Tilden and Redwood Regional cover the foggy, forested north and the Oakland hills. Briones and Las Trampas are the open central ridges. Mount Diablo is the summit. Black Diamond, Round Valley, and Del Valle are the eastern answer. Point Pinole and the bay trails are the flat, windy alternative.
Pick by season. Redwoods in a hot afternoon. Diablo on a clear, cool morning. The Delta hills when you want to be away from the bridge entirely.
Towns
Berkeley & the north hills
Berkeley
Campus, canyons, and a food culture that predates the trend.
OpenInner East Bay
Oakland
The bridge lands here, and so does dinner.
OpenCentral Contra Costa
Clayton
A small town at the foot of Mount Diablo.
OpenSan Ramon Valley
Danville
A downtown main street with the mountain behind it.
OpenLamorinda
Orinda
A village downtown at the mouth of the Caldecott.
OpenLamorinda
Lafayette
A downtown you can actually finish walking, plus a reservoir.
Open