– Jim Wirth

The San Francisco Bay Area has some of the most beautiful landscapes you’ll find anywhere in the world.  And what better way to experience the breathtaking scenery than to get out on your own two feet and hike!  You will have no problem finding great hiking trails just about anywhere around the San Francisco Bay, but if you would like some expert advice on where to go, you’ll want to check out Jane Huber’s website Bay Area Hiker. 

Jane’s website includes detailed information on close to 250 great trails that she has personally hiked herself.  Each hike has its own information page, which includes directions on how to get there, trailhead details, gas, food and lodging information, distance and difficulty, official rules for the trail, links to additional information about the area, and recommended maps and books.  If that wasn’t enough, Jane has taken the time to write a very detailed essay about each particular hike featured on her site, with lots of her own photographs.  One of my favorite features of the Bay Area Hiker website is the link from the home page to all hikes organized by difficulty. 

Jane has also written a book called 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: San Francisco, which is now in its second edition…

We’ve got many videos here at OpenRoad.TV of destinations included at Jane’s Bay Area Hiker website, so be sure to check out our content as well.  Now grab your hiking shoes and water bottle, and get out there to enjoy this wonderful place that many of us are lucky enough to call home.

Doug McConnell

I took a hike with my dogs, Josie the dalmatian and Pumpkin the golden retriever, yesterday in the hills of the Bay Area. We were on Marin Open Space land where dogs under voice control are allowed off-leash. They always have a terrific time, and so do I. Josie sticks her head in puddles of silty water and gives herself a mud bath. Pumpkin tries to spot sun-bathing lizards and collect ticks. This time of year, we usually pick up 50 or more on him after his walks. I’ve got to find some safe way to discourage the ticks from hitching a ride on Pumpkin’s long blond hair. I’ll take advice from anyone who wants to offer me guidance.

Fortunately, we have lots of dog-friendly trails, towns and experiences here in California. Of course, Carmel celebrates dogs as you can see on our story. A great source of information about where you can take your canines in California is Maria Goodavage who’s written wonderful books on the subject. She also moderates a traveling with dogs forum on OpenRoad.TV. We’ll add more of our own stories and tips in the coming weeks here on OpenRoad.TV.