Pair a hike to one of Sonoma's highest summits with an après tasting at its smallest winery, and you've got a vintage Wine Country day trip. At 2,729 feet, Bald Mountain's summit is a few hundred feet higher than Mount Tam's, offering views well worth the 7-mile (round-trip) hike. On clear days, the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada glint on the horizon and Mount Saint Helena looks close enough to touch; below, the lush green valleys and vineyard-latticed hills of Napa and Sonoma roll away. Descend via the same route, or make a partial loop by dropping down Gray Pine Trail to a mostly canopied section that crosses a creek, dips through forests, and pops out onto an open ridge with broad views. On the drive back, toast your successful ascent with a stop at Kaz, the smallest—and quite possibly the friendliest—winery in Sonoma. (The winery closes at 5:00 p.m., so be sure to time your hike accordingly.) Richard "Kaz" Kasmier is the big guy at this family-run winery, which makes only 60 barrels of delicious organic wine a year. Buy one of their uniquely labeled bottles and Kaz will happily sign it for you.

Kaz Vineyard & Winery, 233 Adobe Canyon Rd., Kenwood; 877-833-2536. Open Friday to Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tastings are $5.

For more spring activities in the Bay Area, check out Weekend Sherpa.

The glacier that carved Yosemite Valley must have had cruiser bikes in mind. Bring your own two-wheeler or rent a cruiser by the hour from Yosemite Lodge at the Falls or Curry Village, then hop on the 10-mile, car-free, paved trail that loops around the valley. From all compass points the views are high (Half Dome), mighty (El Capitan), and spectacular (waterfalls galore). With all this natural grandeur, staying focused on the trail can be tough! A side trip to Mirror Lake is prime in spring: this wide section of Tenaya Creek, literally in the shadow of Half Dome, fills only during the spring run-off and offers a crystal-clear mirror effect—especially in the morning. Back on the valley floor, keep wheeling to Lower Yosemite Falls, where there's an easy walk to the viewpoint.

TIP: Due to road construction, part of the valley's Northside Dr. is closed, so El Capitan Meadow is more quiet and serene than it's been in recent memory. With no cars and few tourists, this meadow makes a perfect picnic spot. Bring a blanket and binoculars—often you can spot rock climbers on El Capitan, the world's largest granite monolith.

For a map to the 10-mile Valley Loop Trail, click here. To get to El Capitan Meadow by bike, pedal a couple of miles on Northside Dr., even though it's closed to cars. Once you reach the "No Bikes" sign, dismount and walk .75 mile west to El Capitan Meadow. By car, park on Southside Dr. at a turnout in the road about 1 mile east of Bridalveil Falls. Walk north .25 mile on the closed road (heading toward Northside Dr.) to El Capitan Meadow.

For more ideas on a trip to Yosemite, check out Weekend Sherpa.

John Muir is one of California's most celebrated outdoor enthusiasts and environmental activists, and his 170th birthday (April 21) falls appropriately in line with Earth Day (April 22). Celebrate by heading out to his namesake park in Marin. Muir Woods is home to some of the most beautiful old-growth coastal redwood groves in the state, and a popular destination for locals and tourists. But take its path less traveled and enjoy the area's natural treasures without the crowds. Bootjack Trail is a backdoor route that starts from the Pantoll parking lot and lets hikers warm up with ease. The trail parallels Redwood Creek, crossing it from left to right, over bridges and along natural rock steps—mostly under the redwood canopy. (Van Wyck Meadow is one of the few open sunny spots along the trail.) Everything radiates green, and the moss and glistening ferns give the feeling of being in a rainforest. Some of the towering, muscular trees have natural trunk openings wide enough to walk through. The second half of the hike, after Bridge 4 in Muir Woods and along the Ben Johnson Trail, requires some uphill leg power, but the oak growths and warming sunbeams are natural inspirations. Backdoor access is for nature-loving VIPs only!
 
This is a four-mile hike. Park at the Pantoll parking lot (not the Muir Woods parking lot) in Mount Tamalpais State Park, off of Panoramic Highway. Start on the Alpine Trail behind the bus stop at the driveway entrance to the parking lot. Go about a half-mile to the Bootjack Trail, turn right and descend 1.5 miles into Muir Woods. Turn right, go across Bridge 4 and hike up the Ben Johnson Trail for about a mile. Continue one-third of a mile on the Stapelveldt Trail up to the Pantoll parking lot. No dogs allowed.
 
For more Bay Area John Muir adventures, check out Weekend Sherpa.



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Deep in beautiful Big Basin Redwoods State Park is a series of waterfalls that even Indiana Jones would be keen to find. Discover them by taking the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail, a solid 11-mile loop (round-trip) that leads through towering redwoods, across multiple wooden bridges, and past fern canyons to the marquee highlight: three raging waterfalls, all within a mile of each other. First up is the photogenic park favorite, Berry Creek Falls; its 70-foot drop is spectacular after the recent rains. Take a breather on a wooden platform bench, then continue along the creek-side trail to Silver Falls. You can get up close to this one, feeling the mist while climbing the wet and muddy rock stairs that hug its slope. Last up is Golden Cascade Falls (pictured), a multi-tiered rushing watercourse that gets its deep orange hue from the rock minerals. Grab a seat on the trunk of a giant fallen tree and savor your waterfall hat trick.

To complete the 11-mile loop: From the Visitors Center, start on the Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail. After about 4 miles, turn right on Berry Creek Falls Trail. Follow this past all three waterfalls, then turn right on Sunset Trail, which takes you back to the Visitors Center. Allow at least six hours to complete this loop.

For more Bay Area waterfalls, see this issue of WeekendSherpa.