5 Danville Hiking Trails To Kickstart Your 2025 Resolutions

DANVILLE, CA — With the holidays behind us, there’s no better way to kick off 2025 than by hitting the dusty trails to fulfill New Year’s resolutions of staying active and connecting with nature.

Recent studies have highlighted the numerous health benefits associated with lacing up your hiking boots for an adventure.

Hiking regularly can enhance cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles and bones and improve balance. A 2023 study published in BMC Public Health found that participants in a winter hiking intervention increased their physical activity levels, which led to better sleep and less stress.

But it isn't all about physical health. Spending time in nature — especially while hiking — has also been linked to better mental health. According to 2024 research from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, exposure to green spaces can boost mood, reduce anxiety and lower the risk of depression.

Heather Eliassen, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at Harvard, says even those who live in cities and work indoors can and should try to reap the health benefits of nature.

“If there are some green spaces a short or medium distance from home, try walking or biking to the green space to get the benefits of exercise while getting [there],” she said. “Or, find green space you could incorporate into your commute to or from school or work.”

AllTrails, a website and app that was "founded on the idea that we’re all made better by spending time in nature," makes it easy to find nature areas and hiking trails of varying levels near you.
While searching, the website allows users to set the distance, difficulty level, length, suitability and more.

In Danville and around Contra Costa County, the website lists dozens of scenic trails — from steep mountainous terrain that can take hours to ascend to quick and "easy" trails along babbling brooks and wildflowers.

Here are five trails in and around Danville to explore:

• Rock City to the Summit of Mount Diablo - Hikers up for a challenge will find plenty to like about this 7.8-mile trek to the summit of Mount Diablo. The out-and-back trip takes an average of 4 hours and 39 minutes, but the effort is worth it for the view from the top, where hikers can spot the Golden Gate Bridge, Farallon Islands, and the James Lick Observatory. Directions and more information here.
• Chamise Trail and Bollinger Creek Loop Trail - This 2.8-mile loop in the Las Trampas Regional Wilderness is considered moderately challenging and takes just over 90 minutes to complete. Two major faults create interesting geological features, and the El Sobrante formation features several fossil-bearing rock layers. Directions and more information here.
• Corduroy Hills - For the more adventurous sort, this 5.9-mile loop joins the Chamise, Las Trampas Ridge, Madrone, Virgil Williams, Del Amigo, Sulphur Springs, Trapline and Mahogany trails. The average trip takes 3 hours and 45 minutes, leading hikers through forest and chaparral and providing stunning views of Mount Diablo. Directions and more information here.
• Sand Hill and Short Ridge Trail Loop - This "moderately challenging" 4.1-mile loop takes hikers on a tour of the rolling valleys and hills of the Sycamore Valley Open Space Regional Preserve. The kid-friendly trip takes a little over two hours to complete. Directions and more information here.
• Mount Diablo Summit via South Gate - A 20.4-mile behemoth, this route to the top of Mount Diablo is open year-round to cyclists and cars. Much of the trail is exposed to the elements and can make for a more difficult trek in the hotter months. Clear days offer sweeping views of the Bay Area. Details and more information here.

Search for more hiking trails near you.