The 10 Hardest Day Hikes in the SF Bay Area

1) Mount Diablo: North Peak, Mount Diablo, Eagle Peak, Black Point, and Mount Olympia Loop

The hardest hike on this list is a grueling, full-day adventure around Mount Diablo State Park. Although the Mount Diablo summit is one of the highest peaks in the Bay Area at 3,849ft of elevation, on this hike you will climb double that amount! After heading up to Mount Diablo Summit from the east end of the park, this loop traverses several of the smaller peaks in the park like Eagle Peak and Mount Olympia which provide a variety of fantastic views of the East Bay.

At the summit you are rewarded with some of the best panoramic views of the Bay Area. On a clear day, you can see from downtown San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge all the way across the Central Valley to the peaks of the Sierra Nevada.

Although the trails on this loop are partially shaded, be advised that Mount Diablo gets very hot in the summer, so the best time of year to do this hike is in the spring.

2) Rose Peak via Sailor Camp, Ohlone, and Rocky Ridge Trails

While Rose Peak doesn’t have the classic Bay Area vistas like some of the hikes on this list, it is an excellent training hike to get in some serious elevation. Starting at the south end of Lake Del Valle, Rose Peak has a steady ascent that may leave your legs sore for days. This is a fairly quiet trail that is lined with wildflowers and provides beautiful views of Mount Diablo, Lake Del Valle, and the surrounding Ohlone Wilderness.

Since this trail provides minimal tree cover, be careful with attempting this peak on hot summer days. The spring is the best time of year for Rose Peak.

3) Ed Levin to Mission Peak Regional Preserve

With sweeping views of the south bay area, Mission Peak is a quintessential and quite popular bay area hike. By starting at Ed Levin Park, this route gives you the epic Mission Peak views with only a fraction of the crowds and double the elevation. The hike begins in Ed Levin county park and goes up to Mission Peak from the south side, then back down the north side of the peak to Ohlone college. Then you turn around and do the same in reverse, summiting Mission Peak twice!

Mission Peak provides sweeping views of the south bay area. On a clear day you can see up the peninsula as far as downtown San Francisco. This area is also a popular paragliding spot, so as you hike you can watch the flyers glide down the side of the peak. There is limited shade along this trail, so avoid hot days and bring plenty of water.

4) Pacheco Falls Loop via Coyote Creek / Hunting Hollow

This popular overnight backpacking loop in Henry Coe State Park also makes for a challenging day hike. Although it doesn’t deliver jaw-dropping views, you’ll find the Pacheco Falls Loop to be quiet throughout with a spectacular view of Pacheco Falls at around 9 miles into the loop. It’s best to go in the Winter or Spring rather than the Summer, as the park will be most lush, the falls will be flowing, and heat is less of an issue.

5) Laguna, Coast Trail, Glen Baldy, Sky Trail Loop

Set along the ocean starting near Point Reyes Station in the North Bay Area, this loop has the diversity of scenery that you only find on the Pacific Coast. This long and challenging hike brings you through an incredible variety of ecosystems, from pine and mountain chaparral to tidal pools and spectacular coastal views. You can also tack on an additional two miles to take a detour to the popular Alamere Falls, where water pours down a 30 foot cliff onto a rugged beach. Note that part of this trail is sometimes overgrown, so wear long sleeve shirts and pants to protect from Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

6) Dipsea Trail via Steep Ravine and Ben Johnson trail

Also in the North Bay Area, the Dipsea Trail provides a similarly diverse amount of scenery over a bit less mileage. This trail starts in a lush, hilly neighborhood near downtown Mill Valley and passes through stunning redwoods in Muir Woods as you head towards the coast. The route also takes you through Mount Tamalpais State Park on the way to the gorgeous Stinson Beach, which makes for a rewarding lunch stop before you turn around and head back through the redwood-lined hills to Mill Valley. You’ll love the sweeping ocean views, crisp coastal breeze, and cool misty fog which gives this trail a mystical vibe throughout.

7) Purisma Creek, Craig Britton, Harkins Ridge, North Ridge, Whittemore Gulch and Borden Hatch Mill Loop

The hardest hike on the SF Bay Peninsula, this loop through Purisma Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is lined with beautiful redwoods and has gorgeous views of Half Moon Bay. With plenty of shade and a nice ocean breeze, this cool, creek-side trail is a great place to hike on a hot day. The real challenge of this loop that makes it different from most hikes is that it goes mostly downhill along the first half and mostly uphill on the second half. With this in mind, make sure to save some energy for the final climb of about 1,400ft over the last three miles.

8) Stinson Beach to Mount Tamalpais Loop via Matt Davis Trail

Although it is one of the technically easiest hikes on this list, this trail also has some of the best views that you will find in all of the SF Bay Area. This hike along the Matt Davis Trail brings you from the picturesque Stinson Beach all the way up to the stunning summit of Mount Tamalpais. On a clear day, the Mt Tam summit gives an unparalleled panoramic view from Marin all the way across the San Francisco bay, including Tiburon, the Golden Gate bridge, the Bay Bridge, San Francisco, and Oakland. On the way up to the summit, this trail traverses through several different ecosystems like foggy forest, open brush hillsides, redwoods and chaparral. You can also enjoy the waterfalls as go along the Steep Ravine section of the hike. Make sure to bring lots of water as it can get hot in the exposed sections of the Matt Davis trail in the summer.

9) Mount Sizer Loop

The Mount Sizer Loop is a big easier version of the Pacheco Falls loop, although still a solidly challenging hike. This Loop is mostly a fire road with many rolling ascents and descents, small stream crossings, and stunning Mountain Views. It makes for a great all-day workout, and its likely that you will have the trail mostly to yourself to enjoy the gorgeous park. Since this trail has many sections of sun exposure , the best time to hike it is in the winter or spring.

10) Rocky Ridge Trail

Rounding out this list is the Rocky Ridge Trail in the East Bay which starts in Danville and traverses the Las Trampas hills towards Moraga. This trail begins with an agressive climb and then descends and levels off before turning around. Along this trail you can experience 360 degree views of the East Bay and at the peak you can view the SF Bay on one side and Mount Diablo on the other. Spring is the best time of year to hike this trail, and the route is a mix of paved and gravel path.