Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Northern California - Matt Heid - Страница 17

The Central Coast, Bay Area, and Coast Ranges

STRETCHING FROM Silver Peak Wilderness on the southern end of Big Sur to the northern end of Hwy. 1 in Mendocino County, this region encompasses the stretch of coastline accessible from Hwy. 1, all of the Bay Area, and the interior Coast Ranges. The overall topography is one of low mountain ranges divided by broad valleys—interrupted by the unique world of the San Francisco Bay Area. While the coastline is generally rocky and characterized by steep bluffs and headlands, beaches are also common.

Annual precipitation is high on the coast but diminishes rapidly as you go inland, creating habitat for lush redwood and mixed-evergreen forests near the Pacific, and extensive oak woodlands farther east. Going from south to north, precipitation generally increases while average temperatures decrease, leaving the southern regions hotter and drier for most of the year. Dense fog is common along the coast during the summer months, snow seldom falls anywhere in the region, and most of these hikes can be done year-round. Highlights of the region include rolling oak woodlands flushed green in spring, foaming surf on the dramatic Pacific Coast, lush redwood forests, and the endless variety of hikes and views available in the Bay Area.