Discover Easy Hikes In Northern California State Parks

Explore the beauty of State Parks in northern California via some easy hikes.

Visitors can discover trails and pathways through beaches, hills, and
alongside rivers. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with friends and
family and get away from city and cement. (To ensure your hike is enjoyable, it’s
important to wear proper shoes, fit for hiking, wear a hat for sun protection, and
bring drinking water. In summertime, an early morning start offers hikers both
cooler temperatures and a better chance of seeing wildlife. For a safe and
pleasant outing, be sure to check the weather forecast.)

Here are some ideas for easy hike locations:

CASWELL MEMORIAL STATE PARK (SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY) offers
visitors a leisurely ramble along the Stanislaus River. Various trail loops allow
walks from .5 to 2.5 miles over relatively level terrain. The stately Valley Oaks
that tower over the trails once sheltered the Yokut people, and welcomed the first
European explorers with a familiar sight, so like the mighty white oaks of their
homelands. Take the Austin Rd. exit west from Highway. 99 at Manteca and
continue seven miles until the road ends at the park entrance. Call (209) 599-3810
for more information. The park is a Watchable Wildlife site.

PACHECO STATE PARK (MERCED COUNTY) is a great destination for
hikers. The trail up to Spike’s Peak (2.5 miles) offers stunning views. Returning
by way of the Pig Pond Trail takes hikers near the old adobe ruins of the original
San Luis Gonzaga rancho, and a cowboy’s line shack from the Miller & Lux era.
Pacheco State Park is located between Los Baños and Gilroy on Highway 152 at
Pacheco Pass. Take the Dinosaur Point Road exit south from the highway and
turn right almost immediately at the park sign. For information call (209) 826-6283.

HENRY W. COE STATE PARK (SANTA CLARA COUNTY) has earned
its reputation for steep terrain, but the park also features some delightful but less
physically demanding trails. A good example is the Forest Trail – Springs Trail
loop which makes a leisurely walk of about 2-3 hours along oak-studded ridges
and through mixed woodlands. A self-guiding trail brochure available at the park
headquarters’ Visitor Center introduces the shrubs and trees to be found along
the way. Take East Dunne Avenue from Hwy. 101 in Morgan Hill;
the road goes directly into the park after a winding climb of about 30 minutes.
Call (408) 779-2728 for more information; during the winter the visitor center is
open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

From Henry Coe’s new Hunting Hollow entrance east of Gilroy, the
Hunting Hollow Trail follows a little creek bed with a lovely stand of old
Sycamores. Take Leavesley Road east from Hwy. 101 in Gilroy, turning left
(north) on New Avenue, and east again on Roop Road. Roop turns into the old
Gilroy Hot Springs Road. Continue on Gilroy Hot Springs Rd.; the Hunting
Hollow entrance will be on your right, 3.3 miles beyond the sign for the Coyote
Lake turnoff. Call (408) 779-2728 for more information. The park is a Watchable
Wildlife site.

MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK (CONTRA COSTA COUNTY) has
several trailheads at a variety of elevations that offer hiking opportunities, varying
from easy walking to moderate to strenuous.

Visitors' first stop should be the Summit Visitor Center where hikers can
get an orientation of the park and detailed information about the trails. Maps are
available at a nominal fee. (The visitor center is closed on Mondays and
Tuesdays.)

Just below the Visitor Center, the Fire Interpretive Trail offers a short, easy
hike. It circles the summit and is a short loop, approximately 7/8 miles, that
features dramatic views of the park and surrounding Bay Area. The Juniper Trail
is also accessible from Summit Road and is approximately three miles long.
It also affords great views of the surrounding countryside.

A different kind of hike is at Curry Canyon Trail off of South Gate Road. It
starts out at a lower elevation and follows a fire road into Curry Canyon on the
east side of the park. The trail includes sections of a riparian corridor.
For more information, call the park at (925) 837-0904. The park is a
Watchable Wildlife site.

CHINA CAMP STATE PARK (MARIN COUNTY) has many trails, but it is
one of the only parks with multi-use single-track trails. The presence of bicycles
and horses may be disconcerting to new hikers looking for more solitude. There
is, however, a short 3/4 mile flat, loop walk called the Turtle Back Nature Trail
that is open only to foot traffic. The trail skirts the edge of an old island on the
shore of San Pablo Bay. Today, pickleweed marsh has replaced open waters
and the trail gives a close-up view of the salt marshes that harbor such
endangered species as the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse and the Clapper Rail,
while the upland side of the trail reveals oaks, bays and grassland communities.
For more information, call the park at (415) 456-0766 or (415) 893-1580.
MOUNT TAMALPAIS STATE PARK (MARIN COUNTY) has several
opportunities for easy loop trails. The most spectacular loop is the Verna
Dunshee Trail on the East Peak of the mountain. It is a 3/4 mile loop that circles
the 2,571 foot summit and offers unparalleled views of the San Francisco Bay
region. It is well worth the drive to the top of the mountain.

There are other loop trails in the 2-4 mile range starting from the Pantoll or
Rock Spring trailheads.

For more information, call the park at (415) 388-2070 or (415) 258-2410.
The park is a Watchable Wildlife site.

TOMALES BAY STATE PARK (MARIN COUNTY) has a splendid trail
from Heart's Desire Beach to Indian Beach that can be done in a one mile loop.
For more information, call the park at (415) 669-1140.

For more information about California State Parks and the annual pass,
visit the website at www.parks.ca.gov.