Ready to Rock

Rock stars: unique, expressive, and with individual flair. These three Northern California rock stars are no exception—featuring nature-sculpted formations you can admire on a hike or from a beach. Rock, on.

Week: 06.07.2023
Regions: Northern CA

Rockin' Park

Hike at Castle Rock State Park in the South Bay

Looking for a rocking good hike? Add boulders! Whether you enjoy scaling rock faces, prefer some light scrambling, or just want to admire nature’s sculpted formations, this 4.5-mile hike in Castle Rock State Park has adventures for all kinds.
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Grants Your Wish

Outdoors, Food, and Wine in Grants Pass Oregon

lake in Pacifica Grants Pass
wildflower hiking trail Grants Pass
wooldridge Creek winery
wooldridge creek winery
Enchanted Forest, Cathedral Hills, the Lavender Trail, Supernatural Chocolates … sounds like storybook material, but it comes to life in Southern Oregon’s beautiful Grants Pass.
Visit Magical Grants Pass

Super Bowling

Visit Bowling Ball Beach on the Mendocino Coast

Hidden along the Mendocino Coast, Bowling Ball Beach lives up to its name, and then some! Giant smoothly rounded boulders (some 12 feet across) are scattered along the beach, and it’s a phenomenal spectacle.
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GOAT Coastal Hike + Sunset

Hike Kortum Trail on the Sonoma Coast and Sunset at Goat Rock

Hike Kortum Trail on the Sonoma Coast
GOAT (greatest of all time) Sonoma Coast experience? Hike the Kortum Trail, wine taste on a patio overlooking the Russian River, and catch a sensational sunset at, yep, Goat Rock Beach.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Hike to New Lights

    For an enlightening late-day hike, catch the San Francisco skyline at sunset from high atop Ring Mountain in Tiburon. This 2-mile (round-trip) hike to Turtle Rock is a perfect late afternoon wander.

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  2. Three Cheers

    Good things come in threes when you visit Sonoma. Head out on a short hike right from town, sip and stroll the historic plaza, then take in the magical holiday lights.

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  3. Hikers stand atop Lassen Peak in Lassen Volcanic National Park

    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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  4. Island Tree Topper

    The light display atop Angel Island State Park’s Mount Livermore has long been a cheerful twinkle visible from many cities throughout the Bay Area on holiday season nights. Get into the festive spirit by hiking the 2-mile (one-way) trail from Ayala Cove up to the "Angel Lights."

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Woman swimming in Carson Hotsprings natural thermal pool

    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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  2. Dune It Right

    Want a beach that will really get you away from it all? Monterey's Fort Ord Dunes State Park is just the ticket. And it often glows golden toward sunset.

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  3. A woman walks the path next to the beach at sunset at Palisades Park in Los Angeles County

    Santa Monica’s Most Beautiful Walk

    With its sweeping views of Santa Monica Bay and the Santa Monica Pier, the 26-acre Palisades Park, perched along the beach bluffs, may be a tourist’s delight for its quintessential California vibes–but it’s just as beloved by locals. Follow this 2.5-mile loop to experience it like one.

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  4. 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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