I simply love exploring creeks within the Bay Space’s wet season (roughly November by way of March). Lastly, FINALLY, empty creek beds are full of water and, for a restricted time, we get to hike in water-filled forests. After I’m on a creek hike, every thing calms down and tunes in to the shhh sounds of a speeding water, fluttering rain-wet leaves, and glowy inexperienced moss. Watching water circulation, for only a second, makes me really feel calm and peaceable.
As with waterfalls, timing counts. I attempt to wait till a couple of storms have come by way of, or no less than an honest rainfall, to optimize my possibilities of seeing creeks at their fullest (and stave off the frustration of a dry creek mattress). Later within the wintertime and early spring, after a season’s value of storms, can be a good time for creek hikes. There’s at all times an opportunity of mud, so I normally carry a pair of Crocs or sneakers to alter into afterward.
Parks can shut throughout robust storms, so I discover it useful to verify park web sites and social media for path situations and closures. Climate, too. If you do discover a creek path that fits you, I hope you’ll benefit from this particular season and benefit from the restorative energy of creeks. Listed below are 15 creek hike concepts across the Bay Space to get you began:
North Bay
1. Webb Creek, Mount Tamalpais
Steep Ravine is a beautiful (and steep!) hike on the western slopes of Mount Tam. Start the inverse, 3.0-mile round-trip from the Pantoll Ranger Station, descending the Steep Ravine Path right into a redwood-filled ravine alongside Webb Creek. Alternatively, start at Stinson Seashore and head up the Dipsea and Steep Ravine Trails for a 6.4-mile round-trip. Proceed as much as Mount Tam’s East Peak for an epic 15-mile round-trip journey. parks.ca.gov, $8 parking price, no canine on trails
A ladder alongside the Steep Ravine Path in Mount Tamalpais State Park
2. Cataract Creek, Mount Tamalpais
Cataract Creek descends the northern slopes of Mount Tamalpais down a fantastic collection of waterfalls within the Marin Municipal Water District. The 6.4-mile Cataract Creek – Benstein Loop descends Cataract Creek to the higher waterfall after which loops round quieter trails with extra creeks and mountainside vistas. Alternatively, the three.0-mile Cataract Falls hike ascends Cataract Creek alongside scenic waterfalls. marinwater.org, free parking, leashed canine allowed
Cataract Creek descends the northern slopes of Mount Tamalpais
3. Cascade Creek, Mill Valley
In case you occur to be in Mill Valley, it’s value a cease to see Cascade Falls, a brief and candy 0.3-mile round-trip hike on Mount Tam’s southeastern foothills. Start at a slim filth pullout on the entrance to Cascade Park, persevering with into a reasonably ravine alongside Cascade Creek to Cascade Falls. For a bit extra mileage, begin at Previous Mill Park and stroll a couple of mile up neighborly Cascade Drive to the park, with extra creek views alongside the best way. As a bonus, the Mill Valley Public Library, with floor-to-ceiling home windows tucked right into a redwood forest, is a stone’s throw away. cityofmillvalley.org, free road parking, leashed canine allowed
Cascade Falls in Mill Valley
San Francisco
4. Islais Creek, Glen Canyon Park
The Creeks to Peaks hike is a 4.1-mile round-trip hike alongside eucalyptus-lined Islais Creek in South San Francisco. After mountain climbing by way of Glen Canyon Park, the route continues up metropolis streets to Twin Peaks, the second-highest peak in San Francisco after Mount Davidson. Simply past the height is a 180-degree San Francisco panorama at Christmas Tree Level. sfrecpark.org, free road parking, leashed canine allowed.
The Creeks to Peaks hike in Glen Canyon Park
East Bay
5. Pine Creek, Diablo Foothills Regional Park
Pine Creek flows by way of fairly rolling grassland in Walnut Creek’s Diablo Foothills Regional Park. Starting on the foothills’ parking space, the Stage Highway Path travels south alongside Pine Creek beneath excessive sandstone formations, residence to nesting peregrine falcons. After a mile, the path passes by way of 4 creek crossings that may be as much as a foot deep after heavy rain…you might have to do some inventive rock-hopping. On the 1.6-mile mark, flip proper onto the Little Yosemite Path to see a seasonal waterfall. ebparks.org, free parking, leashed canine allowed as much as the seasonal waterfall, earlier than the path crosses into Mount Diablo State Park
Pine Creek crossing over a path in Diablo Foothills Regional Park
6. Horseshoe Creek, Leona Heights Park
Horseshoe Creek is a brief and candy hike in Oakland with pleasant mini-waterfalls and cascades. Start the two.8-mile round-trip hike on the slim York Path and climb a rocky ravine alongside the creek. (There are some steep drop-offs: Please maintain kids and pups.) Then merge onto a large filth highway in direction of Merritt School to see vistas of the San Francisco Bay. oaklandparks.org, free road parking, leashed canine allowed
A waterfall alongside Horseshoe Creek in Leona Heights Park
7. Alameda Creek, Sunol Regional Wilderness
