Multiday Hiking Vacations
Yosemite Valley Hiking & Biking Multisport Vacation
Day Hiking Tours
1. Big Basin State Park
2. Muir Woods National Monument - Stinson Beach
3. Point Reyes - Alamere Falls
4. Point Reyes National Seashore - Tomales Point
5. Mt. Tam - West Peak
6. Mt. Tam State Park - Bart's Retreat-Cataract Falls
7. Mt. St Helena - Robert Louis Stevenson State Park
1. Big Basin State Park
Big Basin State Park, created over 100 years ago, is California's oldest state park. The park is known for its ancient Redwood trees that are nearly 1,500 years old. This park offers beautiful, lush forests with excellent single track hiking along several cascading waterfalls. The Berry Creek loop is 12 miles and passes these great waterfalls: Berry Creek, Golden, and Silver Falls. Set within the Santa Cruz Mountains, this 12-mile loop hike that has an elevation gain of 1,900 ft and takes 4 hrs to hike. This hike is great even in a slight rain with the redwood forest canopy above that protects hikers from the elements. The wildlife is abundant and is seen by many on this hike. This is arguably one of the best hikes in the Bay Area.
Trip Details:
| Distance: |
12 miles RT |
| Level: |
Moderate/Strenuous |
| Elevation Change: |
1,900 ft |
| Rating: |
* * * * |
| Time: |
9:30am - 6:00pm |
| Price: |
$159/person |
3rd-4th person 50% off,
5+ $99/person Private $199 |
Notes: Three beautiful waterfalls free flow in the spring and winter but still very impressive in the summer and fall.
2. Muir Woods National Monument - Stinson Beach
Muir Woods National Monument is only 12 miles from San Francisco but offers some of the finest scenery and Redwood Groves anywhere. This gem was created when William Kent donated 295 acres of Redwoods to the Federal government in 1905 to protect it from the logging industry. At the time, it was one of the Bay Area's last uncut areas of old-growth redwood. The old-growth forest was later named in honor of John Muir due to his efforts as a conversationalist and environmentalist who has since inspired generations of wilderness activists. Once said by Muir to William Kent, "This is the best tree-lover's monument that could possibly be found in all the forests in the world. You have done me a great honor, and I am proud of it."
This hike offers an excellent opportunity to cross several creeks while hiking through lush fern filled canyons until you reach the Marin Headlands where sweeping vistas of the Pacific Ocean are never-ending. We will hike 1,000 ft down Steep Ravine trail along its canyon through Web Creek, Douglas firs, and Redwoods until we reach the Dipsea trail and Stinson Beach. We'll picnic and relax on the sandy shores of this small surfing town. Finally, we head back up into the sun soaked hills and the Dipsea trail back to Muir Woods.
Trip Details:
| Distance: |
11 miles |
| Level: |
Moderate/Strenuous |
| Elevation Change: |
2,500 ft |
| Rating: |
* * * * |
| Time: |
9:30am-4:30pm |
| Price: |
$159/person |
3rd-4th person 50% off,
5+ $99/person Private $199 |
Notes: This hike offers splendid diversity from deep and lush valleys to wide open headland views of the beautiful Pacific Ocean and Bolinas Lagoon.
3. Point Reyes-Alamere Falls
If you are a waterfall lover, this could possibly be the most impressive waterfall hike anywhere in the Bay Area that includes excellent ocean views, coastal lakes and a spectacular waterfall that cascades 60 feet down, to the sandy beach below. This 8.4 mile semi-loop trail has as much natural beauty and diversity that I have found in the past 5 years of hiking in Northern California. After passing two coastal lakes (Bass and Pelican) is Double Point, which is one of the best locations to spot migrating Grey whales.
What makes Alamere Falls so appealing is that it relatively remote and is tough to find unless you have had someone take you there. Alamere has three smaller falls that creates small watering holes for cooling off above the larger one that pours down upon the white sand. In the spring and early summer the Lupus and Douglas fir are in full bloom and is a site to be seen. I feel there is no better way to spend a sunny day than kicking back at any one of these lakes, Double Point, or Alamere Falls. Spring and summer hiking has some poison oak in certain sections of the trail. During these seasons, please bring a long sleeve shirt and pants for this small section of trail.
Trip Details:
| Distance: |
8.4 miles |
| Level: |
Moderate |
| Elevation Change: |
550 ft |
| Rating: |
* * * * * |
| Time: |
9:30am - 3:30pm |
| Price: |
$159/person |
3rd-4th person 50% off,
5+ $99/person Private $199 |
Notes: Amazing wildflowers in bloom from Feb through June. Alamere Falls is a sight to be seen after a rain and year around! Great swimming in Bass Lake.
