4 spectacular Bay Area waterfall hikes for winter walks

4 spectacular Bay Area
waterfall hikes for winter
walks
Melissa Ozbek, correspondent January 31, 2022 at 9:27
a.m.

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 18: A waterfall is seen along Rifle Range Creek on the
York Trail at Leona Heights Park in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022. (Jane
Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

There are few things more exciting to me than a waterfall
hike in the rainy season, when creeks are spilling over in their
full, splashy glory. Time it right, and the reward is so deeply

fulfilling: You can see the power and serenity of water
rushing over rocks, spot the tallest falls and deepest pools,
and smell the earth-damp scent of the forest, glistening with
newly-fallen raindrops.

These four Bay Area hikes visit seasonal cascades and
waterfalls in Oakland, Walnut Creek, Morgan Hill and Los
Altos Hills with ideas for warm-your-heart bites nearby.
Since waterfall hikes tend to be in chilly canyons that can get
wet and muddy, dress in layers and footwear to help protect
against cold and muck. Although some waterfalls flow year
round, most in our area need a good kick in the pants to get
going, so a good strategy is to wait until late in the rainy
season or after a heavy storm system passes through to see
their ephemeral magic.

Leona Heights Park, Oakland

This hidden hiking haven boasts waterfalls cascading down
a redwood-filled ravine and sunset-perfect vistas of the San
Francisco Bay at the top. This 2.8-mile round-trip hike visits
these highlights on a moderately steep trail with sharp drop-
offs: Please take care with young children.

Begin on the York Trail off Mountain Boulevard, hiking into a
shady ravine with evergreen redwoods and blackberry
shrubs. Small waterfalls cascade down Horseshoe Creek as
you cross pedestrian bridges and scramble along the

narrow, rocky trail.

Friends Kristen Caven and Alice Wertz, from left, take photos as they hike the York Trail
along Rifle Range Creek at Leona Heights Park in Oakland on Jan. 18, 2022. To the left is a
small altar where people have placed objects. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

After 0.7 mile, merge left onto a dirt road and follow it to the
summit. The rolling, fieldlike area overlooks a western vista
of Mount Tamalpais, San Francisco, San Leandro Bay, and
the Santa Cruz Mountains. When ready, retrace your steps to
the trailhead, enjoying the cascades and ravine once more.

Trail map: https://tinyurl.com/leonaheights

Details: Leona Heights Park is open daily from dawn to dusk
at 4444 Mountain Blvd. in Oakland. Free street parking is

available on Mountain Boulevard, just south of Leona Lodge.
Leashed dogs are allowed. Find more details at
www.oaklandparks.org/leona-heights-park/.

Grab a bite: Phnom Penh House serves Southeast Asian
specialities, such as delicious chicken soup with lemongrass
and lime ($12.95), beginning at 11:30 a.m. Monday through
Saturday at 3912 MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland;
phnompenhhouse.com.

Uvas Canyon County Park, Morgan Hill

This park is a waterfall wonderland in the rainy season, with
multiple waterfalls along Swanson Creek. This 2.2-mile hike
maximizes your time at Uvas, visiting five waterfalls in the
Santa Cruz Mountain foothills with an option for one more.

Begin by following the Waterfall Loop Nature Trail from the
day-use parking lot. In 0.1 mile, turn right onto the Lower
Swanson Creek Trail, descending through a rainforest-like
riparian corridor to Lower Falls. When ready, retrace your
steps back to the Waterfall Loop, crossing Uvas Canyon
Bridge over Granuja Falls.

Visitors contemplate the view of Granuja Falls on the one-mile loop along Swanson Creek
at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill on Jan. 13, 2022. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News
Group)

The wide and moderately steep trail continues along
Swanson Creek, with spur trails leading to Black Rock Falls,
Upper Falls and Basin Falls. After taking your pictures, turn
around and retrace your steps to the parking lot.
Alternatively, continue on the Contour and Alec Canyon
Trails to visit one more waterfall, Triple Falls, for a longer 5.3-
mile total loop with 1,400 feet cumulative elevation gain.

