5 Best Bay Area Hikes for the Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day is right around the corner on May 26 — but if you’re still looking for things to do in the Bay Area over the holiday weekend, don’t worry.

Whether you’re interested in checking out wetland wildlife, immersing yourself in a redwood forest, soaking up stunning ocean views or just getting a grueling workout in, we’ve rounded up five ideas for Bay Area holiday hikes to suit a range of interests and abilities.

And so you can make a full day of it, we’ve included ideas for things to see and places to eat after your hike, too.

Jump straight to: 

• Immerse yourself in Santa Cruz Mountains redwoods
• Enjoy sweeping ocean views in the Marin Headlands
• Check out San Francisco’s brand-new oceanfront park
• Birdwatch as you stroll East Bay wetlands
• Steep climbs for stunning vistas from Mission Peak

If you want to immerse yourself in redwoods … hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve

In the lush Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserve in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Half Moon Bay, most of these towering trees are around a century old. Birds, snakes and other wildlife are plentiful here — and you may even spot a banana slug or two on your hike.

Purisima Creek Trail will offer the most immersive redwoods experience, but the Harkins Ridge Trail, Whittemore Gulch or the North Ridge Trail will also offer scenic coastal views from above if that’s more your style. For a longer day out, you can combine one or two of the trails to form a loop.

“It’s one of our most beloved preserves,” said Ryan McCauley, spokesperson for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. But that also means it’s one of the busiest, so parking may be scarce, he warned.

Luckily, you don’t actually have to brave the holiday weekend traffic to and from the coast to enjoy this preserve, as it’s also accessible inland from Highway 35 or Skyline Boulevard. In fact, starting the trail from above via these roads may be your best bet at snagging a parking spot, as there are only a handful available from the Highway 1 side. Because Purisima is so popular, Midpen is even working on expanding parking (and building a new trail) to improve access to the area.

Memorial Day weekend is among the busiest times at Purisima, so if you can’t find a parking spot, McCauley suggests continuing on Highway 35 to El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve, where “you still get those spectacular redwoods” and more than 34 miles of trails to explore, but will find much more space to park. Even farther south is Skyline Ridge Preserve, which also has a small nature center for kids. And if you strike out there too, Monte Bello, Los Trancos and Bear Creek Redwoods are three more options for hikers coming from all over the peninsula and South Bay.

To make things even easier, the district has a handy Trail Explorer Tool that details every mile of its trail system — so you’ll never accidentally end up on a too-steep trail.

Dogs are not allowed at Purisima. Watch for bikes on certain trails, especially on tight blind turns.

Pit stop: If you arrive via Highway 35, stop at iconic Alice’s Restaurant in Woodside for breakfast or lunch. If coming along the coast from the north, grab a deli sandwich from downtown Half Moon Bay’s San Benito House, where the olive-walnut bread is a fresh-baked specialty. From the south, stop at Arcangeli Grocery Co. in Pescadero for their famous garlic herb and artichoke bread.

Make a day of it: Keep the adventure going by hitting one of the many state beaches south of Half Moon Bay. You can also take a scenic drive on Highway 84 to La Honda or on Pescadero Creek Road to Loma Mar.

If you want unbeatable ocean views with a side of history … check out the Marin Headlands from Rodeo Beach

The entire Marin Headlands area is rife with hiking trails and sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge for hikers of all levels.

But if you’re looking for something more ocean-oriented (and strenuous), park at Rodeo Beach, where drinking water and bathrooms are available, and go up, up and up some more on the Coastal Trail — where you can take in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean to the west.

On your journey up, you’ll pass Battery Townsley: a historic — and formerly top secret — World War I military site that housed two guns each with a 25-mile range, designed to protect the entire San Francisco coastline from Point Reyes to Half Moon Bay.While the museum itself will be closed on Memorial Day (it’s open from noon to 4 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month), you can still see a gun barrel that was originally mounted aboard the battleship USS Missouri, that’s identical to the guns that were inside.

If you make it up high enough, you’ll be rewarded with a unique view of San Francisco from the north. Continue on the Wolf Ridge and Miwok Trails to connect back to the beach, or simply turn around to retrace your steps and take in the views, knowing the hard work is behind you.

This trail can get busy, especially on a holiday weekend, so for a quieter route, Julian Espinoza, spokesperson for the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, suggested starting out on the Miwok Trail from the eastern end of Rodeo Lagoon. And for a more relaxed — and accessible — journey, take the 1.5-mile Rodeo Valley Trail. But no matter which trail you choose, get there early, Espinoza warned.

“The lot often fills up on holiday weekends and when the weather is nice,” Espinoza said.

Pit stop: For lunch, remember that Sausalito’s restaurants can get crowded with tourists — so you may consider heading to Driver’s Market & Deli or Golden Gate Market there instead. Pack out a sandwich for a picnic at Rodeo Beach or eat right there at Sausalito’s waterfront, with sweeping views of the city.

Make a day of it: Swing by the Bay Model Visitor Center: a free museum built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which houses an enormous working hydraulic model of the entire Bay Area.