4. Point Reyes National Seashore-Tomales Point
If you are a wildlife buff or enjoy seeing large herds of Tulle Elk gathering in rolling headlands, Tomales Point hike will be sure to impress. Every time I've been here, several large herds of 50-70 Tulle Elk have been spotted on this hike. The population is now approaching 200 in total. This hike is located in the Point Reyes National Seashore's Tulle Elk Preserve. This 8-mile hike is also known for its wildlife and its spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean to the west, Bodega Bay to the north and Tomales Bay and Sonoma Coast to the East. It is not uncommon to see mountain lion tracks, jackrabbits, raccoons, harmless snakes, and a large variety of birds.
The trail starts at Pierce Point Ranch; which is one of the oldest dairies found in Point Reyes; and leads out to northernmost point in all of Point Reyes where we will rest while enjoying lunch. On the way back we have the opportunity to stop off and explore McClure's Beach to check out its tide pools or the Pierce Point Ranch to explore its rich historical remains of a dairy ranch. This is an easy hike that is quite colorful with the wildflowers, bush lupine, poppies, gold fields, 300-degree ocean views, and tidy tips blooming in the spring.
Trip Details:
| Distance: |
8 miles |
| Level: |
Easy |
| Elevation Change: |
500 ft |
| Rating: |
* * * * |
| Time: |
9:30am-4:30pm |
| Price: |
$159/person |
3rd-4th person 50% off,
5+ $99/person Private $199 |
Notes: You'll be hard pressed to find a place in the Bay Area that rivals the Tule Elk found here.
5. Mt. Tam-West Peak
Mt Tam is one of the tallest peaks in all the Bay Area and offers some of the best outdoor recreation in this astounding State Park. With the hike beginning near Mill Valley, this heavily forested valley was the original start of the original Old Railroad Grade. This 7-mile hump up to the summit of this 2,500 ft peak is a nice workout. It is a consistent but gradual 7 degree ascent to the West Point Inn which was built in 1914 by the railroad as a restaurant stopover for customers who were to continue on from there to Stinson Beach or Bolinas on the stagecoach. Today, the Inn is used for a rustic hideaway for overnighters who must walk/bike/hike to get there. We will stop briefly at the Inn for some water and snacks before the last push up to the summit for lunch and the 360 degree panoramic views of the entire Bay Area and Pacific Ocean from atop this 2,571 ft mountain.
On our descent from the West Peak we will complete the loop by walking down the West Peak along a single track that reveals the ambiance of the Marin County community. Mt Tam offers coastal headlands mixed in with Bishop Pines, Douglas firs, and chaparral. This is the birth of Mountain Biking back in the early 1980's and continues to be shared by hikers, runners, and bikers alike. This is a good workout for those of you who need a challenge for the 12-mile roundtrip with nearly 5,000 vertical feet of hiking.
Trip Details:
| Distance: |
12 miles |
| Level: |
Difficult |
| Elevation Change: |
5000 ft |
| Rating: |
* * * * * |
| Time: |
9:30am-3:30pm |
| Price: |
$159/person |
3rd-4th person 50% off,
5+ $99/person Private $199 |
Notes: Great views, good workout & Gardner lookout is a good place to sit back, relax and enjoy the fantastic vistas.
6. Mt. Tam State Park-Bart's Retreat-Cataract Falls
Driving to this hike is half the fun because the drive through Mt Tam State Park offers the best 180-degree panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean from 1,900 ft level. If the conditions are just right with the wind, we will take some time to watch the hang and par gliders launch from the grassy slopes out over the Redwoods and beaches below. Eventually, they'll land on Stinson Beach after carving the hillside thermals. If you have never seen this up-close, this is definitely impressive. This easy 6-mile hike includes three different trails to form a simple woodland hike (loop) that requires little energy.
Douglas firs, Manzanita, small Sergeant Cypress trees and Chamise fill the forest as two of the three trails follow serene creeks through the woodlands. Our hike will lead us to Bart's Retreat; where we will relax for lunch; which is an older camp built by hiker, poet and musician Emil Bart in the 1920's. Another interesting sight along the way is the Serpentine rock, California's state rock that is formed by mixing water and peridotite. This hike concludes with a visit to Cataract Falls, which flows heavier in the winter and spring over large boulders to create this popular 70 ft waterfall.
Trip Details:
| Distance: |
4.5 miles |
| Level: |
Easy |
| Elevation Change: |
450 ft |
| Rating: |
* * * |
| Time: |
9:30am-2:30pm |
| Price: |
$159/person |
3rd-4th person 50% off,
5+ $99/person Private $199 |
Note: Mt Tam State Park has enough hiking trails to keep any outdoor enthusiast happy for a lifetime.
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