Upside Down Hikes

Hiking up and up isn't the only way to get to the good stuff. Flip the order and get a different point of view. Here are three hikes where starting with a descent has an upside. Down you go!

Week: 05.26.2015
Regions: Southern CA

Take Paws

Fryman Canyon Hike Los Angeles

Fryman Canyon hike Los Angeles
Runyon Canyon may be Sparky's favorite spot to see and be seen, but the hordes of people (not to mention the lurking pawparazzi), can really put a damper on things. Bark up a different tree by heading to a much less crowded dog-friendly hike that's just a 15-minute drive up Laure
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Go North and Prosper

Vancouver North Shore Mountains Adventures

Which direction for true adventure? North! British Columbia, Canada, is an outdoor mecca and its heart is Vancouver, a cosmopolitan city surrounded by spectacular nature, including the North Shore Mountains, hidden cove beaches, and rainforest. It's also the launch point for the
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Keep It on the Radar

Nike Missile Hike in San Vicente Mountains

You won't find your next pair of sneakers at this Nike outlet, but you'll still need a good pair of shoes for this 4-mile (round-trip) hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Nike Missile Control Site, a decommissioned Cold War military outpost in San Vicente Mountain Park is you
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Top Notch

Top of the World Hike in Aliso and Wood Canyons

If you like the depths as well as the heights, set out for Top of the World and Laguna Canyon. This is a 2.5-mile (round-trip) "reverse hike" in the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. You'll start by hiking downhill and finish with 700 feet of cardio climbing on the return j
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Talk of the Town

    We're spilling the tea on this bountiful 5.5-mile loop to Gossip Rock in Hayward’s Garin Regional Park (currently whispering all the right springtime notes).

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  2. Swing into Spring

    Swing into this 7.1-mile hike in the hills of Half Moon Bay! It’s got gorgeous views, fields of spring wildflowers, and a hidden rustic tree swing.

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  3. The Carson Show

    Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike.

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  4. woman kneeling and signing peak book at Mount Olympia in Mount Diablo State Park

    Double Up on Diablo

    Set the tone for 2024 with this twofer summit hike at Mount Diablo State Park. Embark on a 7-mile out-and-back up Mount Olympia and Diablo’s lesser-known summit, North Peak.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Hiker overlooking Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park near Monterey

    Pinnacles of Spring

    Why hike at Pinnacles National Park? Spring's a beautiful time of year here. And you might spy the magnificent California condor soaring while you gain soaring views from the High Peaks Trail.

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  2. Caves in Mojave

    No one expects to see caves when they visit the desert, and that’s part of what makes Mitchell Caverns in the Mojave Desert such an interesting place. Go on a two-hour guided adventure tour through Mitchell Caverns in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area.

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  3. Hikers by the reservoir at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks

    Triumphant in Triunfo

    Go on a hike with a peaceful reservoir, charming meadows, and beautiful spring blooms at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks.

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  4. William Kenyon Overlook

    Some of the best vistas of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are easily accessible via a short and sweet 1.25-mile (round-trip) hike just off the CA-78. Enter your next favorite desert viewpoint: the William Kenyon Overlook.

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