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.

Carmel, CA

In mid-2013 I was in Carmel for a family outing with my parents/brother and one of my uncles/aunts who suggested this beautiful location. We started the day with a nice relaxing lunch at Tran's Noodle House, then hiked for a couple hours, soaking in the excellent views.

Discovery Park, Seattle, WA

This is Seattle's largest public park. I first visited this park on a nice summer's day in 2012 (shout-out to my brother for introducing me to this place!). There are multiple trails to choose from. The 2.8-mile Loop Trail is a relaxing forest trail that offers scenic views of Puget Sound, ideal for nature lovers and joggers alike.


There is also a visitor center near the park's entrance where you can park and get information.

Rock Island Trail State Park, Wyoming, IL

This 26+ mile mostly flat & straight trail near Peoria, Illinois is good for weekend jogging. This site used to be a railway between Peoria and Rock Island, active from the late 1800s until around 1950.


Note: Posted on 1/4/15. The "Published on" date is the actual date of the hike.

Hocking Hills State Park, OH

About 1 hour south of Columbus, Ohio, this state park offers nice forest hikes, unique rock formations, and beautiful waterfalls.

Cedar Falls

Deception Pass State Park, Oak Harbor, WA

Located in NW Washington state, this strait is a pleasant hiking and camping destination, especially during the summer months. I hiked this one together with my parents and brother.



Note: Posted on 1/4/15. The "Published on" date is the actual date of the hike.

Sunol Regional Wilderness to Mission Peak Regional Preserve

This is a ~10-mile round trip hike I took in July 2010 from Sunol Regional Wilderness, through the San Francisco Water District land, up the eastern face of Mission Peak to the top, and back. Note: The journey is somewhat strenuous and gets quite isolated in the forested areas. If you choose to attempt this hike, it is a good idea to bring friends and ample food/water, clothing/sunblock, flashlight, and a cell phone.

The hike starts at the Sunol Visitor Center, where hikers
are required to purchase an Ohlone Wilderness Trail per-
mit and trail map. At the trail head, sign in.


The first 3 miles of the climb consist of SF Water District
land, which is forested and isolated.


After exiting this section and signing out on the other side,
the forest gives way to grassy hillside.


For the next 2 miles there is a steady climb until the top of Mission Peak. Time and energy management can become an issue, and my legs cramped up at around the 5-mile mark, forcing me to take a 20-minute break before turning back. After recharging my batteries with granola bars and water, it's time to descend Mission Peak, and cross the SF Water District land again (signing in and out again).

By the end of the hike I was exhausted, and had barely finished before sunset. Time to grab dinner, go home and sleep...

Trail: Ohlone Wilderness Regional Trail -- Sunol Visitor Ctr to Mission Peak, 9.25 mi
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (length, unshaded, steep grade, isolation)

Stanford Dish, CA

This is a hilly jog near the Stanford campus. A good workout. It was introduced to me by my brother. The dish itself is a radio telescope built in 1966 by what is now SRI International.

Trail: Stanford Dish Loop, 3.8 miles, 500ft elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate

Redoing some hikes/jogs

In mid February 2010 I redid a couple of my earlier hikes/jogs. Below are photo comparisons between summer and winter.

Shoreline Park


Mission Peak

Carson Falls, Fairfax, CA

In the woods of Pine Mountain off of Bolinas Rd. in Fairfax, there is a beautiful waterfall called Carson Falls. The falls are about 1.5 miles from the trail head, along Little Carson Trail.

Sunol Regional Wilderness, Fremont, CA

Nestled in the hills east of Fremont, Sunol Regional Wilderness is quite enjoyable during mid-winter when the hills are lush and green. Great for families, or for a brisk afternoon hike.

The drive to the park (going north on a narrow and winding Calaveras Rd.) provides nice views of Calaveras Reservoir and surrounding area. There are a few opportunities to park and enjoy the scenery, if you're not afraid of heights.


Little Yosemite is one of the park's main attractions. To get there, take the Canyon View Trail going southeast from the visitor center for a little over 1.5 miles. On the way, there's a moderately steep uphill climb and opportunities to get up close and personal with some cows (I kept my distance as a precaution). Then turn right and proceed downhill along the well marked trail to Little Yosemite, and make your return via Camp Ohlone Road.


Note: A trail map is available on entry to the park. Visitor center staff is friendly and helpful.

Montara Mountain, CA

Just south of Pacifica, Montara Mountain overlooks the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. If you hike up to the north peak on a sunny day with no fog, you may be able to catch impressive views of both. One possible option is to start at San Pedro County Park, and take the Brooks Falls trail and Montara Mountain trail for 3.5 miles to the top, for a 7 mile round trip.


