Spring hikes peaking
TravelMag highlights '10 California Spring Hikes' that deliver big payoff for short distances—think waterfalls and lush hillsides right now. Local hikers are also sharing underrated Bay Area routes—San Bruno, Purisima, Monte Bello, Sweeney Ridge, Briones, Windy Hill, Lobos Creek, Sunol and Ohlone—and park officials say trail use has jumped roughly 30% since 2020, so expect company and pack out your trash ( ).
TravelMag’s feature ran March 29, 2026 and was written by Adeline Parker as a 13‑minute roundup of short, high‑reward spring hikes across California. (travelmag.com) Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District estimated about 2.7 million total visitors across its preserves in calendar year 2022 and about 2.5 million in 2023, based on data from 26 trail and vehicle counters. (openspace.org) The East Bay Regional Park District reports its system receives more than 30 million visits annually across roughly 73 parks and about 1,300 miles of trails, underscoring the scale of regional recreation demand. (ebparks.org) Park managers have started experimenting with user controls: Briones Regional Park ran a pilot project from April 21, 2023 to December 17, 2024 that used date‑based and activity‑specific rules to reduce conflicts, and EBRPD convened a Trail User Working Group beginning in August 2020 that produced a March 2022 Goals, Issues & Solutions summary. (ebparks.org) Regional planning is also shifting toward connectivity and designation: the Bay Area Ridge Trail organization and partners have added segments in recent years and legislation introduced in early 2026 would seek National Scenic Trail status for the Ridge Trail. (ridgetrail.org) On access and logistics this spring, Midpen’s preserves list site‑specific rules and hours for visitors, EBRPD requires an Ohlone Wilderness permit for day use and camping for people 12 and older (permits valid one year), and the Presidio’s Lobos Creek Valley boardwalk — restored in 1994 — remains a short, accessible urban nature loop. (openspace.org)
