As the dust settles from Election Day, you may be in search of ways to take a break and find some quiet or solitude — even just for an hour or two.
(Previously, experts advised those experiencing anxiety before the election to unplug from the news as much as they can, exercise and get enough sleep — but these tips may be proving difficult for many right now.)
Before the election, we rounded up these 12 Bay Area hikes that local outdoor experts, nature enthusiasts and KQED staff recommended as particularly peaceful or soothing in anxious times, mindful of the documented benefits of being outside for mental health. And we hope these ideas might be of use to you at this moment.
Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, Oakland
Recommended by: Xiomara Batin, Community Engagement and Marketing Manager at GirlVentures, a nonprofit based in Oakland that focuses on outdoor education for girls and gender-expansive youth
One of Batin’s favorite things about this protected area of the East Bay Regional Park System is that she can “get a wonderful workout along with stunning views of the Bay Area.”
She said she also feels safe on this trail as a solo female hiker: “I have space to be alone and consistently see people on the trail, so I feel very comfortable.”
Leona Heights Park, Oakland
Recommended by: José González, the founder of Latino Outdoors, which aims to inspire, connect and engage Latino communities in nature
González recommends this 2.3-mile out-and-back trail in Oakland because of its “dynamic diversity of habitats in such a short hike.”. The trail starts in an urban neighborhood, “but that disappears pretty quickly, and you are immediately immersed in nature,” he said.
“The view up at the top is fantastic, and such a classic ridgeline view of the Bay Area.”
Tennessee Valley Beach, Marin Headlands
Recommended by: Deandre Latour, the founder of Melanated Adventures, which aims to create a safe space for Black people and people of color looking for a hiking community in the Bay Area.
This short in-and-out hike with a cliffside bunker “traverses through a valley that opens up into a beach,” said Latour.
“The bunker makes for a great place to escape if it’s a windy day,” he said — and “the beach makes for a great place to decompress and calm oneself with the continuous sounds of the waves.”
Lonely Trail, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
Recommended by: Divya Konda, the founder of Weekend Wanderers Inc., a social media space recommending different hikes around the Bay Area
Konda chose this trail for a fall hike as it is “often veiled in lingering fog, making them even more beautiful in the mornings.”.
“This particular trail is usually quiet and uncrowded, making it one of my favorite spots to connect with nature and unwind,” she said.
Miwok and Coastal Trail Loop, Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Recommended by: Preethi Chandrasekhar, content creator and founder of Outdoorsy South Asians.
Chandrasekhar chose this coastal hike because it’s “so soothing and beautiful.”. Being out in nature helps her stay calm and mitigate emotions like anxiety, she said.
“Such emotions tend to arise during times like elections,” said Chandrasekhar, “and a great way to help with that is to get outside, and there’s nothing like the sight and sounds of the ocean to help us relax.”
