Hiking in the San Francisco Bay area

Visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area will no doubt stroll through Fisherman's Wharf, climb Coit Tower atop Telegraph Hill and view the Pacific Ocean from Cliff House.

While these sights are worthy, most don't provide the views or experience available at the countless miles of hiking just outside of the city. With a few exceptions, most of these hikes can be reached with a short drive and are open year-round.

Lace your boots and learn more about hikes in the region at the San Francisco Bay Area Hiker: www.bahiker.com. The site, started by avid Bay Area hiker and trail guide Jane Huber, contains a list of hikes, tips on the best views and helpful hints.

Take a quick drive from downtown San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Marin Headlands, which is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, www.nps.gov/goga/marin-headlands.htm. The park contains miles of excellent hiking trails, many with postcard views of San Francisco. Some of the better views can be obscured by thick fog common in the region so check the weather before you head out.

Venture a touch farther into Marin County and visit Muir Woods — www.nps.gov/muwo — the site of a pivotal scene in Alfred Hitchcock's "Vertigo." The park is home to tall redwoods as well as miles of excellent and not-too difficult hikes.

Hikers looking for a better workout should check out nearby Mount Tampalpais — www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=471. The 2,571-foot peak can be accessed by numerous different hiking trails, some of which traverse the entire mountain and drop into Stinson Beach — stinsonbeachonline.com.

The Dipsea Trail — www.visitmuirwoods.com/trails.htm — is especially popular among locals and the site of numerous trail runs. It's even inspired some long- distance runners to run the course twice — www.doubledipsea.com.

Dedicated hikers should drive farther north into wine country to Mount St. Helena in Robert Louis Stevenson State Park — www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=472. The author spent his honeymoon in the region in the late 19th century and on a clear day the views are impressive.

Don't forget about the East Bay, home to many well-kept parks and lightly trafficked trails: www.ebparks.org. Mount Diablo contains some of the Bay Area's most challenging hikes, including a loop that takes a day to complete: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517. Hikes ranging from easy walks to daylong treks are listed here: www.mdia.org/hiking.htm.