In 2022, we marked the calendar with a year of epic Northern California hikes. Month to month, we worked our way through our bucket list, frolicking through wildflowers at Sunol Regional Park in April, edging around hot springs at Lassen Volcanic National Park in June, and swimming under waterfalls .
Drought, flourishing toxic algae blooms and scorching heat wave in the San Francisco Bay and Lake Merritt in Oakland, the search for the perfect place to swim through the coming Labor Day weekend may be complicated over the coming days.
Our beloved bay isn't known as a swimmer's destination. But if you know where to look, you can find all kinds of sheltered coves, sandy beaches and picturesque parks right on the water and perfect for dipping a toe.
An insider's guide to the Bay Area's best parks, recreation and wilderness areas, from San Francisco Chronicle outdoors columnist Tom Stienstra. He’s hiked, camped, boated, fished and cycled across the region to bring you this insider's guide to popular and little-known spots.