Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
3h ago

Doug McConnell, Beloved ‘Bay Area Backroads’ and ‘OpenRoad’ Host, Dies at 80

A post on his show’s Facebook page said he died after a prolonged struggle to recover from a 2023 stroke.

Doug McConnell. Photo by Jack Uhalde
Doug McConnell in the Marin Headlands on August 21, 2008. McConnell, the longtime host of “Bay Area Backroads,” died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.
Doug McConnell interviews Andrea Mackenzie of the Santa Clara Open Space Authority on Thursday, April 23, 2015 in Morgan Hill. McConnell, the longtime host of “Bay Area Backroads,” died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.
Doug McConnell at Emporio Rulli in Larkspur on June 29, 2007. McConnell, the longtime host of “Bay Area Backroads,” died Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026.

Overview

  • His death was announced Wednesday on the OpenRoad Facebook page, which said he died Tuesday.
  • McConnell hosted KRON-TV’s “Bay Area Backroads” for 23 years, becoming a familiar guide to Northern California’s hidden places.
  • He later fronted “OpenRoad with Doug McConnell,” which began in 2015 on KQED and subsequently aired on NBC Bay Area.
  • The 12th season of “OpenRoad” is scheduled to premiere Saturday at 4:30 p.m., with his longtime travel partners continuing the program.
  • Beyond broadcasting, he was a committed advocate for conservation and public lands, inspiring many to explore and protect regional natural spaces.