The first three listed below are the usual close-by places
that I hike.
Stebbins Cold Canyon 24 miles west of Davis on Highway 128 just before
Monticello dam on Lake Berryessa.
There is a five mile loop with 1300 foot climb best down
counter-clockwise.
The trail can be too muddy immediately after rain.
And in summer hike it early in the day. http://www.yolohiker.org/trails/berryessa/coldcan/index.html https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/homestead-to-blue-ridge-loop--2
Shorter hikes just go up to the 1500 foot peak and back, or go up
the Homestead Trail.
A longer hike adds the difficult Annies Trail loop
http://tuleyome.org/trails/anniestrail/
There are two places to park. The largest is on the right just after
the bridge.
Lagoon Valley Park 22 miles southwest of Davis on Interstate 80.
There are many trails in a compact area. Over time try different
trails. Also mountain biking. http://brt-insights.blogspot.com/2011/12/lagoon-valley-park-hiking-trail-solano.html
The service road to Tower 4 at the southern end is a 45 minute hike
with 750 feet of climbing. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/pena-adobe-hill Some photos
I have taken there.
North Fork American River to Cool 50 miles east and north of Davis on Interstate 80 to Auburn and
then 3 miles on Highway 49 to "The Confluence". A map showing the trails is available from the Auburn State
Recreation Area Park office off Highway 49 half way between Auburn
and the Confluence.
There are many trails. The 2 and 3/4 hour loop I do really requires
a map. It is lovely, mostly in forest - sometimes dense and
sometimes open oak woodland.
Start at the Confluence. Head down river (south) five minutes to
past the old railway bridge across the river.
Trail then cuts back (north) and after ten minutes at Training
Hill. Take this steep trail south climbing up 1,000 feet.
Take trails south east towards Cool. About 0.4 miles before Cool
take the Western States Trail north that further down comes close to
Highway 50.
Important - Take the trail marked Shortcut Trail west for 20-30
minutes. This rejoins the more major trail 9also called western
states Trail) back down to the river.
This has most of the trail https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/olmstead-loop-and-wendell-robie-trail
Note that parking can be a challenge. Arrive early on weekends.
Mount Diablo from the west (Clayton) 62 miles south from Davis off Mitchell Canyon road which is off
Clayton Road.
A map is at the end of the brochure at https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=517#ParkinfoTab4 A nice loop is Mitchell Canyon Fire Road - Meridian Ridge -
Donner Creek Fire Road.
A harder though shorter version is Mitchell Canyon Fire Road -
Meridian Ridge - Eagle Peak Road.
A longer hike is Eagle Peak Trail - Meridian Ridge - Prospectors Gap
Fire trail - North Peak trail - Mt. Diablo Summit - Juniper Trail -
Deer Flat Road - Mitchell Canyon Fire Road. This has the loop
without Eagle Peak https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/mount-diablo-summit-via-mitchell-canyon-loop
Mount Wittenburg and Sky Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore 82 miles southwest of Davis to Olema and Bear Valley Ranger
Station.
For maps and hike descriptions see https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/index.htm
A nice 12-mile loop hike is Mount Wittenburg Trail, sidetrip to
summit (1407 feet), Sky Trail to Coast Trail, sidetrip to Kelham
Beach, Coast trail to Bear Valley trail back to Ranger Station.
The hike can be shortened by dropping off Sky Trail to Bear Valley
Trail on Meadow trail, Old Pine Trail or Baldy Trail. Or by
returning from Mount Wittenburg on Z Ranch Trail and Horse Trail. https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/sky-trail-and-bear-valley-loop Some photos
of a trip there.
Stinson Beach to Muir Woods and return 88 miles southwest of Davis to Stinson Beach. Can park there or
better park above Stinson at around 600-700 feet near White Gate.
A short loop takes Dipsea Trail to the Ridge at around 1400 feet
then take Lower Old Mine Trail to Pantoll and return to Stinson
Beach on Steep Ravine Trail.
A longer loop takes Dipsea Trail to the Ridge at around 1400 feet
then continue on Dipsea Trail down to Muir Woods. Hike up Muir Woods
and continue to Pantoll via Bootjack and Alpine Trails or via Ben
Johnson and Lower Old Mine Trails to Pantoll and then return to
Stinson Beach on Steep Ravine Trail.
See https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/dipsea-trail-via-steep-ravine-and-ben-johnson-trail
but skip the side trip to Old Mill Park
DAVIS AREA ROAD BIKE RIDING
The Davis area is fantastic for cycling.
A standard 28 mile return easy ride is to Winters via Russell
Boulevard bike path, Stevenson Bridge Road and Putah Creek Road.
Another nice short ride is to drive to Winters and take Putah Creek
Road west and then go south on Pleasants Valley Road to Cantelow and
return.
A nice 50 mile loop takes Russell Boulevard bike path, Stevenson
Bridge Road, Sievers, Schroeder, Silveyville, N Merididan,
Allendale, Timm, Peaceful Glen, English Hills, Cantelow, Pleasants
Valley Road, Putah Creek Road, Stevenson Bridge Road, Russell
Boulevard bike path.
The Davis Bike Club has a lot of info. https://davisbikeclub.org/
Including local rides https://davisbikeclub.org/ride-descriptions/route-maps/local-ride-ideas/