Trail map: tinyurl.com/uvaswaterfalls

Details: Uvas Canyon County Park is open daily from 8 a.m.
to sunset at 8515 Croy Road in Morgan Hill. Parking

reservations ($6) are required seven days a week and can be
made at gooutsideandplay.org. Learn more at
parks.sccgov.org.

Grab a bite: Craft Roots serves yummy plant-based food,
including a Chili Cheeze Burger ($17), from noon on
Wednesday through Sunday at 17230 Monterey Road in
Morgan Hill. Outdoor dining and takeaway are available. Find
more at craftroots-mh.com.

Diablo Foothills Regional Park, Walnut Creek

Rolling green hills, creeks and castlelike sandstone
formations make Diablo Foothills Regional Park a fun and
adventurous hike in winter. This moderate 3.0-mile round-
trip traces Pine Creek through a beautiful canyon to a
seasonal waterfall.

Begin on the Stage Road Trail, hiking along Pine Creek and
beneath sandstone peaks in Mount Diablo State Park that
are home to nesting peregrine falcons. In 1.1 miles, arrive at
the first of four creek crossings. Hiking poles may come in
handy, as the creeks can be up to a foot deep after heavy
rains, according to park staff.

Rolling green hills, creek crossings and a seasonal waterfall make Diablo Foothills Regional
Park a wonderful winter hiking destination. (Courtesy Melissa Ozbek)

After hopscotching across the fourth creek, turn right onto
the Little Yosemite Trail into a rocky canyon. In 500 feet, a
stream trickles over steep rock slabs covered in ferns,
turning into a waterfall after heavy rains. Turn around here
for a 3.0-mile hike or continue further for vistas of the
foothills and distant North Coast Range peaks.

Trail Map: tinyurl.com/littleyosemite

Details: Hours vary by season, but Diablo Foothills Regional
Park is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Feb. 28

at 1700 Castle Rock Road in Walnut Creek. Free parking is
available at the end of Castle Rock Road and in the Orchard
Staging Area. Leashed dogs are allowed. Learn more at
www.ebparks.org.

Grab a bite: Kacha Thai offers spiced curries and New
Zealand lamb satay ($14) daily from 11:30 a.m. on-site or to-
go at 1665 Mt. Diablo Blvd. in Walnut Creek; kachathai.com.

Hidden Villa, Los Altos Hills

Hidden Villa’s farm animals, creeks and hiking trails are a
welcome and joyful escape from the hustle of everyday life.
A 1.75-mile balloon loop visits farm animals, a beautiful creek
and small cascades in a shady forest, and wildflowers on a
family-friendly outing. (A 3.25-mile grand loop offers
spectacular hiking, too, but erosion closed access to the
Bunny Loops trail in late January, so save that idea for a later
date.)

For the 1.75-mile loop, begin at the information kiosk,
following the path beside the road towards the foothills. To
your right is the Tin Barn with its heart-meltingly adorable
sheep, and beyond it to the left is the White Barn and its
playful goats. Pass the White Barn and continue on the flat
Creek Trail to a confluence of the West, Middle and East
Forks of Adobe Creek.

Bear left here across wooden bridges to stay on the Creek
Trail, hiking upstream under a partly shady tunnel of
California bay laurel and alongside rippling cascades in
Adobe Creek. At the 0.8-mile mark, turn left onto the partly
sunny Pipeline Trail, sprinkled with early season wildflowers
like warrior’s plume and milkmaids. Close your loop and
return to the parking lot, waving goodbye to the goats and
sheep until next time.

The winding trails at Hidden Villa Loop in Los Altos Hills offer a peaceful escape from the
everyday bustle. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

Trail Map: tinyurl.com/hiddenvillacreeks

Details: Hidden Villa is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday
through Sunday at 26870 Moody Road in Los Altos Hills.

Dogs are not allowed on hiking trails. Parking reservations
($10 for a two-hour time slot) are encouraged, but not
required. Learn more and make reservations at
hiddenvilla.org.

Grab a bite: Koma Sushi serves umami-rich udon noodle
bowls ($16 for Nabeyaki Udon) for lunch starting at 11:30
a.m. weekdays and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at
3130 Alpine Road in Portola Valley. Outdoor dining and
takeaway are available. Learn more at
komasushiportolavalley.com.