If that’s you, then outdoor-loving heat-hater: You’re in the right place. While others hit the beach, we’ve got recommendations galore for shade-seeking hikers — from cool trails with crisp ocean breezes to dark redwood forests and everything in between.
For guaranteed shade, go to the Santa Cruz Mountains
The best way to escape the heat is to head into the forest — specifically, the dense, shady forests of regions like the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Carla Schoof, spokesperson for the San Mateo County Parks Department, said the redwood and oak forests in places like Huddart Park, Memorial Park and Sam McDonald Park create a dense, cool oasis for hikers, not to mention being near water.
“Sometimes, it just makes you feel cooler if you’re next to a creek or some running water,” she said.
In Loma Mar, Schoof recommended you head to Memorial Park’s Mt. Ellen, — either for the short one-mile easy nature trail, which is perfect for kids, or all the way up to the summit for a bigger challenge.
Also in Memorial Park is Loma Mar Redwoods: a more wild experience, where many trails aren’t as clearly marked or maintained. This remote feeling makes it feel like “a magical place,” Schoof said. “You could almost be in Jurassic Park.”
In Sam McDonald Park, just adjacent and closer to La Honda, the Heritage Grove Trail has old-growth redwoods, where “you’re guaranteed the shade,” Schoof said. And the 2.5-mile trailhead is right there in the parking lot, so it’s easy to find and easy to bail out if temperatures get too high or you run out of steam, she said.
“There’s never any shame in realizing that you only have so much gas left in the tank and you need to turn around,” she said.
For a slightly higher-temperature choice, Schoof also recommended Huddart Park in Woodside, which may be easier to access from the Peninsula and has its own immersive trails, so much so that the county parks department has a forest bathing tour of the park you can access via its app.
The Chickadee Nature Trail is stroller-friendly and great for kids, and with many interconnecting trails, you can make loop hikes as long as you’d like, Schoof said.
Stay close to the coast for cooler temperatures
The other surefire way to stay cool while hiking this weekend is to head to the coast. Schoof called out Quarry Park in El Granada, where the dense eucalyptus trees shelter hikers away from the sun — but breaks in the tree coverage still provide stunning ocean views.
Want something less strenuous? The trek down to the park’s namesake quarry is a relatively flat and shaded adventure, and don’t forget to check out the labyrinth.
Gabe McKenna, public safety superintendent for state parks’ Santa Cruz District, recommended Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve as well as a number of beaches and hikes around Santa Cruz, like Wilder Ranch’s Old Cove Landing and the Forest of Nisene Marks’ Aptos Ranch Trail, where the lower elevations and proximity to coastlines will keep hikers cool.
But McKenna cautioned that there’s only so much you can truly escape the heat here. “It’s still going to be quite hot,” he stressed.
An obvious, classic-for-a-reason coastal hike up north is the Dipsea Trail. Pop into Muir Woods or skip it entirely to avoid crowds, then journey through the redwood and oak canopy all the way to Stinson Beach. On a hot day like this weekend, that final reveal when the dense tree cover opens into sweeping ocean views is sure to be dramatic.
