One of the best stress-reducers? A few minutes—or hours—out in the natural world. Ann Marie Brown has been writing about hiking for years. And now, with the release of the seventh edition of her classic book, Brown gives both novice hikers and experienced trail hands multiple options for enjoying the Great Outdoors.
101 Great Hikes: San Francisco Bay Area, updated and released by trusted publisher Moon, covers the whole region, including Napa/Sonoma, Marin, the South Bay and Peninsula, and the East Bay. The East Bay section alone lists 21 great hikes, with distances, estimated durations and levels of difficulty.
“My first hike [as a child] was 60-some years ago,” said Brown. “I moved to the Bay Area in 1985 to go to graduate school at Stanford, and I got hooked on all the nature… 70% of the nine counties is open land. I started sneaking in hikes whenever I could.”
Some of the East Bay hikes profiled in the book include the Franklin Ridge Loop (3.5 miles, 2-hour duration, easy), the San Pablo Ridge and Wildcat Creek Loop (7.2 miles, 3-hour duration, moderate) and the Mount Diablo Grand Loop (9.9 miles, 5-6 hour duration, strenuous).
Brown’s favorite season for hiking in the East Bay is spring, especially March and April, because it’s prime wildflower season. “This year is going to be spectacular,” she said. She suggested the Sunol Loop Tour (8.4 miles, 4-hour duration, strenuous) and the Huckleberry, Skyline and Pinehurst Loop (2.2 miles, 1-hour duration, easy) as two of the best for wildflower viewing. Due to the heavy rains, it’s already an amazing year for viewing mushrooms and toadstools—but, she emphasizes, “Look; don’t touch.”
What if someone is eager to get out there but is a beginner hiker? Brown definitely advises sticking to the flatter, coastal terrain hikes listed in the book. Other tips included hiking with someone more experienced and taking note of what gear they pack, bringing along a map or GPS system, and a lighting source, along with, of course, water.
Brown hikes solo up to 90% of the time, she said, but she is always prepared for contingencies, such as possibly having to spend a night outdoors. A wrap of some kind, some way to get a signal out if cell service isn’t available, and letting someone know when and where she’s hiking are essential. Two other suggestions were leaving a note on the dashboard of the hiker’s car that would be noticed if they had not returned, and her favorite hiking accessory: hiking poles.
“Once you get used to using them, it’s like having two extra legs,” she said, noting they are especially helpful on rocky terrain.
101 Great Hikes has sections on “Best Dog-Friendly Hikes,” “Best Kid-Friendly Hikes,” “Best Summit Vistas” and “Best Waterfall Hikes.” The Briones Loop Tour is called out as an East Bay choice for dog owners, and Mission Peak for vistas.
Not forgetting bird-lovers, during the interview Brown suggested Coyote Hills for raptors and song birds. “Little kids are mesmerized,” she said. Franklin Ridge in Martinez was mentioned again, this time for birding. “The Carquinez Strait area is wonderful for hawks and even golden eagles,” she said. Other likely sightings: osprey, California brown pelicans, and if lucky, California quail, among many other species.
History buffs will also find hikes to suit their passion. “Black Diamond Mines has fascinating history,” said Brown, including its old cemetery. “You can hike the rolling hills and see nobody all day,” she remarked. The book lists two Black Diamond Mines options, the Rose Hill Cemetery Loop (3.1 miles, 1.5-hour duration, easy), and the Stewartville and Ridge Trail Loop (6.7 miles, 3.5-hour duration, moderate).
Yet another user-friendly aspect of the book is the pull-out sections on “Best Nearby Bites and Brews.” For example, those choosing the San Pablo Ridge and Wildcat Creek Loop can’t go wrong, after working up a thirst and hunger, at Richmond’s Armistice Brewing Company. They’re renowned for their irreverent attitude, unusual and tasty brews, and food trucks outside.
Perhaps the most important aspect of hiking, said Brown, is the mental health benefits it provides. “That time in nature when you turn off the phone, the healing that goes on in the mind,” she noted.
Asked for a special moment of this, she responded, “I’ve had thousands of them. It connects me with my sense of wonder, and sometimes something miraculous will happen—you come around the corner, and the waterfall is there. It takes your breath away.”
All of this, she emphasized, is vital to reminding people how important it is to take care of the land. “We need more awe,” she said.
‘101 Great Hikes: San Francisco Bay Area,’ Moon/Avalon Travel, 2026. $24.99.
