All in Northern CA

  1. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    West's Best National Parks in Spring

    Welcome spring by exploring some of the West’s best national parks. From Yosemite to the Grand Canyon and a few spots in between, here’s a bucket list for your vernal vacations.

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  2. Woman at overlook watching Cataract Falls on Mount Tam in Marin

    Wilderness, Wildflowers, Waterfalls

    Better than spring cleaning? Spring hiking! As we approach longer days, plan to set out for some adventures filled with green hills, budding blooms, and a few waterfalls.

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  3. Spring It On

    Warmer days and green hills. Spring is coming like a friend you haven’t seen in a year. And these Bay Area hikes are a great way to celebrate. From a trail-less-traveled to stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, to a big regional park with equally big views, and a small preserve with mighty wildflowers … put some spring in your step!

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  4. Sponsored
    2026-06-03

    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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  5. Woman looking out over the San Francisco National Cemetery

    Mindful Hikes

    Short hikes are a delight when they've got redwoods, early wildflowers, big Bay Area views, and places to pay homage to history. Here are three to do.

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  6. Woman hiking the Badlands Trail in Golden Canyon in Death Valley National Park

    Death Valley Double Dare

    As the largest national park in the Lower 48, Death Valley is wondrous, with a landscape raw and rugged and spirited and sublime—from canyons to peaks and dunes, even a massive crater, here's a plan!

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  7. Couple sitting at a bench overlooking the Santa Cruz mountains at sunrise at El Sereno Preserve in the South Bay

    Romancing the Outdoors

    Romance and the great outdoors … they just kinda go together, if you know where to go! While we can’t guarantee that these five adventures will put you in the mood, we can guarantee that they will put you ... outdoors! Cupid's gotta handle the rest.

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  8. Hiker overlooking the Santa Cruz Mountains at Upper La Honda Creek Preserve

    Reserve These A-list Hikes

    The South Bay has lots of A-list hiking areas, and some currently require reserving a spot or knowing best times to go. Here are three places worth planning ahead for in the coming weeks.

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  9. Woman walking on wide open beach in Pescadero

    Open Wide!

    You like a little room with your roam? These hikes and bike rides are good bets for enjoying wide-open spaces, trails less traveled, and some wiggle room if things get tight!

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  10. Woman snowshoe hiking at Castle Pass overlooking the mountains in Tahoe National Forest

    Inspiration Points!

    Refresh your outdoors list and head for three beautiful adventures with brilliant vantages and vistas to inspire. From a snowshoe hike to a sunrise surprise, get a new perspective for 2021.

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  11. Woman walking on Limantour Beach in Point Reyes National Seashore

    Wild Wild Coast

    Do you like long walks on the beach? These three spots offer beautiful bluffside hikes with incredible vantages and beach walking too. See wildlife like elephant seals and spy Mavericks surf break.

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  12. Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

    New Year, New Trails

    2021, we're ready for new perspectives! From a brand new trail in the South Bay to a new pedestrian connector bridge and marsh in SF's Presidio, here are three ways to put some happy in your new year.

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  13. Woman on a Tree Swing overlooking the Pacific at Mount Tam in Marin County

    Top 10 of 2020

    In a year that was filled with choppy waters, one thing was a safe harbor: the great outdoors. Local trails and parks were a welcome respite as we navigated a new reality. As we look to the future we're also going to close out 2020 by sharing our annual best outdoor adventures of the year. In no particular order, here are the Top 10 Adventures of 2020. Onward. 

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  14. Woman walking trail overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Hawk Hill in Marin County

    Team Favorites

    Thank you to our 2020 team for bringing the great outdoors home in a most challenging year. Meet our contributing content producers and get ideas from their personal favorite California adventures.

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  15. Sponsored
    2026-06-03

    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.

    View
  16. Woman hugging sheep at Hidden Villa Farm in the South Bay

    Comfort and Joy Outdoors

    From a hike that includes a farm filled with delightful animals, to a trail less-traveled on Mount Tam and a San Francisco classic, here are some holiday hikes for comfort and joy outside.

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  17. Woman watching a sunset at Windy Hill Preserve in the South Bay

    Sunset and Mistletoe Hikes

    The holidays are different in 2020 but you can still find comfort and joy outside. Go on a sunset hike that's quieter this year, or see the mistletoe and fall colors that are still making a splash.

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  18. Biking in Alameda

    Let's Roll!

    Looking for some fun ways to spice up the holiday season outdoors? These 3 easy bike rides include patio pit stops to grab a drink & bite. Wheels down, masks up, the holidays are on!

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  19. Woman at Got Rock Beach Taking Photos at Sunset

    Gobble Up These Outdoor Adventures

    If there’s one thing 2020 has made vividly apparent, it’s how much we appreciate getting outside. Here’s to a safe and happy Thanksgiving, and a few ways to enjoy some local adventures.

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  20. Autumn Outdoors in Apple Hill and Nevada City

    Gold Rush Outdoors

    California's closest thing to autumn in New England is in places like Apple Hill. From trails festooned in fall foliage, to local farms and wineries, plus apple cider donuts, go for gold country!

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  21. Hike Olompali State Historic Park

    Color-fall Hikes for the Holidays

    Cooler temps and colorful foliage make autumn a great time of year for hitting the trails. These three easy hikes pack in a bit of extra fall color to go with your pumpkin spice whatnot.

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  22. Meditative Redwoods Hikes Forest Bathing in the SF Bay Area

    Redwood Therapy Hikes

    Shinrin-yoku is the Japanese art of forest bathing, developed as a way to take care of one’s health. These three meditative redwoods hikes will help to soothe your soul.

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Trending Stories NorCal

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  1. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    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.

    View
  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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