Note: The drive to and from the park is almost as scenic as the hike, with Highway 1 hugging the beautiful coastline.

Difficulty: >Moderate (length, elevation change)

★ Mount Rainier National Park, WA

Located about 55 miles south of Seattle, WA, this majestic mountain provides many great summer hiking opportunities for the casual weekend hiker. It is actually a dormant stratovolcano formed less than 1 million years ago. The visitor center (Paradise point) sits at an elevation of 5400 feet. Here you can pick up a trail map, get advice from park officials, and use the restrooms.

The Skyline Trail Loop is one of the more popular trails, featuring a 1400-foot elevation change. The hike begins at the visitor center (at Paradise point) and is slightly over 5 1/2 miles round trip, or 4 1/2 miles if you take a shortcut.

Going clockwise along the loop, one begins the uphill portion (about 2 miles) of the hike. Right away, Rainier's stunning beauty can be felt as the well-marked trail meanders through lush tree-lined meadows brimming with wildflowers and animal life. Deer, marmots, and birds often venture within viewing distance of the trail.



As the elevation increases, you can get a better look at the glaciers. Soon the trail reaches its highest point at Panorama point - elevation 6800 feet - where hikers often stop to eat their bag lunches and enjoy breathtaking views of the Cascade range. There is also a nearby restroom.



Descending the trail on its east side, hikers overlook a rocky, barren landscape. After about a mile, hikers have the option of returning 1.5 miles to the trail head via the Golden Gate trail, or continuing for 2.5 more miles on the remainder of the Skyline Trail.


Moving further down, the trail transitions back to meadowlands and tree-lined valleys. About half a mile from the trail's end, hikers can stop at Myrtle Falls for a scenic break. Finally the visitor center comes into sight, closing the loop full circle.


Trail: Skyline Trail Loop, 5.5 miles, 1400 ft elevation change
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (elevation change, steep grade, altitude, length)

Mount Diablo State Park, Clayton, CA

Located in Clayton/Danville, this mountain provides plenty of hiking opportunities. One of the more difficult hikes is the Mitchell Canyon loop, a 14.0 mile hike with a 3400-foot elevation change. For details see
http://www.mdia.org/hikesdifficult.htm#MITCHELL%20CANYON



Note: Difficulty: Strenuous (length and elevation change)

Baylands Trail, Palo Alto, CA

This Palo Alto trail is next to Shoreline Park in Mountain View. It is great for birdwatching, and good for a weekend jog if you happen to be in the area and don't mind the smell of the birds. The land is very flat and easy on a runner's knees.


Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Half Moon Bay State Beach, CA

This is a beautiful beach just off Highway 1 in the city of Half Moon Bay, that offers 4 miles of sandy and rocky coastline. The following post describes my hike between Dunes and Poplar beaches (and back), which are separated by 1.5 miles of coastline. For a better experience, do check the tides and weather beforehand.

I started my hike at Dunes beach, which is a northern access point. It is not too crowded here and a good place to walk, hangout with family, and sunbathe. There are many bird species here for the bird watching enthusiast.


Walking southbound, the waves get slightly larger until reaching Venice beach (popular with surfers). Continuing, the next beaches are Francis, then Poplar beaches. The coastal cliffs are taller here, and the rock formations are interesting to note. At early to mid-afternoon, it's way past time to turn around for the long walk back.


Note 1: I strongly recommend getting back to your car well before sunset, and bringing a flashlight. It is not safe or fun getting caught in the dark alone with the tide rolling in, finding a ticket on your car, and relying on the park officials to keep the gate unlocked for you. Safety first! Don't let this happen to you!

Mission Peak Regional Park, Fremont, CA

Hidden behind the suburbs of Fremont, this 7-mile (round trip) hike provides a good workout, and a splendid view of the south bay. It has a 2000-ft elevation change, and on the day I went it was uncomfortably warm near the bottom, cool and windy near the top.



Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (steep grade, large elevation change, & intense heat during summer months)

Mount Tamalpais State Park, Mill Valley, CA

Just north of San Francisco, this is a great place for the casual weekend day hiker.

The adventure begins with a scenic drive to the visitor center just below the peak. There you have several options. A couple examples... The East peak trail (.5mi round trip) is probably the most popular and provides nice views of the bay. Inspiration point (2.5 mi round trip from visitor center) provides a longer and less crowded option, ideal for bikers and those who want a workout.



Note: Actual date of hike was 8/2/09