For an area with a population of 6 million, the Bay Area offers many great peaks ideal for hiking and rock climbing. Depending on where you draw the boundary of the area, there are 10 county highpoints in the Bay Area. The highest of these peaks, Copernicus Peak, reaches 4,360 feet above sea level, while the lowest on Summitpost is just under 1,000 feet.

East Bay

The East Bay Area peaks are characterized by velvety green hills in the spring with abundant wildflowers, hot summers with dry grasses blowing in the wind, pleasant falls as the temperatures become more tolerable, and varied winters depending on rainfall and local weather.

The two highest and perhaps most popular training peaks in the East Bay are Mt. Diablo off of Hwy. 680 and Mission Peak in Fremont. Both offer substantial vertical elevation gain and are excellent for a nearby workout. Mission Peak tends to be very crowded with fewer options as far as trails. Mission Peak is also lower in elevation. Mt. Diablo, however, offers more variety and even have technical rock climbing located at the Boy Scout Rocks area. Some routes on Mt. Diablo rarely see much traffic.

Fall, winter, and spring offer the best hiking in the East Bay. Summer can be oppressively hot. If you plan on climbing one of the East Bay peaks in the summer, prepare for intense heat and try to climb early. Spring wildflowers can be overpoweringly beautiful and perhaps provide the most beautiful time of year to hike. Winter is also a great time to hike; a rainy day can scare most locals away and give you a sense of wilderness seldom found so close to an urban area.

South Bay

South Bay peaks typically see less hikers and climbers than North and East Bay peaks. The South Bay peaks lie either in the Diablo Range or the Santa Cruz Mountains. From the infamous private property peaks such as Mt. Umunhum, Loma Prieta, and Mt. Isabel, to off-beat climbing spots such as Guadalupe Rock and Pine Mountain, the South Bay offers many great outings for the peakbagger and outdoor enthusiast.

North Bay

Per Dingus Milktoast... (Thank you!)

The North Bay Area peaks defy convenient characterization. Winters are
warm and wet and green and summers are hot, dry and brown. The terrain
ranges from well maintained trails to old ranch road and even cross country
wilderness travel. The north bay has a little bit of everything.

Mt Tamalpais or Mt Tam as the locals call it, is perhaps the single most
popular peak in the north bay area. Its a coastal peak and lacks the
stunning summertime heat of the inland ranges. There are some very popular
trails on the peak and even a little sandstone bouldering.

Coming in from the coast, the mountains become progressively hotter and
drier. The Sonoma and Mayacama Mountains, volcanic in nature, dominate
Sonoma and Napa counties, the source for the rich grape producing soils. Mt
St Helena is a dominating presence and offers an easy though strenuous hike
up a road to the summit antenna complex. This peak typically sees many
hikers on sunny weekends but not nearly the amount of traffic that Mt Tam
attracts. There is also an established though modest sport climbing area
along the St Helena approach road.

Farthest inland the Blue Ridge presents a nearly continuous wall of
mountains running from I-80 at the Vaca Mountains near Vacaville, up
through western Yolo County (Berryessa Pk, Lowrey, Fiske, Glascock) up to
Colusa County and Hwy 20. The Cache Creek and Lake Berryessa wilderness
areas are a stunning resource for those who like to be alone amidst
millions. One can easily hike and climb in this region and not see another
soul all day long.

Several county highpoints are also included in this area; Marin, Sonoma,
Solano, Yolo, Napa are all there for the bagging.

Snow in the Bay Area

Rose Peak

Loma Prieta

Copernicus Peak/Mt. Hamilton

Mount Diablo

Mission Peak

External Links

Bay Area Hiker page.

Bay Area Climbers

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