About Bay Nature Hikes & Events

Throughout the year, Bay Nature Institute sponsors guided walks, hikes, and other types of outings to some of the parks and open spaces that we cover in the magazine. We find expert guides who can provide a deeper understanding of the places we visit, from Henry W. Coe State Park near Gilroy to Fort Funston in San Francisco to Tomales Dunes in West Marin.

These outings are without charge, except for fees for parking, park entrance, transport, or equipment rental (as in the case of kayak outings). Reservations are required for most outings and they almost always fill to their limit well before the date. To find out in advance about upcoming hikes, subscribe to the magazine and/or sign up on our hikes email list by writing to hikes@baynature.org.

Bay Nature also sponsors occasional community events and presentations.

Upcoming Bay Nature Hikes & Events

Salt Ponds Photography Exploration
July 18, 2:30-5:30 pm
Microbiologist Wayne Lanier and kite photographer Cris Benton will lead us out to their favorite spot at the South Bay salt ponds, unassuming drainage ditch they have dubbed "The Weep." Read more>

Mount Burdell Gall Walk
August 16, 10 am - 2 pm
Join Bay Nature and Marin Open Space District naturalist David Herlocker as we search for oak galls on Mount Burdell. Read more>

Family-friendly Bat Night at Shadow Cliffs
September 3, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Star naturalist Cat Taylor leads us on a bat exploration for all ages at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton. Read more>

Sunol Oak Gall Walk
September 27, 9 am - 1 pm
Longtime naturalist Katie Colbert will show the way to some of the best gall-oaks in Sunol Regional Wilderness. Read more>

Recent Hikes & Events

Here are a few of the places we've gone in recent months:

June 2009

An East Bay Regional Parks naturalist led a small-group paddle out to Brooks Island near Richmond -- a rare chance to see nesting Caspian terns. Read more about Brooks Island.

May 2009

We visited Mori Point to learn about the restoration work here, see great wildflowers and hear about rumrunning and other exciting episodes in the history of this park in Pacifica. Read more about Mori Point.

March 2009

Docent Dick Gehrer took a group of Bay Nature readers through Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, south of San Jose.We covered the park in our January article Out of the Blue, but hikers got to see the views, and wildflowers, firsthand. Bay Nature videographer Rick Bacigalupi came along and made a video of the hike.

February 2009

Raptor expert Joe DiDonato showed us around Sunol Regional Wilderness -- and took us to just the right spot for lunch, atop Flag Hill, where we saw several golden eagles at close range. A golden day! This was connected to our feature Raptor Rapture.

January 2009

We explored Morgan Territory with Mike Moran, among our region's most talented naturalists. We were searching for raptors, covered in our feature Raptor Rapture, but heavy fog and drizzle made for a wet but fun day.

December 2008

Guided walk at Drakes Estero on Point Reyes, with naturalist David Wimpfheimer, author of our feature on the estero, Give Me Shelter.

November 2008

Guided walk along the Hayward Fault, in connection with our feature article about the state's most dangerous fault, Walking the Line.

October 2008

Guided paddle on Drakes Estero at Point Reyes, for our article Give Me Shelter, about this remarkable coastal estuary.

August 2008

Guided hike on the Ridge Trail through SFPUC watershed lands, in connection with our feature the Saved and the Dammed: Following the Course of Pilarcitos Creek.

September 2008

Kayak to Angel Island with Bay Nature and Environmental Traveling Companions. to accompany our article Flocking to the Island of Angels. 

July 2008

Angel Island hike with Bay Nature and Greenbelt Alliance, to accompany our article Flocking to the Island of Angels.

June 2008

Tomales Dunes field trip at Lawson's Landing with our article Shifting Sands: A Dilemma in the Dunes at Tomales Bay.

May 2008

Wildflower walk and mine tour at Black Diamond Mines to accompany our article Black Coal, Bright Flowers.