A heat wave is set to slam the Bay Area starting this weekend — but look, not all outdoorsy folk rejoice at the high temperatures.
Whether you moved here for the promise of fog, adore our cool summers or just love sweater weather, you may be one of those scrambling to work out how you can still get into nature this weekend without melting.
If that’s you, then outdoor-loving heat-hater: You’re in the right place. While others hit the beach, we’ve got recommendations galore for shade-seeking hikers — from cool trails with crisp ocean breezes to dark redwood forests and everything in between.
The best way to escape the heat is to head into the forest — specifically, the dense, shady forests of regions like the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Carla Schoof, spokesperson for the San Mateo County Parks Department, said the redwood and oak forests in places like Huddart Park, Memorial Park and Sam McDonald Park create a dense, cool oasis for hikers, not to mention being near water.
“Sometimes, it just makes you feel cooler if you’re next to a creek or some running water,” she said.
In Loma Mar, Schoof recommended you head to Memorial Park’s Mt. Ellen, — either for the short one-mile easy nature trail, which is perfect for kids, or all the way up to the summit for a bigger challenge.
Also in Memorial Park is Loma Mar Redwoods: a more wild experience, where many trails aren’t as clearly marked or maintained. This remote feeling makes it feel like “a magical place,” Schoof said. “You could almost be in Jurassic Park.”
In Sam McDonald Park, just adjacent and closer to La Honda, the Heritage Grove Trail has old-growth redwoods, where “you’re guaranteed the shade,” Schoof said. And the 2.5-mile trailhead is right there in the parking lot, so it’s easy to find and easy to bail out if temperatures get too high or you run out of steam, she said.
“There’s never any shame in realizing that you only have so much gas left in the tank and you need to turn around,” she said.
For a slightly higher-temperature choice, Schoof also recommended Huddart Park in Woodside, which may be easier to access from the Peninsula and has its own immersive trails, so much so that the county parks department has a forest bathing tour of the park you can access via its app.
The Chickadee Nature Trail is stroller-friendly and great for kids, and with many interconnecting trails, you can make loop hikes as long as you’d like, Schoof said.
The other surefire way to stay cool while hiking this weekend is to head to the coast. Schoof called out Quarry Park in El Granada, where the dense eucalyptus trees shelter hikers away from the sun — but breaks in the tree coverage still provide stunning ocean views.
Want something less strenuous? The trek down to the park’s namesake quarry is a relatively flat and shaded adventure, and don’t forget to check out the labyrinth.
Gabe McKenna, public safety superintendent for state parks’ Santa Cruz District, recommended Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve as well as a number of beaches and hikes around Santa Cruz, like Wilder Ranch’s Old Cove Landing and the Forest of Nisene Marks’ Aptos Ranch Trail, where the lower elevations and proximity to coastlines will keep hikers cool.
But McKenna cautioned that there’s only so much you can truly escape the heat here. “It’s still going to be quite hot,” he stressed.
An obvious, classic-for-a-reason coastal hike up north is the Dipsea Trail. Pop into Muir Woods or skip it entirely to avoid crowds, then journey through the redwood and oak canopy all the way to Stinson Beach. On a hot day like this weekend, that final reveal when the dense tree cover opens into sweeping ocean views is sure to be dramatic.
If the Sonoma County coast is anywhere near home, check out the Stillwater Cove Regional Park.
Its Canyon Trail is a lush oasis for hikers, where redwoods, ferns, salmon and trout all thrive. There’s also the historic Fort Ross schoolhouse, which was moved there in the 1970s for preservation.
If you don’t want to travel far from the East Bay, that’s OK, East Bay Regional Parks spokesperson Jen Vanya said. For a hot and sunny day, she recommended any of the area’s many shoreline parks — or, if you’re headed for the hills, be sure to pick somewhere with ample tree coverage.
Some of the densest, most forested parks in the area are Reinhardt Redwoods and Roberts regional parks, which guarantee shade, picnicking and cooler temperatures.
Or head to the shoreline, like Point Pinole, Point Isabel, McLaughlin Eastshore, Miller/Knox or any of the other parks along the San Francisco Bay Trail, where wind off the shore will keep you cool.
Coyote Hills Regional Park, which is located right along the Bay, is full of marshes, gentle hills, and a breeze from the Bay that’s ”really pleasant — even when it’s a sunny day,” Vanya said.
But take note: Parking here fills up early, so get there in the morning.
The same goes for hiking anywhere in the East Bay, Vanya stressed. “Even with a heat in the 80s, you can still enjoy most of the parks if you go in the early part of the day or closer to the end of the day,” she said.
McKenna said there are a few things everyone should know before embarking on a hike during a heat wave:
Schoof and Vanya also recommended dressing in layers, light-colored clothing and bringing sun protection.
And keep in mind that dogs, kids and older people may be more sensitive to heat.
“If you’re with kids or dogs, make sure you bring water for them as well,” Schoof said. “And pace yourself.”
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