Three Hiking Destinations You Must Visit in and near San Francisco

A San Francisco-based entrepreneur, Vikram "Vik" Uppal co-founded Aid India, which partners with other organizations to provide financial assistance for the country's most vulnerable families. When he isn't busy with Aid India, Vikram Uppal enjoys hiking in his hometown. 

Given its location along the Pacific Coast, San Francisco and its surrounding area offer an array of beautiful hiking trails. Here are three to check out when visiting the city. 

1. Pillar Point Bluff - Located half a mile from the Pillar Point Air Force Station in nearby San Mateo County, this 220-acre bluff top is designated as a Marine Protected Area and includes a portion of the California Coast Trail.

2. Marin Headlands - A 2,000-acre coastal landform located across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, the Marin Headlands is a nature lover's playground, with winding trails varying in difficulty and a variety of eye-catching sights, such as the Point Bonita Lighthouse and multiple protected pebble beaches. The premier hiking trails in the Marin Headlands are the Rodeo Lagoon Trail and Point Bonita Trail, which are 1.5 miles and a half-mile in length, respectively.

3. Land’s End - This 1.5-mile moderate-difficulty hike begins at the Land’s End Lookout and continues east along the Coastal Trail up to Eagle's Point Overlook, which provides a scenic oceanside backdrop for photos.

Morocco’s Trekking Friendly Atlas Mountains

Based in San Francisco, Vikram Uppal is an entrepreneur who also maintains a strong community focus as co-founder of the charitable organization Aid India. An avid traveler, Vik Uppal has traveled to locales around the world including Italy, Thailand, China, and Morocco. 

One of the premier outdoor destinations in Morocco is the Atlas mountains, which span 1,200 miles from Tunisia to Agadir, a port on the Atlantic coast. Trekkers typically stay within four distinct areas: Sahro, Sirwa, Toubkal, and M’goun. The latter offers a relatively large population and lush vegetation, while the first two are hotter and less traveled. Easily accessed from Marrakesh, Toubkal features North Africa’s highest peak Jbel Toubkal, which reaches 13,671 feet and is popular among climbers.

For many, one of the highlights of the Atlas mountains is the chance to encounter rare birdlife, with the region providing a critical refuge for many larger avian species. Among those to watch for are Bonelli's Eagle, Moussier's Redstart, and the Barbary Falcon. There are also ancient terraced Berber villages dotting the mountains, with many featuring compact houses, mosques, and wells within the traditional fortifications of compacted mud walls.