Bolinas.

13.6 miles out and back.

Moderate; heavily trafficked.

There’s a plethora of poison oak on the trail, which may be difficult to identify in winter. A shortcut is available, which shaves off four miles but requires scrambling down a slippery section of shale and shouldn’t be done at high tide. Wear shoes with traction, long layers, and sun protection. As always, practice Leave No Trace ethics.

Waterfalls cascading into the Pacific Ocean; seaside views through eucalyptus, pines, and oak trees; and enough mileage for a good night’s sleep (if you want to make a weekend of it, we recommend staying at Olema House) make this one of the Bay Area’s best hikes.

There are two forces responsible for the tides: the moon and the rotational force of the earth. The side of the earth closest to the moon will feel the full gravitational pull of our lunar sidekick, and the ocean tides will rise on this side of the planet. On the opposite side of the moon, water resists the movement of our globe’s rotation, causing waters to rise on this side, too. Most shorelines experience two high tides and two low tides every day. Tide tables can help you plan your trip out to the beach and know when to head out (or back in).   

For more information, visit
alltrails.com/trail/us/california/alamere-falls-via-coast-trail-from-palomarin-trailhead.