Nestled between the summer's crush and the holidays' rush is the Shoulder Season, that boontime when the weather's good and the tourists are gone. This is our time to savor Northern California's classic hikes, soaks, and paddles.

Is it possible to get up on a Saturday morning and say, "Let's spend the night in Yosemite"? It is now. The Housekeeping Camp in Yosemite Valley is an easy reservation this time of year. Your three-walled "cabin"—a curtain forms the fourth wall—puts you in the heart of the park's autumn wonders: tranquil meandering trails in the crisp leaf-scented air, unpopulated sandy beaches along the Merced River, transporting views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome. Best of all: Hikes like the Mist Trail start on the valley floor just outside your door.

Reservations

Fancy a soak in a backcountry hot spring? Check out the Sykes Hot Springs in Big Sur's Ventana Wilderness - three small pools of 100-degree water perched above the Big Sur River. Reaching these gems requires a hardy ten-mile hike through coastal mountain country (watch the poison oak) along the Pine Ridge Trail. Pitch your tent in Barlow Flat Camp next to the river. The next day, a shorter hike reveals your reward: hot spring heaven. Pack your birthday suit (you know, just in case).

Park at Big Sur Station in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park off Highway 1. Check with the ranger at the info desk about the flow of the Big Sur River. This will determine which route you should use to get to the hot springs. Get detailed directions from the ranger.

Redwoods. Pinots. Rope swings. Not a bad combination. Head up to Healdsburg for a different view in a different canoe. SOAR Russian River Adventures puts you and two friends—or a pal and a pooch—in an inflatable canoe for a slow ride down a solitary stretch of the Russian River ($45 a head, the dog costs $10). Lean back and let the current laze you past parts of the river most paddlers never see; or release your inner Tarzan at riverbank rope swings and swimming holes. The scenery is free, and so is the SOAR shuttle back to your car—wet mutt included.
Directions and information

TIP: Arrive in Healdsburg Saturday morning and pluck fresh picnic supplies at the Healdsburg Farmer's Market (try the Middleton Farm raspberries and Springhill Jersey cheese). One block west of the Plaza, open 9 a.m. till noon.