Ask ten Bay Area hikers for their favorite trail and you'll get ten different answers. That's part of what makes this region so good for hiking. You've got coastal bluffs a short drive from redwood canyons, and East Bay summits not far past either one, all packed into a surprisingly compact stretch of geography. We put together this guide because, from our home base in San Jose, we spend nearly as much time on these trails as we do behind the wheel getting to them. If you're gearing up for a season of exploring, you can browse new Lexus inventory built for trailhead runs, dirt roads, and everything in between. Why the Bay Area Is a Hiker's Paradise Few regions pack this much ecological range into a two-hour radius. You can walk under 250-foot redwoods in the morning and stand on a wind-scoured coastal bluff by lunch. Mild temperatures year-round mean hiking around Bay Area trails rarely goes fully out of season, though summer fog on the coast and dry heat inland change what "comfortable" looks like depending on where you go. Whether you want easy hikes in San Francisco or a demanding summit push in the East Bay, the options below cover every fitness level. Easy and Family-Friendly Trails Lands End Trail, San Francisco This 3.26-mile out-and-back along the northwestern San Francisco coastline takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and delivers views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and open Pacific. Along the way, you'll pass the Sutro Baths ruins and staircases leading to Eagle's Point Overlook. It's wheelchair-accessible from the Merrie Way parking lot, and leashed dogs are welcome. Read more in this Lands End trail guide. Glen Canyon Park, San Francisco Tucked off Elk Street and O'Shaughnessy Boulevard, the 66.6-acre Glen Canyon Park park holds a 3.7-mile trail network built around the free-flowing Islais Creek and dramatic chert rock formations. Spring brings wildflowers, and the 1.2-mile Creek to Peaks trail climbs toward Twin Peaks with rewarding city and bay views. Sunol Regional Wilderness, East Bay Established in 1962, this 6,850-acre East Bay Regional Park District property sits near Sunol, south of Pleasanton and east of Fremont. Grazing cattle share the trails here, so follow posted District safety guidance around livestock. Stop by the Old Green Barn Visitor Center, then head toward Little Yosemite, a small gorge along Alameda Creek. Elevations climb from roughly 400 to over 2,200 feet, and there's no water on the trails, so pack your own. Full details in this Sunol Regional Wilderness hike guide. Riverfront, Waterfall, and Redwood Trails Uvas Canyon Waterfall Loop, South Bay This 1,147-acre park in the eastern Santa Cruz Mountains has 7.2 miles of trails total. The 1-mile Waterfall Loop follows Swanson Creek, while the fuller loop combining the Waterfall Loop, Contour Trail, and Alec Canyon Trail visits multiple waterfalls across 3.5 miles. Day-use reservations are required daily, so plan ahead. More on the Uvas Canyon Waterfall Loop. Cataract Falls, Mount Tamalpais On Mt. Tam's northern slope, the Cataract Trail follows Cataract Creek from its origin on the mountain down to Alpine Lake, passing through ferns and stands of coast redwood and Douglas fir, with tanoak and bay laurel filling in the understory. The trail runs roughly 3 miles between Alpine Lake and Rock Spring parking. Flow is strongest after winter storms and noticeably lower by late summer, so check with Marin Water for current conditions before you go. Details in this Cataract Falls trail write-up. Muir Woods National Monument, Marin Muir Woods offers 6 miles of trails with loop options running roughly 30 minutes to 90 minutes. The Main Trail follows Redwood Creek across boardwalk, asphalt, and packed soil; the shortest loop, a flat 0.5 miles, ends at Bridge 2, while a longer 2-mile version reaches Bridge 4. The tallest redwood here reaches 258 feet within 550-plus acres of old growth. Pets, bikes, and camping aren't permitted, and parking requires a reservation through GoMuirWoods.com. Learn more from the National Park Service on Muir Woods. Scenic Coastal and Ridge Hikes Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin Home to over 1,500 plant and animal species across roughly 150 miles of trails, Point Reyes is worth the drive north. Pick up maps at the Bear Valley Visitor Center. Alamere Falls, a tidefall dropping into the Pacific, is a highlight, but stick to official trails toward Wildcat Campground before descending to the beach, and check the NPS advisories page for current status. More at this Point Reyes hiking resource. Marin Headlands: Hawk Hill and Slacker Hill Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this area also includes Rodeo Lagoon, Gerbode and Tennessee Valley, and Point Bonita Lighthouse. A 2017 trail realignment opened up Hawk Hill's 360-degree views to more visitors, and it's prime territory for fall raptor migration viewing on fog-free days between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., September and October. It's also mission blue butterfly habitat, so stay on trail. Slacker Hill pairs naturally via the Coastal Trail. See this Marin Headlands lookout guide. Devil's Slide Coastal Trail, Pacifica This 1.3-mile paved trail follows a former stretch of Highway 1, with separated lanes for hikers and cyclists, plus benches, observation scopes, and restrooms along the way. It's part of the California Coastal Trail, a route that will eventually run 1,200 miles between Oregon and Mexico. On clear days, views stretch to Pedro Point Headlands, Mt. Tam, and Point Reyes. Full write-up at this Devil's Slide Trail guide. Adventurous Day Hikes and Summit Climbs Mission Peak Regional Preserve, Fremont Mission Peak connects to the 28-mile Ohlone Regional Wilderness Trail, linking Mission Peak, Sunol, Ohlone Wilderness, and Del Valle. The summit approach is rugged, and the payoff is a sweeping valley and bay view. Late-July heat makes early starts and extra water non-negotiable here. More context via this Ohlone Wilderness Trail overview. Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Mount Diablo is one of the East Bay's most recognizable summits, with fire roads and single-track trails radiating from the peak and serious elevation gain for anyone tackling it from the base. Panoramic views make it worth the climb, but treat it with the same heat caution as Mission Peak during summer months. Mount Umunhum, Sierra Azul Preserve At 19,000-plus acres, Sierra Azul is Midpen's largest preserve, and Mount Umunhum's peak sits at 3,486 feet, the highest point on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. From the top, you're looking down over Lexington Reservoir, Los Gatos, and southern San Jose, close enough to home that we consider it a neighborhood hike. The Guadalupe Creek Overlook marks roughly a third of the way up, and the round trip runs 8.2 miles with 1,187 feet of elevation gain, taking about 3.5 to 4 hours. The upper 3 miles stay shaded under coast live oak and foothill pine, with California bay and Pacific madrone mixed throughout. Gates open at 7 a.m. and close at sunset. Read more in this Mount Umunhum trail resource. Worth the Drive: Santa Cruz Mountain Escapes Big Basin Redwoods and Berry Creek Falls Big Basin is California's oldest state park, known for old-growth redwoods and the multi-cascade Berry Creek Falls loop. Recovery from the 2020 CZU fire is ongoing, and the old observation platform near the falls was destroyed in that fire, so trail access and conditions change. Verify current status on the official California State Parks site before you head out. More background at this Bay Area redwood hikes overview. Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park This park mixes coast redwood and Douglas fir with bay laurel and tanbark oak across trails suited to hikers of most levels, plus seasonal fishing, camping, and birdwatching. The Fall Creek Unit, a second-growth forest with a fern-lined canyon and remnants of the old lime industry, is day-use only. Horses are restricted on named trails and drones aren't allowed. A $10 day-use parking fee applies (per California State Parks; $9 for seniors 62+). Details at this Henry Cowell Redwoods guide. Trail Tips: Seasons, Permits, and Safety Rainy season, roughly November through March, is what actually fills creeks and waterfalls, so if you're chasing waterfalls, wait until after a few good storms before heading to Uvas Canyon or Cataract Falls. Summer brings coastal fog along the Pacific side while inland areas like Mission Peak and Mount Diablo turn hot and dry, though redwood groves stay cool. Autumn tends to offer the clearest, least foggy days, and winter turns hillsides green and trails muddy while waterfalls reappear. On the safety side, learn to spot poison oak: leaves grow in groups of three, gently lobed, showing up as a bush, vine, or ground cover in green or reddish tones. Many people react to it, so long pants are a smart call on brushier trails. Watch for ticks and rattlesnakes on grassy or rocky sections, and respect fog and wind on exposed coastal trails like Lands End or Devil's Slide. At Sunol, follow East Bay Regional Park District guidance around grazing cattle. Given this is late July, treat Mission Peak and Mount Diablo with real heat caution, watch general fire risk, and expect lower water flow at Cataract Falls and Uvas Canyon than you'd see in spring. Explore the Bay Area in Comfort with Lexus Stevens Creek Gear and Driving Tips Good gear gets you to the trailhead, but the drive there matters too. Rough fire roads leading to Mount Umunhum or Mount Diablo, gravel lots at Sunol, and foggy coastal turns near Devil's Slide all benefit from a vehicle with confident all-weather capability and enough cargo room for your boots and packs, plus whatever gear you end up hauling back muddy after the hike. An AWD-capable Lexus handles that kind of range without much fuss, and if you want to look before a weekend trip, you can find an AWD-capable Lexus in our current lineup. Contact Us Whether you're chasing scenic hikes in Bay Area redwood groves or ridge-top views near Los Gatos, having reliable transportation makes the whole outing easier. We're proud to be Northern California's top-volume Lexus dealer for new and pre-owned vehicles, and we've been serving Silicon Valley from Stevens Creek Boulevard since 1989. If you have questions about which model fits your outdoor plans, or want to schedule a pre-trip service check, contact Lexus Stevens Creek and we'll help you get ready for your next trail day. Photo by Megan Lee on Unsplash
