A short hike through Waianapanapa State Park in Maui takes you through coastal caves through Maui’s rainforest along the Road to Hana.

Hiking the west portion of Carquinez Strait Open Space offers some great views of San Pablo Bay and the Caquinez Bridge.

A nice coastal hike in Northern California in Salt Point State Park takes you through the Pygmy Forest and down to the Pacific Ocean.

The campgrounds at Woodside Campground in Salt Point State Park are protected from the wind and make a great launching point for hiking the Pygmy forest and Salt Point Trails. They are also a great mushroom foraging location when it’s the right season.

Off Hwy 1 in Carmel, the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve offers a number of trails with views of marine animals such as Sea Otters, Harbor Seals, Whales, Dolphins, and Sea Lions along with great coastal views among Cypress groves.

My first mushroom foray proved extremely bountiful through the pygmy and coastal forest of Salt Point State Park.

A short hike along Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, CA offering nice coastal views and beach-worn glass.

Gorgeous northern California hike along the coastal bluffs of the Pacific Ocean in Mendocino.

A gorgeous but foggy coastal hike on the Kortum trail from Shell Beach to Goat Rock Beach offers a great hike through coastal wetlands on wooden walkways and a great view of shale bluffs and the Pacific coast from Sonoma Coast State Park.

A portion of the San Francisco Bay Area Ridge Trail runs through the Benicia Vallejo Buffer separating the cities with views of the northern San Francisco Bay and the Carquinez Strait.

Great short coastal hike within the GGNRA Marin Headlands offers several trails to choose from in a valley leading to the coast.

Hikers flock to this scenic hike on sandy stairways along the Pacific coast with views of the Marin Headlands, Golden Gate Bridge, and the northwest tip of San Francisco.

Find a nice day and take a hike on the short Matin’s Path trail to the Pacific Ocean near Stinson Beach.

Marin offers this great coastal hike in Northern California on the Steep Ravine Trail. Gorgeous redwoods, ocean views, and a cool sea breeze welcome you.

Hiking along serene San Francisco Bay wetlands converted from a landfill and salt production area. This is a birder’s paradise with a large amount of wildlife, both winged and not.

Took a very short hike along the beach at Limantour Beach in Point Reyes. The beach is very long and not all that crowded. The beach’s proximity keeps the waves fairly small here.

One of my personal favorites, the hike on Tomales Point Trail in Point Reyes is almost ten of the most scenic miles you’ll ever find yourself hiking. Tule Elk, wildflowers galore and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean in northern Pt. Reyes.

A short hike around trails through Tomales Bay State Park. Fern-covered forests and several beaches await.

Watch for a nice clear day and escape the heat hiking from San Pedro Valley Park to Montara State Beach and McNee Ranch starting in Pacifica and ending in Montara, CA.

A gorgeous vertical hike along the Cataract Falls Trail on Mt. Tamplpais in Fairfield, CA. Seemingly endless waterfalls cascade along this wooded out and back trail. The hike ends with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean overlooking Bolinas.

The Tomales Point Trail is a 9.5 mile hike along a northern peninsula of Point Reyes National Seashore between Tomales Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Herds of Tule Elk, flocks of sea birds, wildflowers, and excellent coastal views treat hikers on this beautiful hike in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The best tidepools in the San Francisco Bay Area, Fitzgerald Marine Reserve isn’t much of a hike but offers you freedom to walk around expansive tidepools and a perfectly clean beach. Watch for low tides to visit.

The lengthy SF Bay Trail runs alongside the SF Bay and 3COM/Candlestick Park in the section named Candlestick Point State Recreation Area. Two and a half miles of scenic bay hiking to be had here.

Take a ferry to hike or bike on the gorgeous island called Angel’s Island State Park. Excellent 360 degree view of the San Francisco Bay from Mount Livermore, the highest point on the island.

Wow, the beaches here are gorgeous and the Pacific Coastal Range rises abruptly along Highway 1 South of Monterey at Garrapata State Park.

The Presidio has a lot of hiking trails situated in the northwesternmost part of the city. Great views of the Golden Gate and Pacific Ocean await.

The Land’s End trail on the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco offers an excellent and relaxing hike with gorgeous sunset views.

An excellent winter hike through Muir woods including the Bootjack trail, Troop 80 trail, Panoramic trail, Sierra Trail and the Camp Eastwood trail. Views of flowing creeks, the Pacific Ocean, Redwoods, ferns and mushrooms.

I bet Scooby Doo wouldn’t have tried sailing around Mussel Rock. This was an odd hike. The area is full of landslide, and landslide protection. In fact you hike on it. Will have to visit on a clear day but the highlight is definitely making your way down to the rocks at low tide right by Mussel Rock itself.

Mid winter was a great time to go see Alamere Falls in Pt. Reyes. The easy terrain makes this medium distance hike seem like nothing. There are three sets of waterfalls, two lakes and some mud along the way. There is a minor climbing challenge to descend to the very bottom falls, which are the best of the three.

Hiking along Fort Funston can be a little crowded but offers great ocean views and a special treat in having hang gliders flying by you as you walk.

Mori Point is on the more northern side of Pacific on the peninsula. It’s a fairly short hike but offers some minor elevation change and great views of the Pacific ocean. Stop by the cafe at the pier for a snack.

A hike along the coast in Pacifica, CA. Milagra Ridge County Park is currently going through restoration (and preservation). Offers great views north to Mt. Tamalpais and south along the Coastal Mountains.

Ano Nuevo is west of Hwy 1 not too far north of Half Moon Bay. Dramatic earthquake faults and coastline mixed with sand dunes and elephant seals.

A backpacking trip along the Coast Trail (and others) along Pt. Reyes National Seashore near Pt. Reyes Station in California.