COMING SOON-- WORKSHOPS
What really goes in the blue bin
--and what doesn't
Deepen your outdoor experience
--Use a topo map and compass
COMING SOON-- PHOTO GALLERY
Browse photos of a coming tour
--or of the tour you just took
ARMCHAIR TOUR!
Movie: Monumental: David Brower's Fight for Wild America
--Chronicles the life and times of David Brower, the Sierra Club's legendary first Executive Director.
--An avid mountain climber, he led campaigns to protect national parks and other wildlands in the 1950s through the 1990s.
-- He inspired millions of Americans to become environmentalists!
Book: California's Wild Gardens: A Living Legacy
--From the California Native Plant Society (www.cnps.org)
--If you lived to be 100 and hiked every day throughout California, you couldn't see as many species of wildflowers and different habitats as in this beautiful book. A biodiversity feast for the eyes!
Music: Beethoven's 6th Symphony, the Pastoral
--By Ludwig von Beethoven
--Portions of this symphony, composed two centuries ago, provide the soundtrack for parts of Walt Disney's animated 1940 film, Fantasia. Whether you've seen it or not, hear the entire masterpiece that paints a peaceful rural landscape in music, as a storm moves over it.
TOUR TIP
Summer in the San Francisco Bay Area means lower temperatures at the coast and hot temperatures inland. Always carry water, and dress in layers, because the day can warm up, then cool off again before sunset. It can be 60 degrees F., windy, and cool on the Golden Gate Bridge at the same time it's 97 degrees F., hot, and no wind at Mount Diablo, just 30 miles inland!
CUSTOMIZE
Not sure which tour is right for you? Special event coming up? A topic you're especially interested in?
Let us create a tour just for you!
Learn more today.
ECO-HISTORY FACT
Back in 1875 logger William Waddell became the San Francisco Bay Area's last man to be killed by a grizzly bear. You can retrace his final steps along the waterway named after him, Waddell Creek, on our Redwoods and Waterfalls Walking (or mountain bike) Tour.
No worries about marauding grizzlies, though -- the Bay Area's last grizzly was shot at Bonny Doon Mountain, only a few miles away from Waddell Creek, in 1886. The grizzly is California's official state animal, seen on the state flag, but it's been extinct in California since the 1920s!
Waddell Creek is also a great place for an easy 2-day backpack trip in the redwoods -- only three miles each way, and no uphill. If you're interested, let us know when you'd like to go.
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California Tours More than 30 Miles from S.F., Tours Far from San Francisco at CaliforniaNatureTours.com
San Francisco Tours and Outdoor Adventures Beyond San Francisco City
Had enough of the big city? Then get outside -- and into green vineyards, redwood forests, mountain ranges and rugged coastal wilderness areas that have remained unchanged for more than a century!
Longer California Tours can be more relaxing.
Ghost Towns, Wildflowers of Almaden Quicksilver Park
Ghost town and historical Almaden Mine are quiet now
- Richest mine in California history
- Wildflowers and garden flowers
- Ghost town and museum
- Toxic legacy of mercury revealed
- 10yrs, 6m/8k, 6hrs
- $59 USD
- Almaden Park in San Jose CA
FAQ, Contact David
Waterfalls of Big Basin Redwoods
Berry Creek Falls, Big Basin © Michael Wetter
- Giant redwoods
- Three big waterfalls
- Wildflowers galore
- Mountain bike or hike
- Seasonal: Jan-May only
- 14yrs, 11m/18k, 9hrs
- $59 USD
- Waddell Creek, Big Basin Park CA
FAQ, Contact David
South Bay Backcountry at Henry Coe State Park
Henry Coe State Park's endless hills are delightful
- Wildflowers on rolling hills
- Old growth oak forest, creeks
- Refreshing swimming hole
- Great wild turkeys!
- Seasonal: March-June only
- 12yrs, 9m/14k, 6hrs
- $59 USD
- Henry Coe Park in Morgan Hill CA
FAQ, Contact David
Backpack Coast to Forest with Low Miles & No Big Hills
- Easy 2day intro to backpacking
- From the shore into the redwoods
- Follow the flowing creek, no uphill
- Includes meals but not gear
- 12yrs, 6m/10k, 2days
- $99 USD
- Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz County CA
FAQ, Contact David
Big Sur + Monterey Hiking and Car Camping
Big Sur Coast: ocean, rocks, and drama
- Big Sur Coast, Mission San Antonio
- Camping beneath redwoods
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Includes meals but not gear
- 7yrs, 30m/48k, 4days
- $369 USD
- Carpool caravan from San Francisco CA will be arranged
FAQ, Contact David
Yosemite Lake Tahoe Sacramento Ghost Towns
Yosemite National Park's Tenaya Lake
- Tahoe, Yosemite, Sacramento
- Go back in time to the Old West!
- Historic hotels, hostels, lodges
- All meals included
- 10yrs, 30m/48k, 8days
- $1995 USD
- Vanpool from San Francisco TBD
FAQ, Contact David
Sonoma Napa Wine and History
Endless timeless rolling Sonoma vineyards
- Sonoma Napa wine's birthplace
- Sonoma wineries, Sonoma Mission
- Jack London's home and vineyards
- 7yrs, 2m/3k, 8hrs
- $99 USD
- Pickup from, return to San Francisco
FAQ, Contact David
Organic Farms, Sustainable Agriculture Tour
Organic farm sustainable agriculture on California coast
- Heirloom veggies rarely seen
- Occidental Arts Eco Center
- Artisan olive oils, cheeses, chocolate
- The ultimate foodie experience!
- 14yrs, 1m/1.5k, 9hrs
- $99 USD
- Seasonal, June 1 - October 31
FAQ, Contact David
DON'T WANT A NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TOUR OUTSIDE SAN FRANCISCO, TOUR MORE THAN 30 MILES FROM SAN FRANCISCO, TRIP OUTSIDE OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA?
Below are the top six tours from all categories and dozens of tours. Or see summary list of all tours, or browse categories at left.
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Action Alert
Keep the Bay Area Beautiful, join Greenbelt Alliance!
If you live in California, join the Greenbelt Alliance. Since 1958, Greenbelt Alliance has been helping citizen groups all around the San Francisco Bay Area to limit sprawl developments and promote liveable, walkable cities. The Bay Area didn't have to be this way. It could have gone the way of Los Angeles. But thanks to the Greenbelt Alliance and its local partners, the Bay Area's hills (and some of its valleys) are still green.
The redwoods were AMAZING! . . . a truly magical experience . . . I felt transported to another world, every step
yielding amazing sights, and
David has so much knowledge
about the flora and fauna
as well as local and national history . . .
I highly recommend David's unique personalised tours . . .
You'll remember it always, I know I will!
Kim H.
Manchester, England
I was thrilled to find
California Nature Tours--
a San Francisco Bay treasure!
My tours to Muir Woods and
Point Reyes National Seashore
were relaxing, educational, and just magnificent.
I highly recommend David Schmidt and California Nature Tours.
You will come away feeling great and knowing you have seen California through the eyes of someone extraordinary.
You will love it!
Ms. G. K.
Washington, D.C.
We really loved your wildflower tour, it was
a FANTASTIC day.
Beth M., Australia
In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.
John Muir
The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.
John Muir
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