Best Bay Area wildflower trails without the crowds
Where to find California poppies, paintbrush, and more colorful flowers in the GGNRA while doing your part to preserve the blooms
California poppies seen in the Golden Gate national parks.
Will Elder / National Park Service
You know the feeling: You pull up to your favorite park site, and the parking lot is jammed. In the spring, popular wildflower spots like Mori Point can get crushed, and the wildflowers and ecosystem suffer.
Make sure you preserve the bloom in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area! To be a better wildflower fan, start with our article "Tips for Viewing Wildflowers." Check out some of our top picks for trails that have wildflowers without the crowds below. Other park sites have hidden pockets of wildflowers: You'll snap some colorful photos at Black Point Historic Gardens, Alcatraz Island (yes, Alcatraz has wildflowers!), and Presidio Tunnel Tops.
Here are our experts' top picks for secret wildflower spots. Visit these spots, and your Instagram feed will still be nice and colorful, but you'll feel better about preserving the wildflowers for generations to come!
Trail
Length
11.90 miles round-trip
From the top of Bolinas Ridge take in bird’s-eye views up and down the San Andreas Rift Zone. The fault divides Olema Valley , a lovely, undulating landscape reminiscent of England, that dips slowly down to the waters of Tomales Bay in the north, and Bolinas Lagoon in the south...
Trail
Length
2.10 miles round-trip
From Skyline College, you'll be shocked by how quickly you can leave civilization. Begin the climb through the trees to a view of Rockaway Beach. You'll have some great ocean views during this portion of the trail. The trail turns away from the ocean, and you view the valley below...
Trail
Length
1.20 miles round-trip
Surrounded by urban development in Pacifica, Milagra Ridge forms what biologists call an island ecosystem. Despite this isolation, this 250-acre park hosts a surprising diversity of natural resources. It is home to threatened and endangered species like the mission blue and San Bruno elfin butterflies.
Trail
Length
0.71 miles round-trip
Highway 101 lies just below this trail. Take your time and enjoy the views in the canyon as you make your way up the hill side, and look out over the bay as you follow numerous switchbacks.
Trail
Length
4.02 miles round-trip
A hike along the SCA Trail will provide a breathless vista of the Golden Gate Bridge and the surrounding Bay. When the sun is shining and the fog is lifted, hiking along this trail will make memories that will last a lifetime.
Trail
Length
5.02 miles round-trip
This is a long but gradual climb from the eastern side of the Marin Headlands . This fire road is in good condition, making for an easy route to meander along.
Trail
Length
9.44 miles round-trip
Stretching from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach , the famed Dipsea Trail is for hikers looking for a challenge.
