Hiking

Hike Ratings | Who Can Participate | Getting There | Weather | Leaders | Hike the 'Nifty Ninety'

The Hiking Section of the San Francisco Bay Chapter offers a wide variety of day hikes in Marin, Alameda, and Contra Costa Counties, and city hikes in San Francisco. Hikes are typically scheduled on Saturdays, Sundays, and occasionally midweek. Hikes do not require advance registration or signups unless specifically noted.

Full information on each hike is given in the calendar listings. Click on the title in the calendar to see the full description. If you want more information on a specific hike, you can contact the hike leader; contact information is given in each listing.  Never call before 8 am or after 9 pm.

Hikes are listed on the Chapter Activities Calendar. Unless specifically mentioned, reservations are not required for our hikes; just show up at the meeting point.

Hike Ratings

Phot courtesy Steven Szabados on Flickr Creative Commons.Hike and walk ratings consist of a number-letter code where the number is the distance and the letter is the amount of uphill climbing.

Length (miles)

1: Up to 6
2: 6 - 10 
3: 10 - 15 
4: 15 - 20 
5: over 20

Elevation Gain (feet)

A: under 1,000
B: 1,000 to 2,000
C: 2,000 to 3,000
D: 3,000 to 4,000
E: Over 4,000

So a hike rated 2B means that the distance covered will be from 6 to 10 miles and the total elevation gain will be between 1000 and 2000 ft. A mini-hike is 4 miles or less and has an elevation gain of 500 ft or less.

Who can Participate

Everyone is welcome on our hikes; however, you must have suitable footwear, food and water, and be able to keep up with the group.  Consider your physical condition. If you can't keep up, you may be asked to turn back. Our hikes are often on uneven terrain and are not accessible to everyone. If you are unsure of your ability, contact the leader and find out what is planned.

Dogs or other pets are permitted only on outings that are pre-advertised or otherwise identified as dog- or pet-permitted outings. Service animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, are not considered pets and are not subject to this rule. However, if you have a service animal, contact the leader in advance to ensure reasonable accommodations can be made.

Our hikes are geared towards adults, and therefore, may not be appropriate for children.  Contact the leader to find out if a particular hike is appropriate for any children who may want to attend.

All participants in Sierra Club activities are required to sign a waiver at the start of each activity releasing the Sierra Club from liability.

Getting There

Most people drive, but many of our hikes are accessible by public transit, such as Golden Gate Transit, BART, or MUNI. Bus riders should check routes and schedules to arrive before the posted meeting time. Leaders are not obliged to stay past that time. Don't be late!

Carpool riders share any entrance or parking fees.

Weather

Our hikes are held rain or shine unless the listing specifies "Rain Cancels". However, leaders may change the hike route because of weather or trail conditions, or even cancel the hike. In dry summer weather, some hiking areas may be closed to public use because of fire danger so participants should be aware of potential weather issues.

Hike the 'Nifty Ninety'

The Hiking Section identified 90 Bay Area summits that highlight the spectacular geographic diversity of our region. Each of the peaks on our 'Nifty Ninety' list is accessible via public land — and they’re often places that Sierra Club members have successfully fought to protect over the Club’s 125-year history. Many of the Bay Chapter’s outings tackle the peaks on this list in a fun, social setting with knowledgeable guides. Find the full list on peakbagger.com.