If you want to check out a brand-new oceanfront park … head to Sunset Dunes Park

It’s the first Memorial Day for San Francisco’s newest park, and it’s sure to be a scene this holiday weekend.

Formerly known as the Great Highway, Sunset Dunes is a 2-mile stretch of car-free road that was recently converted — not without controversy — into a park along Ocean Beach.

Not only is the wide road perfect for strolling, biking or roller skating, many of the new street murals and sculptures are already in place for visitors to enjoy, while the city continues to install more park amenities like water fountains and benches.

Consider taking transit to your hike to eliminate the stress of finding holiday weekend parking on nearby streets: the N Judah Muni line drops you off right at Sunset Dunes.

Pit stop: Grab a breakfast sandwich from Devil’s Teeth Baking Company or a coffee from Andytown Coffee Roasters — both are likely to be busy, but they’re popular for a reason, as nothing beats a buttermilk biscuit on the beach. If you’re really hungry, try Old Mandarin Islamic Restaurant for Halal Chinese food.

Make a day of it: For a longer day, continue your walk north to Lands End or east through Golden Gate Park, to experience as much of the city’s green space as possible. Or, bring a cooler and a towel and have a full-on beach day at Ocean Beach.

If you want to see wildlife teeming in the wetlands … try Baylands Nature Preserve

Known for its resident ducks and migratory birds, the Baylands is perfect for a leisurely stroll on a mix of paved and gravel trails that still offer plenty to see. Most of these trails are flat and wind their way through marshland with expansive views of the East Bay’s rolling hills. Another big plus, especially on a holiday weekend: parking is usually plentiful, Baylands Park Ranger David Aguirre said.

Take along a birding hotspots map of the preserve published by the city of Palo Alto, and look for the areas circled in red for the best potential springtime sightings. The saltwater Duck Pond and the Harriet Mundy Marsh are noted for having swallows, stilts, herons and egrets in the spring.

For the best birdwatching opportunities, Aguirre suggested Emily Renzel Ponds, as well as the Lucie Evans Baylands Interpretive Center, which is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekends. And while mornings tend to be best for birdwatching, “you’ll see wildlife out here no matter what,” Aguirre said — the preserve has “everything from pelicans and seagulls in the hundreds” to the chance to spot the Pacific Ridgway’s Rail, an endangered species that likes to hide in these marshes.

There isn’t much shade at the Baylands, so bring sun protection. Head to the Hilltop Trails in Byxbee Park for more hilly terrain and the best wildflowers, or try the Marsh Front Trail for interpretive signs about local natural history.

Dogs are allowed on almost all trails, except near the Emily Renzel Pond, but must be on leash at all times.

Pit stop: Coffee from Ada’s Cafe in Palo Alto and a panini of the day from Plaza Deli Cafe in Mountain View will keep you caffeinated and fueled. Alternatively, head to one of Zareen’s locations on the peninsula for a full meal of Indian and Pakistani cuisine.

Make it a day: Hang around the Baylands long enough and you can’t help but notice the Palo Alto Airport located next to the Duck Pond. You can grab a picnic table and watch as small planes land and take off, as their passengers and pilots go on weekend jaunts around the Bay Area and beyond.

If you’re up for a challenge (with a real reward) … take on Mission Peak Regional Preserve

This day hike is no joke — it’s a 2,100-foot ascent in just three miles to the top of Fremont’s Mission Peak. Allocate five hours to get there and back, bring lots of water and some snacks and consider getting there as early as you can to avoid hiking uphill in the heat of the day.

But rest assured: it’s all worth it. From the top, you can see the entire South Bay laid out in front of you, the Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve to the east and a handful of iconic Bay Area mountains like Mount Tam and Mount Diablo peeking out as well. While you’re catching your breath, you may even see hang gliders and paragliders at the summit, as well as resident hawks and vultures enjoying the breeze.

If you want a more gradual ascent, attempt the hike from Ohlone College, where $4 parking is ample. This approach makes the trek slightly longer but much less aggressive. From either starting point, most of the trail is a wide gravel road, but the last half mile of packed dirt is steep, so trekking poles may be helpful.

If you’re hoping to avoid holiday weekend traffic on the roads, this trail is also accessible via transit. Take BART to Warm Springs, then an AC Transit bus to either trailhead, but make sure to account for potentially reduced service and limited hours due to the holiday.

Dogs are allowed, but make sure to bring extra water for them — there’s almost no shade on the entire hike. And be aware that cows live on the hills near this trail, as does other wildlife, so keep yourself and your dog safe by leaving animals be.

And don’t worry if you don’t make it all the way to the top. Even midway up Mission Peak, you can enjoy sweeping views of the Bay and make the most of your holiday weekend.

Pit stop: Head to any one of the many Asian restaurants and cafes at Fremont Times Square for all the noodles and boba you can consume.

Make a day of it: Let’s be real, this hike practically is your full day. But if you’ve still got energy left and want to cool off, head to Fremont’s Aqua Adventure Water Park in Fremont’s Central Park and treat yourself to a well-deserved float in the park’s lazy river.