01
Best overall pick
Bull Valley Trail, Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline
Above Port Costa • Rolling Ranch Road With Bay Views • Classic Port Costa Hillside Hike
A broad ranch road climbs straight out of Port Costa into open hills with big Carquinez Strait views and a satisfyingly remote feel.
This is the go-to hike when you want to leave Main Street behind in just a few minutes of walking. The trail quickly gains enough elevation to give you sweeping looks back over town, the bridges, and passing ships below. Expect sun, grazing cattle, and a few steeper pulls that make it feel like a real outing without committing to an all-day trek.
02
Best easy scenic stroll
George Miller Regional Trail
Port Costa Waterfront • Paved Shoreline Path • Easiest Scenic Walk
A car-free paved path contours along the bluffs above the strait, offering constant water views with very gentle grades.
Start from the Port Costa staging area and you’re on the kind of route that works for almost everyone, from casual walkers to visiting family. The grades are mild and the pavement makes it accessible, but you still get cliffs, ships sliding by, and long looks toward Benicia and the Delta. Go at golden hour and it feels more like a scenic overlook that just keeps unspooling with every step.
03
Best for wide-open vistas
Crockett Hills Regional Park
Hills South Of Town • Open Ridgeline Trail Network • Windy Ridge Workout
A maze of singletrack and ranch roads runs high above the refineries and towns, with long, exposed ridges that make the wind and views part of the experience.
Crockett Hills feels wilder than its freeway-side location suggests, especially once you’ve climbed onto the spine trails. Mix and match loops to suit your energy, from short evening spins to longer ridge circuits that keep you out in the grasslands for hours. On clear days you can trace the line of the Carquinez Strait and watch weather rolling over the North Bay while hawks work the thermals above you.
04
Best half-day adventure
Briones Regional Park Loop
Briones Hills East Of Town • Classic East Bay Oak Woodlands • Rolling Country Ramble
A longer loop through Briones links shady oak draws with open meadows and big-sky ridges for a true East Bay countryside feel.
About a short drive from Port Costa, Briones is where you go when you want to stretch things into a proper half day on the trail. The park’s network lets you stitch together loops that climb steadily, then reward you with long traverses and quiet pockets of woodland where you might not see another party for a while. In spring the hills turn intensely green and the wildflowers can make even familiar routes feel special again.
05
Best quick leg-stretcher
Mount Wanda, John Muir National Historic Site
Martinez, Across The Strait • Short Wooded Climb • History-Flavored Hike
A short but steady climb from the trailhead leads through mixed woodland to a rounded summit with views back toward the strait and surrounding hills.
Mount Wanda is close enough for a spontaneous outing when you only have an hour or two to spare. The trails are straightforward but give you just enough elevation gain to feel like you’ve earned the views at the top, where you can pick out Port Costa’s hills across the water. It’s also a nice choice if you like pairing your hikes with a bit of local history, thanks to its ties to John Muir.