Grab your beau or best friend and hit the Bay Area’s trails for one of these “sweetheart hikes.”
4 gorgeous hikes to share with sweethearts — or even friends
Last fall, while passing under tall redwoods in Los Gatos’ Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve, my husband turned to me and said, “It’s nice holding your hand on a hike.” I swung it companionably. We had been hiking side by side on the Alma Trail, one of many the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District had highlighted as wider than 6 feet to promote social distancing.
“There should be a hiking database for good hikes to hike side by side,” I said. “Significant other hikes,” Onur suggested. “Sweetheart hikes!” I responded.
And thus, sweetheart hikes were born. Every hike thereafter would be debated: “Is it sweetheart-worthy?”
The requirements? The trail had to be wide enough to hold hands and hike comfortably side by side, and there had to be something special about it — coast redwoods, a gorgeous vista or shady, creekside hiking. We realized there was a social distance benefit too: Hiking on a wide trail made it easier to spread out and give others space.
Why the name “sweetheart”? My Poppy used to call me “sweetheart” (and all my other cousins, too, but let’s not get into that) and since then I’ve associated it with dear affection. So I propose “sweetheart” is a person you hold affection for in your heart — the one you want to spend time with. It could be your family, your partner-in-crime, and sometimes even yourself.
Here are four sweetheart hikes that not only promote social distancing but give you the chance to hike with your love someplace special. Let’s show some love for our parks, too, by following their guidelines.
Bald Mountain Trail, Sierra Azul Preserve, South Bay
Bald Mountain, elevation 2,387 feet, is a 1.4-mile round-trip hike in Sierra Azul Preserve to a beautiful panorama of the Santa Clara Valley and Diablo Range. It begins at the same parking lot as the Mount Umunhum Trail, making it easy to add on to your Mount Umunhum hike or do on its own. It’s especially pretty in the morning.
Start on the Bald Mountain Trail, heading east. Since the trailhead is over 2,000 feet elevation, you’re starting up high in the company of neighboring peaks like Loma Prieta, Mount Umunhum and Mount El Sombroso. Early in the morning, when fog blankets the valley, it feels like a dreamscape.
The trail ends at a vista of Santa Clara Valley, facing Mount Hamilton. Almaden Quicksilver County Park stretches in front of you, the Almaden Reservoir a tiny puddle to its right. On clear days, Mount Tamalpais is visible to the north. When ready, retrace your steps to the trailhead, enjoying the view of Mount Umunhum, with its cube-shaped radar tower overhead.
DETAILS >> 1.4-mile round-trip hike with a 100-foot gain. Park in the Bald Mountain parking lot. No dogs allowed in the Umunhum area of the preserve. No fee.
TIP >> The Bald Mountain parking lot is popular with Mount Umunhum hikers and fills quickly. Plan to arrive by 8 a.m. or an hour before sunset.
Pleasanton Ridge Loop, Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, East Bay
Spectacular Mount Diablo views and shady creekside hiking are highlights on this 7.4-mile balloon loop in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. The wide trails, challenging elevation gain, vistas and surprising shade make it one of our favorites. Beginning the hike at dawn adds sunrise vistas.
Start from the Castleridge Trailhead, heading west on the Courdet Trail. The wide dirt trail is exposed in the beginning, gaining a heart-pumping 1,000 feet over the next 2 miles, but soon enters shady oak woodlands. When you reach Pleasanton Ridge, turn left, then make a quick right onto the Ridgeline Trail, heading north. Sunol Ridge rises to the west, higher than Pleasanton Ridge, with Kilkare Canyon between them.
Turn left onto the Shady Creek Trail, descending into the canyon beside a seasonal creek and California bay. Next, turn left onto the Sinbad Creek Trail, quiet and cool next to Sinbad Creek. After 0.8 mile, turn left on the Bay Leaf Trail, climbing back up to the ridge. Emerge from the tree cover and then turn left onto the Ridgeline Trail, enjoying views of Mount Diablo and the Tri-valley. Rejoin the Courdet Trail and descend east back to the trailhead.
DETAILS >> This hike is a 7.4-mile loop with 1,700-foot gain. Start at the Castleridge Trailhead. Dogs allowed on leash. No fee.
TIP >> If 7.4 miles seems a bit much, hike to Pleasanton Ridge via the Courdet Trail then turn around for a 4-mile round-trip hike with Mount Diablo views.
Redwood Grove Loop, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Santa Cruz County
The Redwood Grove Loop is a flat, stroller-friendly trail under humongous coast redwoods, the tallest tree species on Earth. Although short, this hike is surprisingly powerful, one of those rare bang-for-the-buck hikes you can do over and over for a wonderful escape in nature.
Start from the North Big Trees Road parking lot, following signs for the Redwood Grove Trail. The wide dirt trail leads through an old-growth redwood forest with Douglas fir and California bay in the understory. Heart-shaped leaflets of redwood sorrel cover the ground. Halfway through, duck into a small opening in the Frémont Tree to stand in its spacious trunk. There are picnic tables here, next to the Frémont Tree, to enjoy your coffee.
For a longer 4.6-mile hike, head to the Observation Deck at 805 feet, with a view of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Lucia Mountains and Monterey Bay. To reach it, take the Pipeline Trail south and then Ridge Fire Road east. After 0.5 mile, arrive at the Observation Deck. There are two picnic tables on the deck for enjoying a special picnic with your sweetheart. When ready, retrace your steps to the parking lot.
DETAILS >> This hike is a 0.8-mile flat loop. Park in the North Big Trees Road parking lot. Dogs are not allowed on the Redwood Grove Trail and Ridge Fire Road. $10 day-use fee.
Stream Trail, Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park, East Bay
Shady second-growth redwoods in a cool, fern-dappled canyon are highlights of the Stream Trail in Oakland’s Reinhardt Redwood Regional Park. Between November and February, it’s fun to spot ladybugs clustering together on tree trunks, shrubs and fence posts.
Start at the Canyon Meadow parking lot, hiking northwest on the Stream Trail beside Redwood Creek. The trail is paved for the first 0.9 mile, making it a great option for families with strollers. At the 1.5-mile mark, just after crossing to the other side of Redwood Creek on a bridge, spot an interpretive sign for ladybugs at a fence covered in blackberry shrubs.
Look carefully along stems and the undersides of leaves. Despite their Valentine-red color, the “lady beetles” blend in surprisingly well: It’s easy to walk right by them (ahem). Turn around here for a 3-mile hike or continue to look for more ladybugs. The Stream Trail climbs another 500 feet over the next 1.5 miles to the Skyline Gate parking lot.
DETAILS >> This hike is 3 miles round trip with a 175-foot gain. Park in the Canyon Meadow parking lot. Dogs are allowed on leash. No fee in winter.
TIP >> Parking is challenging on weekends, even in winter. Go during the week if you can. Otherwise, plan to arrive before 9 a.m.