2026 Lexus LX vs. 2027 Infiniti QX80: Why the LX Comes Out on Top
Full-size luxury SUV shoppers in the Bay Area have two serious options this year, and picking between them isn't as simple as picking a badge. Line up the 2026 Lexus LX vs 2027 Infiniti QX80, and the differences go well beyond styling. Powertrain choice, standard safety tech, and ownership costs five years down the road all diverge in ways that matter. If you're weighing an LX vs Infiniti QX80 purchase, we can tell you where each vehicle stands, and why the LX pulls ahead once you dig into the specifics. If you want to see the LX in person, you can explore our new Lexus LX inventory at Lexus Stevens Creek. 2026 Lexus LX vs. 2027 Infiniti QX80: Comparing Full-Size Luxury SUVs Both of these SUVs are built for family duty, towing, and the kind of Highway 17 commute through the Santa Cruz Mountains that wears on lesser vehicles. The Infiniti QX80 vs Lexus LX comparison often gets framed as space versus refinement, but that's an oversimplification. The LX brings a body-on-frame GA-F platform, a choice between gas and hybrid power, standard 4WD on every grade, and suspension technology that comes standard from the entry trim up. The QX80 makes its case on interior room and a lower starting price. Here's how each category actually breaks down. Spec LX 600 (Lexus) LX 700h (Lexus) QX80 (Infiniti) Engine Twin-turbo 3.4L V6 Twin-turbo 3.4L V6 hybrid Twin-turbo 3.5L V6 Horsepower/Torque 409 hp / 479 lb-ft 457 hp / 583 lb-ft 450 hp / 516 lb-ft Transmission 10-speed automatic 10-speed automatic 9-speed automatic Drivetrain 4WD standard 4WD standard RWD standard, 4WD optional Towing Capacity 8,000 lbs 8,000 lbs 8,500 lbs Fuel Economy (MPG) 17/22/19 19/22/20 16/19/17 Trim Lineups and Value at a Glance Pricing is often the first filter buyers apply, and here the conversation gets interesting. The Infiniti starts lower, but the Lexus counters with a broader trim spread and features that come standard rather than bundled into pricier packages. Lexus LX Trim Levels and Value The 2026 Lexus LX comes in five grades spanning two powertrains: Premium, F SPORT Handling, Luxury, Ultra Luxury, and Overtrail, with the Overtrail offered on the LX 700h hybrid in either a two-row or three-row configuration. What matters more than the grade names is where Lexus draws the line on standard equipment. Active Height Control, Adaptive Variable Suspension, full-time 4WD and the complete Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite are on every grade, so the entry-level Premium already has the hardware that competitors reserve for their upper trims. Moving up the range adds comfort, materials and specialized capability rather than filling in gaps. Infiniti QX80 Trim Levels for Comparison The 2027 Infiniti QX80 offers four trims: Pure, Luxe, Sport, and Autograph. RWD is standard on the Pure and Luxe trims, with 4WD available as a $3,000 option on those two; the Sport and Autograph trims come with 4WD only, standard, and don't offer an RWD configuration. That's a meaningful distinction for buyers who assume every trim offers a choice between drivetrains. Craftsmanship and Interior Comfort Cabin Materials and Quiet Refinement Step inside the LX and you'll notice semi-aniline leather, five-program massaging front seats, and a driver's environment built around a 12.3-inch touchscreen paired with an LX-exclusive 7-inch lower display for terrain modes, climate and ride height, more than 19 inches of screen in total. New for 2026 is an F SPORT Appearance Package on the LX 700h F SPORT Handling grade, adding color-keyed bumper accents, black mirror covers and black rear spoiler winglets. Lexus pairs the cabin with an available Mark Levinson audio system, which matters on longer stretches like the drive to Yosemite where road noise wears on passengers. The QX80 brings its own premium touches, including dual 14.3-inch displays with Google built-in and a Klipsch audio system. Both cabins feel upscale, but the LX's material quality and acoustic engineering lean toward a quieter, more isolated ride. Seating Comfort and Third-Row Livability The LX offers real flexibility here. Most grades seat up to seven, the LX 700h Overtrail can be configured as a two-row or three-row, and the Ultra Luxury swaps the third row entirely for a four-seat executive layout with massaging second-row captain's chairs. Fold the rows down in an LX 600 and you have up to 64 cubic feet to work with. The QX80's third row is the roomier of the two for adult passengers, so families who regularly carry seven grown-ups should sit in both. For everyone else, the LX's range of layouts covers more use cases from one lineup. Before we get into performance, if you're already leaning toward the LX's blend of craftsmanship and capability, contact our team and we can walk you through current inventory and trim availability. Performance That Balances Power and Poise Twin-Turbo Powertrain and Drivability One thing worth clearing up first: the QX80 uses a twin-turbocharged 3.5L V6 producing 450 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic. It's not a V8, despite what some outdated coverage suggests. The LX 600 runs its own twin-turbo 3.4L V6, generating 409 horsepower and 479 lb-ft, paired with a 10-speed automatic. Lexus