All in Northern CA

  1. Hill Yeah!

    These three parks and preserves have short hikes to brilliant vistas, and they're pretty in autumn. Bonus wine and sunsets.

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  2. woman hiking by redwood at Samuel p Taylor state park

    Celebrate the Giants With These Other Giants

    In honor of the San Francisco Giants getting to the postseason in record-setting fashion, celebrate with some of Northern California's other beloved giants: redwoods!

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  3. H2-Go for Autumn

    Rivers, lakes, estuaries—there's something so calming about water. Dip into fall with one of these easygoing paddle and waterside hike adventures.

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-03-26

    Hidden Gems of Reno Tahoe

    Step into a land where adventure meets relaxation. Reno Tahoe is where the spirit of the great outdoors and the energy of vibrant city life inspire you to live with no limits.

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  5. hiker at the summit of Mt Umunhum

    Put These Hikes On Your Radar

    Some of the most panoramic viewpoints in the Bay Area are also home to former and current radar stations. Be sure to put these hikes on your own radar!

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  6. South Bay Outdoor Bounties

    While we all still cling to summer, the truth is fall's bounty is at our doorstep. So step outside and greet the new season in South Bay style with a classic hike, an urban bike ride, and some time at the ranch ....

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  7. Kirby Cove Marin Headlands with view of Golden Gate Bridge

    Hike-in, Bike-in Beaches

    September’s a great time to visit the coastline. These are some classic places where you can take your pick between hiking, biking, even snagging a campsite for fall …

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  8. People walking th labyrinth in San Francisco near Mile Rock Beach

    San Francisco September Spectacular

    We’re thinking about people affected by California’s multiple fires — stay safe! And with the closures of all National Forests in California for a couple of weeks, outdoor recreation is getting squeezed. So isn’t it time for some adventures in America’s most beautiful city? These San Francisco hikes and park explorations are September spectacular.

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  9. hikers in sequoia redwoods at Mariposa Grove

    Redwood Hikes for Respite

    Resilient and resoundingly beautiful, redwoods are a treasure in California's landscape, and a canopy of quiet for looking wayyy up for a new perspective. Venture out on these beautiful hikes featuring redwood groves for respite.

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  10. Hike Mount Tam Tree Swing Dipsea Trail Stinson

    Coasting Along

    These aren't just hikes to great Pacific and Bay views, these are hikes to great views enjoyed with a swing, bench, picnic table, or labyrinth. Sea it to believe it!

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  11. Woman hiking the Coastal Trail in the Marin Headlands

    Chicken Soup for the Hiker's Soul

    Like chicken soup for the soul, there’s just something about the Marin Headlands that’s comforting. From the hidden hike-in beaches and vast coastal views with golden sunsets, go get your headlands fix on these coastal comfort hikes.

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  12. Backpacker on Tuolumne River in Yosemite High Sierra

    How to Lose the Crowds in National Parks

    A magical thing happens when you hike just a mile or two from trailheads in popular national parks: Crowds begin to disappear. Even better, go backpacking to really have solitude. These trips in Yosemite, Zion, Point Reyes, and Channel Islands are out-of-office adventure havens.

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  13. Woman walking by driftwood at Greenwood State Beach in Elk, Northern California near Mendocino

    Beaches Less Known

    Beaches are calling, but a few sandy secrets simply whisper among the waves or shorelines across the Bay Area and North Coast. This summer, hike-in to these beaches less traveled.

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  14. Mountain bikers on Estero Trail to Drakes Head Point Reyes

    Waterside Rides

    The wind in your hair, the scent of the sea, the thirst-quenching beers … who’s ready for a waterside bike ride? These beginner-friendly pedals range from a national park seashore to an island in the sea, with a riverside cruiser to beers in between. Roll call for summer!

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-03-26

    Hidden Gems of Reno Tahoe

    Step into a land where adventure meets relaxation. Reno Tahoe is where the spirit of the great outdoors and the energy of vibrant city life inspire you to live with no limits.

    View
  16. Hike San Francisco!

    No disrespect to our beautiful parks, but you can go on an amazing hike right in the city! San Francisco is one of the country's most walkable and beautiful cities—and a perfect place to take a hike (including one that's a historical treasure hunt).

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  17. No Reservations Backpacking and Camping

    No reservation? No problem! Well, at least if you have a few of these tips on camping and backpacking in California. From first-come, first-served camping, to no quotas on wilderness backpacking, here are three places to go for summer.

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  18. Hike-in to Marin's Black Sands Beach

    Beaches, Bike Rides, Campsites

    America’s birthday is this weekend. And, well, it’s been quite a year. Take a deep breath at a hike-in beach, pedal a car-free bike trail, or score a first-come first-served campsite.

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  19. Woman hiking towards Point Cabrillo Light Station on the Mendocino Coast

    Coastal Bliss in Mendocino

    Ready, set, take it easy! The Mendocino Coast is a great way to ease into summer. The dramatic coastline offers fantastic hiking, incredible sunsets, romantic lighthouses, a vibrant botanical garden, and plenty more.

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  20. Two women hikers looking out to the foggy coast from a hiking trail at Jenner Headlands on the Sonoma Coast

    Oh That's Cool

    Since you can't crank the air conditioning outdoors, we found some ways to beat the heat and cool down, courtesy of nature. From coastal bike rides to redwood hikes and picnics, here are some ways to chill outside.

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  21. Truly Baymazing Adventures

    The San Francisco Bay is the heartbeat of our region, and these ridge rambling hikes and adventures from the East Bay to right on the Bay have amazing iconic views, and some really cool surprises too.

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  22. Woman on a bike riding alongside the coast and ocean in Monterey

    Bike-In Beaches

    Summer, beaches, bike rides ... is there a better triple play? Grab summer by the handlebars and ride your bike to the beach. These three bike-in-beaches are ready to roll.

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Sponsored

    Savor Spring in Paso Robles

    Take a classic California road trip this spring and find all the treasures of the season in Paso Robles. Located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, this laid-back slice of California country combines with the Central Coast for an absolutely spring-loaded getaway.

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  2. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

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  3. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

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  4. Hidden Long Ridge

    After heavy rains, the rolling headwaters of Peters Creek in Long Ridge Open Space Preserve pulsate along the forest floor via a series of small waterfalls that cut grooves in sandstone boulders. See it on a 4.5-mile loop hike starting from the Grizzly Flat parking lot.

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

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