.

Located in British Columbia, this large park is great for joggers, bikers, and nature enthusiasts, while offering splendid skyline views of the city of Vancouver and the Lions Gate Bridge.


Note: All photos courtesy of Mike Y.

Half Moon Bay redux, version 3.0

I recently revisited Half Moon Bay and caught the sunset there.

Mission Peak redux, version 3.0

In mid April of 2014, I redid Mission Peak with my brother (Fremont side). A good way to spend a weekend afternoon. View from top, facing northeast and eastward.