A native to the Bay Area, Linda Hamilton was elated to rediscover the incredible beauty of her home region, beyond the crowded highways. Her first (of so many) solo hiking adventure occurred at age four, when she happily wandered off alone to explore nature, scaring the daylights out of her family. After nine years of teaching high school English, drama, and college composition, and with an MA in English under her belt, she set out to achieve the daunting goal of writing for a living. Her work has appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, American Heritage of Invention and Technology Magazine, MyFamily Travel newsletters, Americaslibrary.gov, and many online business sites. When not on foot or hugging her laptop, Linda is singing, drawing, traveling, kayaking or laughing with her husband Doug in their Oakland home.

Covering forty of the best hikes within an hour's drive of San Francisco, this revised and updated guide offers something for every hiker--from easy nature walks to strenuous day hikes. Each featured hike includes a route description; at-a-glance data such as distance and difficulty level; thorough directions to the trailhead; directional cues; and a detailed, accurate trail map. Inside you'll find full-color photos and maps; information on approximate hiking times, canine compatibility, and fees and permits required; and sidebars on local lore, points of interest, and area wildlife.