Field Notes

Newsy bits, fun facts and useful travel info to share at your next gathering. By

Kasia Pawlowska

In summer and fall, the Bay Area is typically blanketed by a thick marine layer. Fortunately, there are a number of regional peaks and ridges that rise above these seasonal, sun-blocking clouds, inviting hikers to enjoy sensational higher-elevation views on foggy or fog-free days. Here are some of the best above-the-clouds hikes.

By Ben Davidson

Mountain Home Inn to Mount Tam East Peak

MILL VALLEY • Level: Strenuous — 3.9 miles

The Verna Dunshee Trail circumnavigates Mt. Tam’s East Peak (elevation 2,571 feet). It’s named for a founding member of the Marin Conservation League and is one of shortest but sweetest paths on the mountain. Sunrise Point is the highlight, with panoramic views of S.F., the Marin Headlands, and the Bay. On a clear day, you can see all the way to the Sierra Nevada range, more than 150 miles away.