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  1. Southern CA

    Shhh...Hikes and Walks and Super Scenic Spots

    Happy holidays. Find some merry outdoors with a less known hike, urban walk, and a super scenic hilltop spot.

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  2. Northern CA

    Peaceful Hikes for the Holidays

    Nature can be a perfect place for a little peace and quiet time. Here are three tranquil hikes to escape the hype of the holiday season and make everyone merry. Joy to the wilds.

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  3. Southern CA

    Quiet Hikes

    This holiday season find a little peace in nature. These quieter hikes feature forest, lakes, and a section of the Pacific Crest Trail. Check the forecast and if the weather outside isn’t frightful, you’ll find these adventures delightful.

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-03-26

    Hidden Gems of Reno Tahoe

    Step into a land where adventure meets relaxation. Reno Tahoe is where the spirit of the great outdoors and the energy of vibrant city life inspire you to live with no limits.

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  5. Southern CA

    Get Some Holiday Space

    It's okay to ask for a little space this holiday season, including open space! From a secluded hike-in beach to an LA hill with big and bold views, plus a trail for your dog to roam alongside you, here are three great ways to space out ... outdoors!

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  6. Northern CA

    Wide Open for the Holidays

    Getting some space this season is easy when you step outside into some of the Bay Area’s great wide open. Here are three grand ways to find room to roam and huge views for some holiday spirit.

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  7. Mendocino

    Cinematic Coast

    Mendocino County has been the location for more than 50 movies, including classics like James Dean’s “East of Eden.” It’s not hard to see why, with its small-town charms, redwood forests, blue-green bays, rocky headlands, and sublime beaches (with hidden stairways!). Here are some easy ways to make Mendocino the backdrop of your next great escape.

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  8. Woman biking on the El Dorado Trail in Placerville
    Northern CA

    Happy Trailsgiving

    Happy holidays! However you spend this time, the outdoors is always a good place to be. Here are some ideas on where to hike, bike, picnic, beach, beer (that's a verb), eat, and enjoy a delicious apple cinnamon donut!

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  9. Southern CA

    Happy Ho-LA-Days

    Who's talking turkey? Not us. We're talking the great outdoors! Whether you want to sweat first on some stairways, then indulge in the pie, or are looking for casual hikes the whole family can enjoy, here are a few great ways to enjoy the holidays in Los Angeles. County

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  10. Northern CA

    Happy Holiday Adventures

    However you do your holidays, the outdoors is always in season. So whether you're seeking solo time, or time with that special someone, want to bring the dog, or plan to go full Griswold, here are five good options.

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  11. Southern CA

    Hooray for These Holiday Hikes

    We're not talking turkey. We're talking what to do before or after the main event. Grab your favorite folks and head out for an autumn adventure, including some where you can bring your dog. Check out these hikes for some holiday spice.

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  12. Woman hiking in California desert
    Northern CA & Southern CA

    Reopened and Ready

    After Tropical Storm Hilary, some of our national parks in desert locations were closed due to intense damage. The good news is they've recently re-opened, and fall brings cooler temps. From less-known canyons to perfect peaks for sunset, here are three unique desert hiking experiences open to you! --

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  13. Northern CA

    Hikes for Autumn's Best Light

    Fret not about shorter days ahead. Instead, see things in autumn’s new light, where landscapes are illuminated in the brilliance of fall colors and the low sitting sun. Here are three places that glow golden.

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  14. Southern CA

    Made for Fall Adventures

    Some hikes are best paired with fall. From fewer people to colorful foliage and formations, here are three great parks for autumn-matic consideration.

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-03-26

    Hidden Gems of Reno Tahoe

    Step into a land where adventure meets relaxation. Reno Tahoe is where the spirit of the great outdoors and the energy of vibrant city life inspire you to live with no limits.

    View
  16. Hike Joaquin Miller Park in Oakland
    Northern CA

    Bootiful Fall Hikes

    Get into the Halloween spirit ... make that spirits .... this weekend. These classic outdoor adventures are boo-tiful this time of year. 

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  17. Hiking Cobb Estate Haunted Forest
    Southern CA

    Hikes for Halloween Spirit(s)

    Spirits and ghosts and phantoms, oh my ... this Halloween weekend, go on any of these five boo-tiful hikes with hints of hauntings and creepy crawly ambience.

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  18. Washington State

    Falling for Paso

    Take a trip to real California this fall … the California you might not know but truly should! Paso Robles's wine country, beautiful backroads, and unfussy outdoors is an absolute revelation. Relish the bucolic landscapes, rolling vineyards, pristine lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, and spirited small town brimming with cuisine, art, and culture. Just a few hours from San Francisco or Los Angeles, here’s a road trip itinerary to see this hidden gem.

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  19. Monterey

    Monterey's Many Hidden Gems

    Monterey is not only stunningly beautiful by nature, it's an historical and ecological cornerstone of California. Experience its less-known state parks, hidden gem hikes, a coastal trail to a lighthouse, marvelous food and culture, and the brilliance of Monterey Bay Aquarium's newest exhibit and special guided tours.

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  20. Northern CA

    Go Small For Fall Fun

    It's the little things in life sometimes, even in the great big outdoors. These three parks in the Bay Area have everythign from short and scenic hiking trails to labyrinths, mini-golf fun, and BBQ delights. So go small for big fun.

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  21. Southern CA

    Oktober Hikes

    Something about Oktober just brings out the beer in us. But maybe do a hike first. Here are three fantastic hikes with nearby breweries for a little seasonal Prost!

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  22. Northern CA

    Bike Rides to Fall Bounties

    Seasonal farmstands and wineries in the prime of harvest, beautiful fall colors along idyllic paths, park stops and a new brewpub ... get rolling (or strolling) on any of these three Bay Area bike trails leading to a bounty of scenery, seasonal delights, and stops for food and drinks.

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Sponsored

    Savor Spring in Paso Robles

    Take a classic California road trip this spring and find all the treasures of the season in Paso Robles. Located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this laid-back slice of California country combines with the Central Coast for an absolutely spring-loaded getaway.

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  2. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

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  3. 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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  4. 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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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. 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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