Woman at overlook watching Cataract Falls on Mount Tam in Marin

Wilderness, Wildflowers, Waterfalls

Don’t look now, but the long winter is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Celebrate longer days with a classic spring hike. These Bay Area gems are filled with green hills, budding wildflowers, and some chugging waterfalls.

Week: 03.10.2021
Regions: Northern CA

Tam It All

Hike to Cataract Falls on Mount Tam in Marin

Woman at overlook watching Cataract Falls on Mount Tam in Marin
woman walking dog through mount tam
woman walking over bridge in woodland
Woman walking dog over hills
This 7.5-mile lollipop loop hike passes through some of Mount Tam’s lushest spots, with bridges, creeks, a waterfall, and big views.
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Ready When You Are: Reno Tahoe

Wide Open Winter Adventures in Reno Tahoe

Reno Tahoe
Reno Tahoe snowshoe woman in forest
Man in hot spring in Reno Tahoe
beer on tap at Alibi Reno Tahoe
With outdoors being essential for health and wellness, and new protocols in place, Reno Tahoe welcomes visitors! It's wide open with snowshoe trails, fire pits by the river, skating, and hot springs.
Plan Your Reno Tahoe Winter Getaway

Ohlone Time

Hike to Murietta Falls in Ohlone Wilderness Regional Preserve

Woman hiking in the Ohlone Wilderness in the East Bay
Woman hiking in the Ohlone Wilderness in the East Bay
Woman hiking in the Ohlone Wilderness in the East Bay
Woman hiking in the Ohlone Wilderness in the East Bay
The hills have gone green just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, and this 7.5-mile lollipop loop hike passes through some of Mount Tam’s lushest spots, with bridges, creeks, a waterfall, and big views.
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Find Your Flow

Hike the Waterfall Loop at Uvas Canyon County Park

Woman sitting at the base of a waterfall at Uvas Canyon County Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains
Far back in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Uvas Canyon County Park is a compact, tree-filled delight with hiking trails and several waterfalls bunched into a loop along Swanson Creek and amid lush forest.
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    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

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  2. Been There, Dome That

    Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.

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  3. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

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  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

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  2. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

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  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

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  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

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