Great San Francisco day trips to Mount Diablo, Mount Tamalpais and Mt. Whitney

The San Francisco Bay Area has a lot to offer for fun and recreation. But the one thing it lacks is some really tall mountains that you can hike or climb.

If you have the itch to get your camping gear in order and scale something terribly tall, have no fear because you have a few options in terms of mountain trips that can be done as day trip mini-vacations from the Bay Area.

Of course you should always prepare for these types of day trips, more so than day trips to amusement parks or lakes or rivers. Hiking a mountain is a daunting task and, if possible, you should plan your tip with experienced hikers who know what they are doing and what to bring.

First, Mount Diablo is a mountain located close by in Contra Costa County. You should be able to get there in at most one hour from all over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area. Mount Diablo is a California state park and you can get more information at this website. This page has directions and a general map of the mountain.

Next, Mount Tamalpais is one of the most pleasant hiking experiences in all the world. The weather is nearly perfect almost all of the time, with spectacular views that you would not believe. Check out this website for information. Here is the page for directions on getting to Mount Tamalpais over in Mill Valley, California. People who love in California really, really love doing day trip hikes to Mount Tamalpais, or Mount Tam as the locals refer to it.

Third, how about a challenge like hiking the tallest peak in the United States, specifically the lower 48 states? Well, you can get to Mt. Whitney from the Bay Area for sure.

Now this sort of day trip to Mt. Whitney may need a couple days so you will have to take your time getting prepared for a trip to Mt. Whitney which is located to the east of Fresno. Check out the National Park Service website for Mt. Whitney at this page.

Have lots of fun planning your day trip from San Francisco to one of these great mountains. Always be prepared, of course, and bring all your supplies and travel necessities.