Revised and Updated in September 2020! The hills of the East Bay contain one of the finest and densest urban hiking environments in the state of California—more than 400 paved pathways and public staircases lattice up and down the slopes of Berkeley and Oakland alone. Rising high above the city centers, with towering views of the San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge, and San Francisco itself, these elegant civic walking trails—many of them shaded in oaks and redwoods, and many unknown even to local residents—present a unique landscape for both the casual walker and dedicated hiker. Charles Fleming, the Southern California author whose bestselling 2010 walking guide Secret Stairs turned the hidden public staircases of Los Angeles into popular hiking trails, now turns his eyes northward. For Secret Stairs: East Bay, Fleming has designed more than 30 individual hiking loops. Linking multiple staircases into one-to two-hour self-guided strolls, these urban treks will delight the tourist, newly arrived Berkeley undergraduate, and veteran Bay Area resident alike. The circular walks, each calibrated by length, difficulty, and duration—and each accompanied by a detailed, easy-to-follow map—are sprinkled with fascinating facts about the historic staircases, the historic homes around them, and the famous Bay Area characters who gave them their names. Walk the walks of Bret Harte, Mark Twain, and John Muir! Climb Berkeley’s massive Fred Herbert and Tamalpais Paths, hike Easter Way, and summit Sunset Trail! Mount Oakland’s Oakmore stairs, then tackle the hills of Upper Rockridge and Crocker Highlands via the public staircases. And do it all within easy walking distance from BART or bus stops, free parking, and excellent Bay Area cafés.

Hundreds of public stairways traverse San Francisco's 42 hills, exposing incredible vistas while connecting colorful, unique neighborhoods, and veteran guide Adah Bakalinsky loves them all. Her updated Stairway Walks in San Francisco explores well-known and clandestine corridors from Lands End to Bernal Heights while sharing captivating architectural, historical, pop culture, and horticultural notes along the way. This revised and expanded edition has been thoroughly updated and includes two additional walks, new maps, and new color photographs. The two new walks presented are: The Blue Greenway Walking, a new history, which follows the Embarcadero and weaves along the present day contour of the Bay into the future parklands and new neighborhood of San Francisco; and Jazz Takes A Walk in the Sunnyside neighborhood where the undulating geology of San Francisco invites one to hear the dance in the walk. A comprehensive appendix lists every one of the City's 600-plus public stairways. Long-term residents and tourists alike have used the book for over 25 years to adventurously uncover San Francisco's unexpected details.

This title in the acclaimed Afoot & Afield series contains more than 100 carefully described trips in the nine-county region. Included are all the well-known favorites: Mt. Tamalpais, Point Reyes National Seashore, Henry W. Coe and Mt. Diablo state parks, and Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. The book also features more remote parks and preserves, from the rugged Sonoma coast to hidden canyons south of San Jose, as well as regional open spaces and country parks from the East Bay hills to the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Explore 56 trails in the superb open spaces of San Francisco’s East Bay The East Bay of San Francisco, California, offers a diverse array of hiking opportunities: the scenic shoreline of Point Pinole, the furrowed foothills and windy summit of Mount Diablo, trails that are home to the flourishing bird and plant life on Pleasanton Ridge and at Livermore’s Lake Del Valle. East Bay Trails is the ideal guide to the best trips in and around the area’s ridges, shores, wilderness areas, lakes, and reservoirs. Written by acclaimed author David Weintraub, this is the most complete and up-to-date trail guide for Alameda and Contra Costa counties. East Bay Trails presents 56 hikes, complete with detailed route descriptions and at-a-glance information about length, time, difficulty, regulations, and facilities. The text focuses mostly on hiking, but other outdoors enthusiasts—fitness walkers, joggers, equestrians, and bicyclists—can also make good use of this guide. Inside you’ll find 56 hiking trips, ranging from mile-long strolls to all-day treks, plus a few long hikes with overnight options New trips in Lime Ridge Open Space, Diablo Foothills Regional Park, and Round Valley Regional Preserve Detailed descriptions of each trip, plus updated maps Appendix of the best hikes for any mood or desire, whether it’s birdwatching, scenic vistas, waterfalls, or an easy trip for kids “East Bay Trails is the most complete and up-to-date guide for Alameda and Contra Costa counties.” —East Bay Express

See San Francisco like never before: Step up to 39 of its best stairway walks! Hundreds of public stairways traverse San Francisco’s boundless hills, revealing scenic vistas and connecting colorful, diverse neighborhoods. Since 1984, Stairway Walks in San Francisco has been helping urban explorers discover the best of the City by the Bay via riser and handrail. Now in its 10th edition, this beloved guidebook by Mary Burk with Adah Bakalinsky includes four new walks, updates of classic favorites, and many new photographs. The amazing walks invite you to explore well-known and clandestine corridors, from Marshall Beach and Noe Valley to Lands End and Telegraph Hill. Whether you want to learn about the city’s history and architecture, elevate your exercise routine, or just let your feet lead the way to new adventures, Stairway Walks in San Francisco has something for everyone. It has been the essential city walking guide for more than 40 years! Get this updated edition, and start walking. Book Features Comprehensive list of the city’s 700-plus stairways 39 walks incorporating San Francisco’s magnificent stairway network Lively route descriptions, at-a-glance Quick-Step summaries, and easy-to-read maps Parking and public-transportation information for each walk

In the tradition of Annie Dillard, John Muir, and Gary Snyder, the author reports how he learned to experience nature in a "wakeful state of mind" in order to heal his emotional pain and grow spiritually. He has found that the power of nature to facilitate meditation is available to everyone, as evidenced in these passages and essays. Photographs and line drawings.