All in Northern CA

  1. Hike, Bike, and Beer!

    One of spring's best destinations is much closer than you might imagine. Set in the shadow of Mount Diablo, Concord and the surrounding area is home to colorful spring hikes, waterside bike trails, and plenty of craft brew pubs. Time to hit the trails, and the ales!

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  2. Yosemite Waterfalls Galore!

    The waterfalls are raging, the wildflowers are popping, and the snow-capped granite scenery is epic! This spring, make your way to Yosemite by way of charming Mariposa. Hit the trails to see supercharged waterfalls, or bike around the valley floor, stopping at highlights along the way. Just get to Yosemite!

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  3. Don't Pass Over These Hikes!

    What's more fun than a Cadbury Creme Egg? How about eye candy on trails? Here are some great Bay Area outdoor adventures in colorful spring bloom right now. Hop to it!

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  4. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    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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  5. Bloomin' Hikes

    Wait for it, wait for it … now! Spring is finally starting to shine with all the silver linings of a wet winter: Wildflowers are blooming, waterfalls and streams are flowing strong, and the landscape is lush, green, and clean! So here are three of the best hikes to do this spring.

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  6. Redwoods in the Rain

    Hike, bike, camp ... do it all even if the weather's drizzly. Our iconic redwoods are your protective canopy for spring camping, pedals and picnics, and of course, sublime hikes. Here are three ways to get your outdoors fix "weather or not."

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  7. Wander Falls

    Clear skies one minute, gray the next … hey, no one’s gonna rain on your waterfall parade! From a splash of wine country to a dash of the Santa Cruz Mountains, even some Tahoe flow, here are three short hikes to waterfalls that pack a good punch after wet weather.

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  8. Beach Hikes!

    Bluffs, beaches, bluffside hikes to beaches: Have it all! Here are three bluffside hikes with spectacular ocean vistas and a bonus—they lead to beautiful beaches.

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  9. Where to Watch Whales from Shore

    Gray days ahead, and for once we're not talking about the weather this winter! We're talking about gray whales, making their migration north. March is prime time to spy these behemoth beauties on the coast, but you don't have to get out on a boat to do it. Here are some great ways to spot whales from land. For shore!

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  10. Wetland Walks

    What’s not to like about post-rain hikes? With all the lush greenery and busy birds, these wetland walks (with rain-scrubbed views of the bay) are short and sweet for this wild weather. No need for any rain dances!

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  11. Short Hikes to Waterfalls

    The rain this winter has kept everyone on their toes. And the silver lining: waterfall flows! Here are three short hikes to under-the-radar waterfalls that are in best form during winter, after heavy rain.

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  12. Wildlife Hikes for Winter

    Word to the wild! Winter’s one of the best times for spotting seals, whales, and birds on a hike. From Año Nuevo to Palo Alto, here are three hikes for seeing wildlife in winter.

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  13. Romance Outdoors

    Happy Valentine's Day! Grab your favorite person or people and head outside to spread the love. XO, Weekend Sherpa

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  14. Hike-In-Picnics

    Valentine’s Day is on its way—in a pinch for a plan? Go on a picnic! But not just any picnic: a hike-in picnic! Grab your favorite person (or people) and hike to any of these sweet picnic spots in the North Bay.

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  15. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored
    2025-06-25

    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.

    View
  16. Snowshoe Hikes

    The simplicity of snowshoeing meets the epic snowfall in Lake Tahoe! Strap 'em on and head out in wintry Sierra bliss on any of these snowshoe hikes. Oh the places you’ll snow!

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  17. Winter Wanders

    Coastal redwoods, a ridgetop rambler in Napa, and a hidden waterfall ... winter is a wander-land in Northern California! From the San Mateo Coast to Napa and the Sierra foothills, here are three ways to get out hiking this winter.

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  18. Celestial Hikes

    Feeling all starry eyed about 2019? No wonder! This year is going to be a bonanza of celestial events, starting with the super blood wolf moon on January 20. Also coming: 4 more eclipses, 3 supermoons, 1 blue moon, multiple meteor showers and … you get it. So mark your calendar and make some plans: Here are three Bay Area spots to celebrate the wonders of space, stars, the moon, and planets.

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  19. Here We Snow!

    Snow doubt about it, Tahoe is going to have an active winter season! But it's not all about the downhill skiing. Snowshoeing, sledding, and cross-country gliding are also fun ways to explore the region and see Big Blue! Here are a few ideas to get you snowing.

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  20. Nice View!

    Out with the old, in with the new year. Gaining a fresh perspective (and a nice view!) is as easy as visiting the coast, hiking the East Bay hills, or checking out a newly imagined museum set among redwoods. 2019 is already looking good!

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  21. 2018's Top 10 Adventures in Northern California

    New year's resolution: get outdoors more! Sounds good to us. We've rounded up some favorite adventures from 2018. Whether you check off one of these adventures or all ten, it's a great way to start the new year. Happy 2019!

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  22. Ho Ho Hike!

    Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! In between eggnogs and cheery talk about politics, do something everyone can agree is a good thing: hike! Ho ho out you go.

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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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Trending Stories SoCal

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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.

    View
  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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