pulls ahead on choice, though, offering the LX 700h, a hybrid variant using the same twin-turbo V6 boosted to 457 horsepower and 583 lb-ft. That gives buyers a second powertrain option the QX80 simply doesn't offer. On-Road Composure and Off-Road Confidence Every 2026 LX grade comes standard with Active Height Control and Adaptive Variable Suspension, technology that adjusts ride height and damping in real time. On the QX80, the Electronic Air Suspension and Dynamic Digital Suspension systems arrive at the Luxe grade, so the entry-level Pure goes without. Buy the least expensive LX and you still get the full suspension setup. For Bay Area drivers dealing with the twists of Highway 17 or the elevation changes heading toward Tahoe, that consistency shows up in body control and ride comfort no matter which trim you pick. The LX Overtrail trim adds front and rear locking differentials, 33-inch all-terrain tires, a 2,400W AC inverter, and a front skid plate for genuine off-road use. Infiniti hasn't built out a comparable trail-focused trim for the QX80; the lineup leans more toward comfortable on-road cruising than trail capability. Advanced Technology and Driver-Assistance Features Every 2026 LX grade includes Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 as standard equipment: Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, full-speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Road Sign Assist and Proactive Driving Assist. Blind Spot Monitoring and a Panoramic View Monitor are standard as well, and Traffic Jam Assist is available with an active Drive Connect subscription. That's the full suite from the entry grade up. Infiniti equips every QX80 with ProPILOT Assist, but the hands-free ProPILOT Assist 2.1 system is standard only on the top Autograph grade and runs $3,300 as an option on Luxe. Pure and Sport buyers don't get the hands-free version at all. Both vehicles offer modern infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so day-to-day connectivity is close. Where the LX pulls ahead is what arrives without a package sheet: suspension, 4WD and the full driver-assistance suite on every grade. Lexus Reliability, Warranty, and Ownership Confidence Reliability data favors Lexus consistently, and this year is no exception. In the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, Lexus ranked highest overall and among premium brands for the fourth consecutive year, with a score of 151 problems per 100 vehicles against an industry average of 204. Lexus and Toyota took the most model-level awards in the study, with the GX among the winners. That kind of track record matters for a vehicle you plan to keep for years. Coverage backs it up. The LX carries 48 months or 50,000 miles of basic coverage and 72 months or 70,000 miles on the powertrain, and LX 700h buyers get an additional 8 years or 100,000 miles on hybrid components, coverage the QX80 has no equivalent for since Infiniti doesn't offer a hybrid in this segment. New Lexus vehicles also include complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first two service visits, at 6 months or 5,000 miles and 12 months or 10,000 miles. If you're considering a certified pre-owned route, L/Certified by Lexus vehicles add factory-backed coverage beyond the original warranty, and our factory-trained technicians at Lexus Stevens Creek know both the LX's turbo and hybrid systems well, whether you need routine maintenance or something more involved. Resale Value and Long-Term Cost of Ownership Kelley Blue Book named Lexus its 2026 Best Resale Value: Luxury Brand for the fifth consecutive year, with an overall resale value average of 47%, the strongest in the luxury segment. Depreciation is usually the single largest cost of owning a vehicle in this class, so a brand that holds value narrows the gap on a higher sticker price over a five-year hold. That's a real factor for anyone financing or planning to trade in down the line. Why the 2026 Lexus LX Is the Smarter Luxury SUV Choice Add it all up and the LX comes out ahead on the fundamentals that matter most. You get two powertrain choices instead of one, including a hybrid the QX80 has no answer for. You get Active Height Control, Adaptive Variable Suspension, full-time 4WD and the complete Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite standard on every grade rather than bundled into higher trims. And you get the dependability and resale record that has put Lexus at the top of the J.D. Power and Kelley Blue Book rankings year after year. Buyers prioritizing maximum third-row room will want to drive the QX80 too. But for Silicon Valley drivers who want a vehicle that holds its value and handles Northern California's varied terrain with confidence, the LX vs Infiniti QX80 decision tends to favor Lexus. Experience the 2026 Lexus LX at Lexus Stevens Creek We're the #1 Lexus dealer by volume in Northern California for new sales as of 2025, with the largest new and pre-owned Lexus selection in the region. Our service center in Santa Clara, backed by mobile service options, keeps LX owners covered whether it's routine maintenance or something more specialized. If you're ready to see the LX 600 or LX 700h up close, explore our new Lexus LX inventory or contact our team to schedule a test drive today.