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  1. Woman sitting at the picnic table at Lawson picnic area in Hood Mountain Regional Park
    Northern CA

    Panoramic Picnic Spots

    Ready to raise your picnic game? These hike-in spots offer incredible vistas to go along with your PB&J. From a brand-new trail to a less-traveled classic, here are three hike-in picnics where you’ll ascend to deliriously good views.

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  2. Southern CA

    Surprise Views

    Surprise! These three hikes in North San Diego County are not only less traveled, they're filled with outdoor gems like Torrey pines, sandstone formations, wildlife, and vantage points with huge views.

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  3. Woman at Cascade Falls in Mill Valley
    Northern CA

    Waterfall Start to the New Year

    Want a waterfall way to kick off the new year? These three flows are all set within residential areas, making for easy access and nice strolls to oases buttressed by recent rains and other splashy features.

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-03-12

    From Alpine Wildflowers to Turquoise Coves

    North Lake Tahoe is where nature, culture, and authentic experiences let you connect to something deeper. Spring is an ode to the region’s harmonious dual nature, where you can mix

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  5. Southern CA

    Find Fresh Views in Malibu

    Happy New Year. Ready for some bu-tiful outdoors? Malibu still has a few secrets to explore and we’ve got three less traveled beach and lake hikes for you to try something new for 2022.

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  6. Southern CA

    Top 10 Outdoor Adventures for 2021

    Backcountry explorations, riverwalks, secret beaches, and adventurous day hikes in national parks ... here's our list of the top 10 adventures of 2021. See you on the trails next year!

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  7. Northern CA

    Top 10 Outdoor Adventures of 2021

    Waterfalls, epic national park hikes, camping, and hidden backcountry are just a few of the adventures we loved this year! Here's our list of the year's 10 best outdoor adventures in California and the West. See you on the trails in 2022!

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  8. Woman snowshoe hiking at Castle Pass overlooking the mountains in Tahoe National Forest
    Northern CA

    Outdoors After Rain and Snow

    Wishing you a safe and healthy holiday. While the weather outside has at times been a bit frightful, the outdoors is still delightful, so if you're wondering where to go, here are some adventures that are good after rain or snow.

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  9. LA Arboretum Holiday Lights in Los Angeles
    Southern CA

    Happy Outdoors

    Wishing you a safe and healthy holiday. "Weathering the storm" has taken on multiple meanings recently—and something we can still be grateful for is the great outdoors as a respite. Here are a few ways to take it outside this season.

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  10. Two hikers making their way to the hike-in Secret Beach on the Oregon Coast
    Oregon

    Sand, Sea, Waterfalls: Get Coasting

    From the coast to the waterfalls, Southern Oregon is a road-trip-ready adventure. Hike to inspiring overlooks, adventure along miles of wide-open sand dunes that inspired Frank Herbert’s Dune, and see the Highway of Waterfalls.

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  11. woman hiking Shell Ridge Open Space in the East Bay
    Northern CA

    Holiday Hiking Date

    Whether you like your hiking views to be merry and bright or prefer to play a little misty with a waterfall, these hikes offer just enough adventure to keep your spirits light.

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  12. Hiker passing the trailhead post and looking towards the mountains at Hillside Wilderness Preserve in Monrovia
    Southern CA

    Merry Hiking in Monrovia

    Combine a wilderness wander with festive lights, find a trail less traveled for some peace on earth, and put some jolly in your step with an urban wander through Monrovia Old Town and up to the famous falls.

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  13. Oregon

    Wild Open Spaces: Oregon

    Mountain, forest, sand, sea, waterfalls, wine ... Oregon's seven distinct regions offer up one wondrous opportunity for adventures to remember. Check out the following region-specific itineraries in Oregon, get ideas and inspiration ... then go!

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  14. Northern CA

    Yule Tide Rambles

    With the holiday bustle in swing, you may want to find a hike that's like a yule log for your soul. Here are three South Bay options offering some comfort and joy to kids from 1 to 92.

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-03-12

    From Alpine Wildflowers to Turquoise Coves

    North Lake Tahoe is where nature, culture, and authentic experiences let you connect to something deeper. Spring is an ode to the region’s harmonious dual nature, where you can mix

    View
  16. Southern CA

    Under the Radar Desert Adventures

    Canyon hiking with cables, squeezing through slots, marveling at marbled red rocks and creative sculptures at an outdoor museum, find your best desert adventure on any of these great escapes.

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  17. Hike the Oursan Trail at Briones Reservoir
    Northern CA

    A Cornucopia of Adventure

    Get ready for a different type of feast: a cornucopia of outdoor adventures! These local hikes and bike rides are more fun than your uncle on his third eggnog.

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  18. Henninger Flats hike Castro Peak Lookout
    Southern CA

    Feast on These Adventures

    Who's hungry? Not for food, but for an adventure! Get outdoors and trek to a lookout, step up to an urban hike, visit a historic suspension bridge, and find your way through a garden labyrinth. Not your standard turkey trot! 

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  19. Northern CA

    Peak Condition

    When the rain has scrubbed the sky clean, it's time to head for the hills. In fact, it's time to head for local peaks! These summit hikes deliver with rolling hill scenery, plenty of greenery, a splash of fall color, and of course grand views.

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  20. Woman on a boardwalk at Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad
    Southern CA

    Under the Radar Outdoors

    Carlsbad may be known for beaches but there’s a whole lot more to the great outdoors along its less crowded 7 miles of coastline. It’s home to a historic state park (with an upcoming holiday lights event!) and meditative hiking trails for tranquillity and forest bathing.

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  21. Southern CA

    Canyon Lands of LA

    Canyon dig it? Yeah you can—if you know the places to go for hidden canyon hikes found right within these three scenic LA neighborhoods. Add to your turkey-trot list!

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  22. Northern CA

    Marsh Mellow

    Add some wingspan to your next adventure. Go on a waterside hike or bike ride at these restored and resplendent Bay Area wetland preserves offering tranquil outdoors and the company of feathered friends.

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

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  2. Sponsored

    Mini Guide to Reno Tahoe’s Lodging and Dining

    So, you’re going to Reno Tahoe for some time in nature, and some time in nurture? Excellent choice. The fun and wonder of Reno Tahoe is the easy part.

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  3. Hidden Long Ridge

    After heavy rains, the rolling headwaters of Peters Creek in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve pulsate along the forest floor via a series of small waterfalls that cut grooves in sandstone boulders. See it on a 4.5-mile loop hike starting from the Grizzly Flat parking lot.

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  4. Hike Artdoors

    Add a little color to your new year. This 3-mile loop through the Montalvo Arts Center mixes the beauty of the natural world with local artists’ creations.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

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  2. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

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  3. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

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  4. White Tank Campground for Stargazing

    Heaven for star buffs: the best campground in Joshua Tree National Park for night-sky viewing, in a place named an International Dark Sky Park, with a full-on observatory just minutes away! White Tank Campground is at 3,800 feet in the eastern part of the park.

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