Briones Regional Park in the wild Contra Costa hills is one of the best in the Bay Area for hiking, wildflowers and foothill views. With 6,255 acres, Briones boasts a secluded network of trails for people of all ambitions, but the most rewarding hike is a 5.6-mile loop that begins on Alhambra Creek Trail and leads to the 1,483-foot Briones Peak. Up top, walkers get a panorama of rolling foothills that extends to Mount Diablo, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and Suisun Bay.

A ferryboat ride away from the city, Angel Island stuns with views of the San Francisco waterfront and Golden Gate Bridge. Search for hidden beach coves during the day, and see San Francisco light up at night from the island’s 788-foot Livermore summit.

At the idyllic Point Reyes National Seashore, a brush with wildlife is almost guaranteed. The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse is a popular late-winter site for whale watching, and the 9.4 mile hike to Tomales Point often presents close encounters with grazing tule elk. Once on Tomales Point Trail, try tracing out game trails — staying quiet, low and maintaining safe distance — to find the big bulls with their harems.

The evergreen Butano State Park is rare in its ability to provide eye-catching views at every turn. Hike through dense redwood groves, stumble upon an abandoned airstrip and look out for the beloved four-stemmed Candelabra Tree in a remote forest on the edge of Gazos Canyon.

For one of the best views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, plan a lunchtime trip to Castle Rock State Park’s Goat Rock, the park’s highest peak and one of the most serene places in the Bay Area. Accessible via a short detour off the 5.3-mile Saratoga Gap Trail loop, the sandstone seat is a perfect place to take in the miles of sprawling redwoods and the glistening waters of Monterey Bay.

The “trail through time” at Mount Diablo courses through a mosaic of sandstone monoliths that make up Rock City. The prime destination here is Sentinel Rock, where a stone staircase leads up the backside of the route to a short scramble (with cable guardrails) before reaching the peak. To the east, the vista ranges from the San Joaquin Valley to the crisp, snow-covered Sierra crest. To the west, the ridges of the East Bay and Peninsula are visible on a clear day.

This Santa Clara County park, located on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, is a haven for secluded campsites, lush hiking trails and cascading waterfalls. Follow Swanson Creek down a long canyon leading to four small waterfalls that range from torrents in winter and spring to light trickles in the summer and fall. Located about 15 minutes away is Uvas Reservoir, where visitors can fish for bass on the shoreline.

This punishing trail is a must for any adventurer looking for a workout. The Dipsea Trail, a 7.5 mile one-way route, begins at Old Mill Park in Mill Valley and ends along the Panoramic Highway at Stinson Beach. From start to finish, the trail is full of leg-burning climbs and equally tough descents, from the legendary 688 steps, through the outskirts of Muir Woods, up Cardiac Hill and down Steep Ravine, to emerge on a hilltop with Pacific views before finishing on the Stinson sand.