Top 10 Outdoor Adventures for 2021

Backcountry explorations, riverwalks, secret beaches, and adventurous day hikes in national parks ... here's our list of the top 10 adventures of 2021. See you on the trails next year!

Week: 12.29.2021
Regions: Southern CA

Yosemite Magic Trick

Backpack Yosemite's High Sierra from Tuolumne Meadows

camping at Evelyn Lake in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite’s High Country is magical and without crowds. At a lofty 8,700 feet, Tuolumne Meadows is one of the best trailheads for hiking or backpacking a land of smooth granite domes, high alpine meadows, jagged peaks, and sapphire lakes. Here's a 3-night backpacking itinerary...
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Ojai There!

Ride the Ventura to Ojai Bike Path

Woman biking the Ventura to Ojai bike path in Ventura County
If a substantive and super scenic bike ride is right in your wheelhouse, do the 30-mile (round-trip) Ventura-to-Ojai bike path that begins (and ends) near the Ventura shoreline, pit-stopping in delightful Ojai for food and drinks.
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Can You Keep a Secret?

Hike to Secret Beach and Visit Natural Bridges on the Oregon Coast

Two hikers making their way down to Secret Beach on the Southern Oregon Coast
The Southern Oregon Coast's Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor between Gold Beach and Brookings has so many sights to see, it’s hard to know where to spend your time. We like this trio of suggestions because you can do them as a three-in-a-row jackpot of coastal wonders.
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Mighty Among Giants

Hike to Stoddard Peak near Mount Baldy in Los Angeles County

It’s not the tallest summit, but at 4,624 feet Stoddard Peak near Los Angeles is still mighty among nearby giants like Mount Baldy and the popular Potato Mountain. And the reward? Huge views!
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Cataclysmic Galactic

Hike Around Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley National Park

Woman hiking the trail around Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley has a Star Wars vibe going with its desolate landscape. So when you first arrive to hike at the incredible Ubehebe Crater you might expect to see the Millennium Falcon hunkered nearby.
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Lovers Loop

Hike Lovers Loop in Los Olivos and Wine Taste in Santa Ynez Valley

Peaks, canyons, streams, meadows, trees—Lovers Loop in Los Olivos is the hike of your dreams in the Santa Ynez Valley. Explore it on this 4-mile hike where beautiful vistas abound. Then, wine taste!
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Truckee Riverwalk

Refreshing Truckee River Views Along the Reno Riverwalk

Couple walking the Reno Riverwalk along the Truckee River
A city that has nature running right through it? That’s Reno! The Truckee River flows through the heart of downtown, and the popular and well-maintained Reno Riverwalk makes for a delightful downtown stroll.
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Best Overlook + Best in Beer

Hike at O'Melveny Park and Get Beers at San Fernando Valley Brewing Company

Hard climbs should reward with the best views … and the old adage is true at O’Melveny Park in Granada Hills. It's arguably home to the best overlook of the north San Fernando Valley. Enjoy seasonal beers afterwards at a stellar brewpub.
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Secret Trail at Torrey Pines

Find a secret hike at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in San Diego County

Hiker on a trail overlooking the Pacific ocean at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in San Diego County
Find cliff climbs, sandy strolls, and secret hikes throughout “America’s finest sandy stretch" at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in San Diego County.
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Barrel of Fun

Hike and Wine Taste in Palmdale in Antelope Valley

Group of four friends enjoying wine at Thief and Barrel in Palmdale Antelope Valley
Put a spring in your step and a barrel in your belly in Antelope Valley's Palmdale. Do a 2.75-mile hike on Barrel Springs Trail and enjoy a local winery that shares part of the nomenclature.
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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

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  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

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  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

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  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

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  1. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

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  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

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  3. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

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  4. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

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