Alameda Creek flows alongside the Sunol Valley Flooring beneath hilly inexperienced pastures in Sunol Regional Wilderness. Starting on the Sunol Customer Middle, a 3.3-mile round-trip hike traces its path alongside Camp Ohlone Highway to Alameda Creek Overlook, previously often called Little Yosemite. The overlook is a scenic, boulder-filled gorge with Alameda Creek’s cascades. Swimming isn’t allowed, however it makes a pleasant relaxation spot and picnic break. For an extended hike, go to the overlook as a part of the 8.2-mile Sunol Grand Loop. ebparks.org, $5 parking price on weekends and holidays, leashed canine allowed – $2 per canine
Alameda Creek Overlook in Sunol
Peninsula & South Bay
8. Swanson Creek, Uvas Canyon County Park
We owe the attractive waterfalls in Uvas Canyon County Park to Swanson Creek and its tributaries in Morgan Hill. Comply with indicators for the Waterfall Loop on a 2.0-mile round-trip hike alongside the creek. A picnic desk close to Higher Falls at Myrtle Flats is a great spot for a scorching cocoa break. Alternatively, hike the complete 5.2-mile loop to see all six waterfalls. parks.sccgov.org, $6 parking reservation required, leashed canine allowed
Waterfall off the two.0-mile Waterfall Loop in Uvas Canyon County Park
9. Los Alamitos Creek, Almaden Lake Park
The Los Alamitos Creek Path is a 4.7-mile paved city path alongside Los Alamitos Creek in San Jose’s Almaden Valley. The willow-lined path runs south from Almaden Lake Park to McKean Highway, with occasional scenic bridges and migrating birds. It’s a superb choice for getting exterior on a drizzly day with out muddying up your footwear. sanjoseca.gov, leashed canine allowed, free parking at a number of entrances alongside the path
A view of Los Alamitos Creek from the Los Alamitos Creek Path
10. Stevens Creek, McClellan Ranch Protect
Take a mid-day break at McClellan Ranch Protect, in Cupertino, on a 2.0-mile round-trip city hike with views of Stevens Creek. The flat, paved Stevens Creek Path begins close to the Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society’s Nature Store and Library, and continues previous a 4-H farm with alpacas to Stevens Creek Boulevard, the turnaround level. cupertino.org, free parking, leashed canine allowed on Stevens Creek Path
Stevens Creek seen from a bridge subsequent to the Stevens Creek Path
11. Peters Creek, Lengthy Ridge Protect
Peters Creek is a beautiful, speeding creek in Lengthy Ridge Protect within the Santa Cruz Mountains close to Saratoga. Descend 0.5 miles from the Peters Creek Trailhead to the mossy forest surrounding Peters Creek with effervescent cascades. Make it a 4.6-mile loop by including on the Lengthy Ridge Path and Wallace Stegner bench. openspace.org, free parking, no canine allowed on Peters Creek Path
Peters Creek in Lengthy Ridge Protect
12. Adobe Creek, Hidden Villa
Hidden Villa’s mountain climbing trails observe alongside Adobe Creek’s West, Center, and East Forks for creekside mountain climbing beneath stunning bay bushes in Los Altos Hills. Take the 5.4-mile Grand Loop to go to the creeks and hike as much as Santa Clara Valley vistas. Shorten it to the 1.8-mile Creek Path-Pipeline Path hike for a scenic different. hiddenvilla.org, $10 parking price, no canine allowed on mountain climbing trails
Adobe Creek in Hidden Villa
13. Dennis Martin Creek, Thornewood Protect
Dennis Martin Creek’s photogenic cascades circulation down a redwood forest at Thornewood Protect in Woodside. Discover the protect’s 1.5 miles of trails on a 3.0-mile round-trip hike to see spring wildflowers, redwoods, Schilling Lake, and naturally, the gorgeous creek. There are two entrances to the protect, a decrease entrance on Previous La Honda Highway and an higher entrance off Freeway 84. The decrease entrance provides a bottoms-up strategy, nevertheless, a creek crossing close to the doorway could be difficult when the water circulation is excessive. The higher entrance has extra parking and descends to the creek. openspace.org, free parking, leashed canine allowed
A creek crossing close to the Previous La Honda Highway entrance could be difficult to cross when the water degree is excessive.
Santa Cruz
14. Eagle Creek, Henry Cowell State Park – Mountain climbing alongside the San Lorenzo River and its tributary, Eagle Creek, are highlights of the 5.0-mile Henry Cowell Statement Deck Loop. The hike begins from the Major Unit of Henry Cowell State Park, with its well-known 40-acre grove of historical redwoods. Subsequent, it climbs up a redwood ravine beside Eagle Creek, topping off at a picnic-perfect remark deck surrounded by spring wildflowers. parks.ca.gov, $10 parking price, no canine allowed on this loop, okay on choose trails
A bridge over Eagle Creek within the Major Unit of Henry Cowell State Park
15. Fall Creek, Henry Cowell State Park
Fall Creek is a stunner of a hike by way of a redwood forest in Henry Cowell State Park. The Fall Creek Path follows Fall Creek alongside the underside of a redwood canyon for over two miles. After a couple of mile, the South Fork Path results in the stays of lime kilns from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Add on a go to to Large Ben, an historical redwood, on the 8.9-mile Large Ben-Fall Creek Loop. parks.ca.gov, free parking, no canine allowed
Redwoods and Fall Creek within the Fall Creek Unit of Henry Cowell State Park
Tags: bay space, creek hikes, creeks, Diablo Vary, east bay, Mount Tamalpais, North Bay, peninsula, redwoods, san francisco, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz mountains, South Bay, waterfalls, wildflowers
