Stranger Flings

Remnants of faded dreams and nefarious schemes can make for pretty compelling journeys. Here are three hikes into history that also serve up some nifty vistas.

Week: 11.09.2017
Regions: Southern CA

Big Horn Full of Gold

Hiking to Big Horn Mine in the Angeles National Forest

You don’t have to travel to Gold Country to strike gold in California! When it comes to old mines, SoCal has some gems. Big Horn Mine in the San Gabriels is a perfect example. You may not strike it rich here, but you’ll have a great adventure and some beautiful photo ops along th
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Your Trip to Patagonia!

Take a Guided Trip to Patagonia

Patagonia's been on your bucket list forever? Make it the trip of a lifetime by going with the experts in small group adventure travel: Active Adventures! Explore classics and hidden gems by day, sleep in a cozy wilderness lodge or charming town inn at night. Two of Active Advent
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Shipwrecked in Palos Verdes

Hiking to the SS Dominator in Palos Verdes

Usually you need serious scuba gear and a lot of courage to get up close and personal with a massive shipwreck. But on the rocky shores of Lunada Bay in Palos Verdes Estates, you can experience the wonder of the SS Dominator, which has been slowly rusting away on the stony beach
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Stairway to Weirdness

Hiking to Murphy's Ranch in Rustic Canyon

Here’s one to put in your Stranger Flings file: a hike that’s also a peek into the history of several Angeleno residents and their ties to the Third Reich. This weird chapter lingers in what remains of Murphy’s Ranch in Rustic Canyon, once the 1930s and ’40s lair of Norman and Wi
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Purely Purisima

    Take a relaxing hike on the lower section of Purisiima Creek Trail in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.

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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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    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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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Ballona Beach Hopper

    This easygoing bike escape is proof that you don't have to drive for hours to feel the vast benefits of nature. The Ballona Creek Bike Path is part of the “Park to Playa Regional Trail,” a 13-mile network connecting parks and open spaces from Baldwin Hills to the Pacific Ocean.

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  2. Lookout Ahead!

    A 3.7-mile loop hike to Boucher Hill Fire Lookout in Palomar Mountain State Park reminds us just how stunningly beautiful are the mountains of this remote, lightly visited portion of northern San Diego County.

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  3. 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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  4. Strawberry Peak Lookout Hike

    Strawberry Sunday

    The 2.5-mile (round-trip) lollipop loop climb to the Strawberry Peak Fire Lookout near the town of Lake Arrowhead dishes up some delicious views.

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