Underrated Peninsula Trails That Made Me Reconsider Bay Area Hiking
I used to think the Bay Area’s best hiking was north—Marin headlands, redwoods, big views. But recently, I stumbled on three lesser-known trails south of San Francisco, and they completely shifted my perspective.
These hikes thread through San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, and San Mateo—towns that rarely get a spotlight when it comes to hiking content. But tucked between the Crystal Springs and San Andreas reservoirs are some surprisingly beautiful, approachable, and even meditative routes.
All easy to moderate, all doable as solo walks with a waterproof backpack for hiking, and each with their own unexpected payoff.
1. Crystal Springs to Pulgas Water Temple — 5 miles / moderate
This is the least scenic of the three—at least until the end. For most of the route, you walk along a path hemmed in by fencing and wildflowers, which makes the forest feel just slightly out of reach. But then you arrive at Pulgas Water Temple, a lesser-known local icon built to commemorate the completion of the Hetch Hetchy Project, which brought water all the way from Yosemite to San Francisco.
It’s quiet here, beautifully symmetrical, and if you arrive before the gates close at 3 PM, you might just have it to yourself. My only tip: don’t come expecting a wilderness trail—come for the finish.
2. Sawyer Camp Trail — 5.4 miles / easy
If you're after a stress-free walk with plenty of shade, this is your trail. The Sawyer Camp Trail is wide, paved, and tree-lined almost the entire way. It’s also the only one on this list where you get to see two lakes—San Andreas Lake and the Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir.
Personally, I found the upper half of the route more scenic than the lower section. The trees feel older, the light breaks through in better angles, and there’s more room to pause without other walkers passing by. If you’re new to hiking or just want to bring your thoughts along for the walk, this one’s perfect. Bonus: zero need to worry about muddy terrain—still, I packed my waterproof backpack for hiking just in case.
3. San Andreas Lake Trail — 7.1 miles / easy
This one’s longer, but it flows. No real inclines, no rocky switchbacks—just a consistent trail that hugs the water nearly the whole way. What it lacks in dramatic climbs, it makes up for with stillness. You get a lot of lake time, and that’s rare in hikes this close to the city.
Took me about 2.5 hours with breaks, and it quickly became one of my favorite weekday routes. There are fewer trees here than Sawyer Camp, so bring a hat—but the views are more open, and the light over the lake in the late afternoon is worth every step.
These trails aren’t epic, and they’re not bucket-list hikes. But that’s exactly why I loved them. They feel personal, approachable, and beautifully local. If you’ve been overlooking the Peninsula in your California hiking plans, maybe it’s time to explore closer to home—with a camera, some water, and a waterproof backpack for hiking to carry the rest.
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