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  1. Southern CA

    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!

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  2. Southern CA

    Make It Memorial

    Kick Butte Hike: Get a taste of the Mojave Desert without leaving Los Angeles County! Saddleback Butte State Park is home to a solitary mountain rising 3,651 feet. Bag this peak on a 5-mile (round-trip) journey that ascends 950 feet. Grand Entrance: The relaxing, artistic town of Ojai makes an impression, and so will you when you roll into town … on two wheels! This mellow 19-mile (round-trip) bike ride on the Ojai Valley Trail starts at Foster Park and takes you all the way into downtown Ojai. Oh Soak Good: Enjoy a little R&R (retro resort and really warm mineral water). While it might not be a typical desert oasis, the springs at Desert Hot Springs Spa Hotel offer a chance to soak in natural mineral pools, with a piña colada! Hero Image: If you're looking for solitude at Runyon Canyon Park, you're in the wrong place … unless you decide to hike Route C (aka the Hero's Trail). This grueling path up the park's westernmost ridge isn't for the faint of heart—and sees fewer hikers as a result. Vouch for Volcan: An hour east of San Diego, Julian is a popular apple pie hub, yet few people venture beyond to nearby Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve at Wynola. They're missing out on a hiker's haven, including a 5-mile (round-trip) summit hike shaded by sycamores and oaks. Hoppy Ending: Hop on a two-wheeler for a laid-back 14-mile (round-trip) bike ride along the LA River that concludes with a happy—and hoppy!—ending: a craft-brewed IPA paired with fried avocado tacos …  and a gorgeous sunset.

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  3. Northern CA

    Half Moon Rising

    Pacific coastline, tantalizing trails, beaches, bluffs, and shipwrecks beneath the sea … from Pacifica to Half Moon Bay, here are some great ways to camp, hike, and beach-hop on the Peninsula.

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  4. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  5. Southern CA

    Spring for These Hikes

    Famous for its sandy beaches and sunny days, San Diego County also has a more mountainous side. From south to north, here are three hikes to get you going.

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  6. Southern CA

    Camp & Hike Combos

    You've heard of farm to table, but what about tent to trail? Set up camp and hike the San Bernardino Mountains between Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake this summer.

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  7. Northern CA

    Beer Gardens for Mom

    It's that time of year … to thank Mom with beer! And don’t forget lots of flowers. Here are three botanical beauties, with nearby beer spots for relaxing afterwards. Cheers (and beers) to you, Mom!

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  8. Southern CA

    Tour de SoCal

    The Amgen Tour of California is set to roll across the Golden State this May. Preview tour-worthy cycling destinations in the Southland on three rides suitable for beginners. All ride, all ride, all ride.

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  9. Northern CA

    State of Play

    How many state parks does California have? 279! How many have you explored? Start counting! To celebrate California State Park Foundation’s upcoming Park Advocacy Day, we selected three State Historic Parks well worth a visit.

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  10. Northern CA

    Let's Be Dorks

    Fanny pack: check. Sun visor: check. Ego: leave it at home. It's time to explore your local outdoors the way a tourist might! Here are three great ways to dork-out(doors).

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  11. Southern CA

    Ojai There!

    Get off the grid for a bird’s-eye Ojai! Ojai Valley is spring-loaded with ways to relax and ways to adventure. Spend the night in a cozy yurt, go on a valley bike ride that leads into the artsy downtown, or have a hike-in adventure to a creekside campground.

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  12. Northern CA

    Less Beaches? Mo Beaches!

    If mo money means mo problems, then what do mo beaches give you? Mo bliss! Head to Monterey to do some beach hopping at three of California’s top State Beaches. Mo Monterey, please!

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  13. Southern CA

    Geek Outdoors

    Grab a visor and strap on a fanny pack! It's time to explore your local outdoors the way a tourist might! Here are some fun ways to geek out(side).

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  14. Northern CA

    What's New?

    A new pair of shoes, that new car smell… We all love new, and the North Bay has some new ways to get outdoors. Who knew?

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  15. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  16. Southern CA

    Joshua Tree on a Whim

    A desert escape to Joshua Tree National Park is just what the "doctor" ordered … a landscape of climbable towering granite rock, marvelous hikes, and a place to soak your bones and sip a cocktail after adventures among the whimsically wild trees. You'll feel like you've been transported to the pages of a Dr. Seuss book. Oh, the places you'll go!

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  17. Northern CA

    Redwoods Rambles

    The Santa Cruz Mountains are home to some of the most beautiful redwoods on earth. With wildflowers newly blooming and the region's signature banana slugs making an appearance, spring's a good time to hike among the big reds.

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  18. Southern CA

    A Little Buzz

    Who doesn't love a good buzz? No, not that kind of buzz. The buzz you get when you stop to refuel at a small airport diner as part of your outdoor adventure. Here are a few ways to get outside and go for brunch too (coffee and beer buzz optional).

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  19. Northern CA

    Strong and Rugged

    Do you like the strong rugged types? With all due respect to Big Sur, there’s another stretch of coastline that’s got it going on. Jenner and the Sonoma Coast have big views, beautiful hidden beaches, and a bevy of aquatic adventures.

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  20. Southern CA

    Swing Up to the Coast

    There's a reason people like hiking to high places in San Luis Obispo. This Central Coast adventureland is surrounded by ancient volcanoes, rolling green hills, and a dramatic coastline. Toss in some tree swings, and see SLO from new heights on any of these three hikes.

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  21. Southern CA & Northern CA

    Swing Down to the Coast

    There's a reason people like hiking to high places in San Luis Obispo. This Central Coast adventureland is surrounded by ancient volcanoes, rolling green hills, and a dramatic coastline. Toss in some tree swings, and see SLO from new heights on any of these three hikes.

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  22. Northern CA

    The Great Artdoors

    Next time you want to get your art fix, step outside for a hike. Here are three top places to see cool works of art in the great outdoors.

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

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  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

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  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

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  4. Hike top Angel Island Mount Livermore San Francisco Bay

    Good Heavens

    The 4-mile hike to the top of Angel Island offers Bay-mazing scenery. Some people claim you get a five-bridge view: Richmond-San Rafael, Bay, Golden Gate, San Mateo-Hayward, and Dumbarton bridges.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

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  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

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  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

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  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

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