home with you. Leave them where you find them. It’s fine to inspect things you discover, especially with curious kids, but don’t remove them from their natural environment.
Leave no trace. If you bring something on a trail, pack it out with you. This practice helps keep the trail in good condition for future hikers. (See Outdoor Ethics above.)
WATER AND GEAR
While most of the trails in this book can be enjoyed without much preparation or gear, it's always a good idea to bring water, even if you’re just out for a quick walk or run. Water is essential for hydration and can also be used to clean out scrapes or cuts.
In terms of gear, you will want to make sure you have good walking or hiking shoes. Walking around in flip-flops or other open-toed, loose shoes can lead to tripping and can make it easier to injure your feet. Shoes aren’t the only thing to evaluate carefully when you prepare for a hike. See the Ten Essentials below for a full list of gear that can help you stay safe on any hike.
THE TEN ESSENTIALS
Whether you’re crossing Sausal Creek in Oakland’s Dimond Park, climbing a stairway in Berkeley, or standing at the top of Mount Diablo, it’s always good to know you have the Ten Essentials (developed by The Mountaineers) in case of an emergency.
Navigation: Stay on track by using the maps in this book as well as park maps or a smartphone app. If you’re relying on your phone, even if you may think you’ll have cell service for your entire hike, it’s always a good idea to download maps that you can use when offline in case you end up without coverage. Some apps like Gaia GPS rely on a GPS signal, which you may still have, especially on open ridges or summits, even when you do not have a cell signal.
Sun protection: The East Bay can be a sunny place; it’s always best to be prepared for the sun with sunglasses, sunscreen, and a good hat. Some outdoor clothing comes with built-in sun protection.
Enjoy expansive vistas from hilly grasslands in places like Coyote Hills Regional Park (Hike 34).
Insulation: Layering is essential in the Bay Area, where the temperature can be very different in the sun versus the shade and during the day versus at night. Depending on what the weather forecast looks like, you may want to bring extra clothing, like wool arm warmers, a long-sleeved shirt, a coat (rain jacket and/or windbreaker as well as a fleece or other insulating layer), a hat, a scarf, and gloves.
Illumination: In winter the days are shorter, which makes a headlamp or flashlight handy, but even in summer, you may find yourself on the trail as the sun sets. A headlamp takes up very little room in your backpack and can help you stay safe if you end up hiking after dark.
First-aid supplies: Trips, falls, and other accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Be prepared for the unexpected by carrying a small first-aid kit with items such as band-aids, gauze, antiseptic cream, and an elastic bandage for ankle sprains. If you have allergies that require medication, particularly to bees, bring your EpiPen or other personal medication. And make sure your hiking buddies know about your allergies and medications. A little prep can go a long way.
A NOTE ABOUT SAFETY
Safety is an important concern in all outdoor activities. No guidebook can alert you to every hazard or anticipate the limitations of every reader, so you’ll have to be the judge of whether a particular route is suitable for your party. When you follow any of the routes described in this book, you assume responsibility for your own safety. Under normal conditions, such excursions require the usual attention to traffic, road and trail conditions, weather, terrain, and the capabilities of your party, among other factors. Before hitting the trails, always check for current park conditions, and when hiking, obey private property signs, and avoid confrontations with property owners or managers. Keeping informed on current conditions and exercising common sense are the keys to a safe, enjoyable outing.
—Mountaineers Books
Fire: It is extremely unlikely that you’ll unintentionally spend the night out on the trails described in this guide, but in case this happens, you may want to carry matches in a waterproof bag or a lighter to start a fire in an emergency.
Repair kit and tools: Tools—like a knife and a multitool—can help you do anything from open a food bag to remove a splinter to cut cloth into bandages.
Nutrition: Food is fuel. Make sure you have enough for your hike. If you bring extra, you can extend your hike or feed unprepared friends.
Hydration: We need water to live—and to hike! Staying hydrated is essential for safety. Access to potable water on trails can be spotty, so make sure you bring all you need and more on your hike. If you’re using water from natural sources, such as creeks, you’ll also want a way to purify your water, either with a filter or through a chemical or other sterilization method.
Emergency shelter: In an emergency, a rain poncho or garbage bag can serve as a temporary shelter. If you want to bring along an ultralight tent, some of them can weigh as little as two pounds.
TRAIL CONCERNS
Trails and parks are generally safe places for recreation, but it’s always a good idea to be aware of your surroundings—especially if you’re on the trail by yourself. It’s also a good idea to share your hiking plans with a reliable friend or family member, including when you’re heading out and what route you’ll be taking.
Car break-ins are unfortunate but do happen from time to time at trail parking lots. When you bring a car to a park, never leave anything of value, like a wallet or cell phone, in the car. It’s also a good idea to move any bags from the car seats to the trunk. Thieves don’t know that a bag is empty. Don’t tempt their curiosity.
Point Pinole Regional Shoreline (Hike 4) offers views of both San Francisco and San Pablo Bays.
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
This guide is designed to help you discover some of my personal favorite trails in the East Bay. While the guide aims to be a solid introduction to the region, it is by no means exhaustive. There are just too many places to include in one book! Start with these forty hikes, and then you can make the next round of discoveries on your own.
I have personally hiked every trail in this book and have had hike testers follow in my footsteps to make sure the directions are accurate and up-to-date as of the time of writing. Trails open and close and routes can and do change, however, so make sure you research each park’s current conditions before you go.
