This is the Web’s largest collection of professional-grade maps for hiking throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. While local and regional parks offer free maps at the trail head, hiking most of the region’s state and national parks require you to buy a map. Fortunately there are reams of top-quality maps that aren’t too expensive — usually no more than $10, which is money well spent if you want to camp at your campground rather than spend a night in the woods because you’re hopelessly lost.

The links below connect to one of three locations:

  • Amazon.com — I get a few nickels or dimes if you buy one.
  • VirtualParks.org — The handiest maps here can be downloaded for $1 and printed out on standard paper. The rest are big PDF files in 18×24 format that are exact copies of the maps you can buy at the parks’ headquarters (These are all tagged VP in parenthesis); you’re much better off buying these at the park but you can download them for free scout trails before you go.
  • California State Parks’ online store. Buying online is often advisable if you plan to visit a park during the week, when there’s nobody staffing the parks’ headquarters. This also supports the state parks.
Navigate by region:
| North Bay
| Peninsula
| South Bay
| East Bay
| Pacific Coast

National parks:
| Point Reyes National Seashore
| Pinnacles National Monument

State parks:
| Angel Island
| Año Nuevo
| Big Basin
| Butano
| Castle Rock
| Forest of Nisene Marks
| Henry W. Coe
| Henry Cowell
| Fall Creek Unit
| McNee Ranch
| Mount Diablo
| Mount Tamalpais
| Portola Redwoods
| Wilder Ranch |

San Mateo County parks:

| Huddart
| Sam MacDonald
| Pescadero
| Wunderlich

| Related: Why you want a map crafted by a professional rather than one cobbled together by an amateur.

North Bay
San Rafael – Central Marin Trail Map — This includes China Camp State Park and the El Corte Madera Ecological Preserve, a nice, quiet little spot on the Bay near San Rafael. Big Rock Ridge-Indian Valley Trail Map — Includes the Indian Valley, Loma Verde and Pacheco Valley preserves. Just north of the map in the first column.
Novato-North Marin Trail Map— Includes Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve and Petaluma Marsh Wildlife Area, among others. Might be some nice Wine Country detours here. Southern Marin Trail Map: Mill Valley, Fort Baker, Ring Mountain, Marin Headlands, Horse Hill Preserve, Angel Island, Rodeo Valley, Oakwood Valley — All important Marin Headlands trails here. The Headlands are one of my favorite places on the planet.
Pine Mountain Trail Map: Loma Alta, Gary Giacomini, Roy’s Redwoods, French Ranch, White Hill, Cascade Canyon, Marin Municipal Water District, A — Marin Water District is home to the excellent Cataract Creek Trail. This whole area is quite remote, probably one of the best hiking locales in Marin (except for all the other crazy-great ones). The Dipsea & Mountain Play Trail Map: Mill Valley to Stinson Beach, Pipeline Trail, Dipsea Steps, Nora Trail, Old Mill Park, Mountain Home, Cardiac Hill — The coolest trails of Mount Tamalapais are on in these parts, including the must-see Steep Ravine Trail. You can also hike over to Muir Woods if you feel the need to be around a bunch of tourists.
Point Reyes National Seashore and West Marin Parklands: National Seashore and West Marin Parklands, Recreation Map — You’ve gotta get up to Point Reyes at least a couple times a year, especially in autumn when the elk bulls get the mating urge. Berkeley-based Wilderness Press publishes this guide to Point Reyes. These are always well made. Mt Tamalpais Trail Map — If you’re camping at Mount Tam you’ll want the trail map. The view from the summit is priceless.
Angel Island — Angel Island has the best views of the bay because it’s right in the middle of it. Boat ride out to the island is a bit pricey (especially when you have to pay to park in Tiburon, too) but it’s worth it to check out.