Easy places to go to see the rare Bay Area snow

For the first time in years, snow is coming back to the hills of the Bay Area. And while the snowfall won’t be legendary, it’ll be enough to scrape together a snowman and maybe even a few snowballs before it melts away.

With flakes already falling well below 1,000 feet in parts of the Bay Area, here are the nearby hills to head for if you want to dip a toe—or even a boot—in the snow.

911-928 feet

Even the city’s highest hills are poised for a dusting this week! Twin Peaks (opens in new tab) is an easy drive or park and walk up to Mount Sutro’s tower (opens in new tab) or Mount Davidson cross (opens in new tab).

1,319 feet

Aim for the Radio Mountain Summit Loop (opens in new tab) to see snow on the hill separating South SF from the city itself.

900-1,000 feet

Cross the Golden Gate and aim for the Golden Gate View Point (opens in new tab), Hawk Hill (opens in new tab) or a hike up Slacker Hill (opens in new tab) if snow is visible on in the Marin Headlands.

2,572 feet

Head to Mill Valley and into Mount Tam State Park (opens in new tab) to find countless trails (opens in new tab) and roads lined with snow. The area around the open-air Cushing Memorial Amphitheater (opens in new tab) often gets dusted and has views of the city—or just drive up to the top at East Peak (opens in new tab).

1,758 feet

Drive along Grizzly Peak Boulevard, above the city of Berkeley and the UC campus, toward Grizzly Peak (opens in new tab) and the Grizzly Peak Trail (opens in new tab) for a chance at snowy patches and great views of San Francisco across the bay.

2,517 feet

The Ohlone College parking lot is an easy place to access trails (opens in new tab) to snowy spots on  Mission Peak (opens in new tab) near Fremont.

4,265 feet

Drive way up above San Jose to the Lick Observatory (opens in new tab) atop Mt. Hamilton (opens in new tab) for lots of white stuff and lots of views. 

3,848 feet

Head for the East Bay’s biggest peak at Mount Diablo State Park (opens in new tab) from Danville or Walnut Creek. Lots of parking and great views at the Summit Visitors Center (opens in new tab).

3,486 feet 

Among the tallest peaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Mount Umunhum (opens in new tab) area has already received some snowfall and visitors can drive or hike (opens in new tab) to the top.

2,100 feet

Located above Glen Ellen (opens in new tab), Jack London Park, on the east slope of Sonoma Mountain, provides access to 29 trails (opens in new tab) for exploring a surely snowy hill in the North Bay.