Waterfall Obscura

Some waterfalls go under the radar. That is, until rain brings them to life. Here are three South Bay and Peninsula hikes with lesser-known waterfalls and beautiful scenery to boot!

Week: 01.19.2017

Regions: Northern CA

Maple in the Redwoods

Hike to Maple Falls in Nisene State Park in Santa Cruz Mountains

Peninsula & South Bay

Over the creek and through the redwoods you’ll go, on this 9-mile (round-trip) partial loop hike in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. This hike is loaded with charms, but the big riches come from viewing Maple Falls, a 30-foot stunner framed by, well, maple trees! Start at G

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Time to Meet the Neighbor

Winter Road Trip Adventure to Nevada

It’s home to the Loneliest Road in America. And we guarantee you’ll come home with more stories than souvenirs when you go on a weekend road trip in Nevada! As the most mountainous region in the Lower 48, Nevada is made for people who prefer their pit stops to be peak hikes and s

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Long Distance Relationship

Hiking to Brooks Falls San Pedro Valley County Park in Pacifica

Peninsula & South Bay

Pacifica wants to get something off its chest. It’s got a lot more going on than a laid-back vibe, good surf, and a beachfront Taco Bell. It’s got a hidden waterfall back in the canyons east of town. And it’s best in winter after rains. San Pedro Valley County Park is home to Bro

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Castle of Wonders

Hiking at Castle Rock State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains

Peninsula & South Bay

A demure waterfall best after fresh rains, sandstone formations pockmarked by time, epic ridge vistas, and currently flowing seasonal streams … it all comes together at Castle Rock State Park on a rugged 5-mile loop hike. Get an early start on Saratoga Gap and Ridge Trails loop.

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Soaking Up History
When you slide into the soothing water of Keough’s Hot Springs, you’re bathing in a piece of Owens Valley history.
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Buck Wild!
Tucked back beyond the residential ranch-style homes and golf courses of Novato in the North Bay is a wild and wondrous 30-foot waterfall that springs to life in the rainy season. Buck Gulch Falls in Novato’s Ignacio Valley Preserve is in peak flow right now, and it’s a short and Middle-earthy hike to reach it.
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State Park Soaker
Set in an alpine meadow at 6,000 feet and surrounded by the 10,000-foot granite peaks of the Sierra, Grover Hot Springs State Park—just outside the town of Markleeville—has its very own hot springs.
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Sunset Hike at Dante's View
It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.
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Hot, Wet, and Wild!
At Wild Willy’s Hot Springs, you can soak up a primeval landscape that’s amazingly close to Mammoth Lakes and Highway 395—it just feels a few geological epochs away.
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Hot Springs, Naturally
Thermal spring waters are famous for their curative, relaxing elements, and Reno Tahoe is filled with them! Sink into these amazing thermal respites for a wellness super soak.
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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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