All in Northern CA

  1. Free and Wild in Joshua Tree

    Joshua Tree National Park in spring is full of color, and visitors! But these three hikes in the heart of the park take you away from the crowds and into the park’s solitude, where signature trees grandstand, boulders are bountiful, and wildflowers paint the landscape like a rainbow. Bonus: Free admission this weekend for National Park Week!

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  2. Waterfall Rager!

    The more it rained, the harder they fell … and they're still falling … waterfalling. Hit the trails this spring on any of these Bay Area flows that are all the rage right now!

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  3. The Great Urban Outdoors!

    Who said getting into the great outdoors meant getting out of the city? Get your nature fix in city limits by hiking a secret stairway in Oakland or exploring a couple of handsome parks in San Francisco.

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-08-27

    Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

    Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

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  5. Hidden Forests

    Can't see the forest for the trees? Sure you can! Take some time this weekend to walk through one of these hidden forests. It's like a cleanse for your mind!

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  6. South Bay Spring Trailing!

    Some hikes just know how to spring forward, especially after plentiful rains. From a hike to a hidden redwood grove to epic green hills and stunning panoramas, here are three South Bay ramblers to jump-start your spring trailing. Tip: Look for blooming wildflowers too!

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  7. Hikes & Beer!

    You know what's better than a beer on sunny spring day? A hike and a beer! Here are some local adventures with a refreshing reward.

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  8. Tahoe's Snowy Spring Adventures

    Tahoe is having more than a moment—it’s having a snow season for the ages, which will go well into spring! From gliding to secret beaches to reaching summits with wondrous Sierra views, here are three cross-country ski adventures in their spring prime.

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  9. Marsh Mellow

    Migratory birds got a little surprise this winter—water, water everywhere! Flock to one of these tranquil spots in the Bay Area and beyond to catch some feathery fun.

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  10. Mount Tam Waterfalls!

    Two of our favorite things: Mount Tam and waterfalls! If ever there’s a season to go on a waterfall hike, it’s right now. Here are three amazing excursions on the North Bay’s favorite mountain, where water is all the rage.

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  11. Spring Hikes

    With all of the winter rain, this spring is super-charged! Here's a roundup of close-to-home spring hiking classics!

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  12. Long Weekend Wanders & Ponders

    Ahh the long weekend—a chance to catch your breath, get a breath of fresh air, and enjoy breathtaking views! From stairway walks to hikes in electric green hills or to waterfalls and sunset views, here's how to make the most of the three-day weekend!

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  13. Where to Watch a Winter Sunset

    Sunsets are like campfires—sometimes it’s good to just sit around and watch them. Here are three short hikes to sunset spots that’ll warm your spirit during the winter season.

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  14. Rain Or Snow: Let's Go!

    There’s rain, there’s snow, oh the places you’ll go! From waterfalls and cross-country skiing, to walking on sand dunes and spying gray whales, here are some fun adventures to weather the storms!

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-08-27

    Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

    Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

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  16. Partly Sunny with a Chance of Hiking!

    Wow, those rain dances really worked! Sneak in a hike this weekend to see winter's effect on our beautiful slice of Northern California. From hiking to a waterfall with your dog, to ridge walking in the East Bay, to wandering the hills in the Santa Cruz Mountains—weather or not, let's hit the trails!

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  17. Waterfall Obscura

    Some waterfalls go under the radar. That is, until rain brings them to life. Here are three South Bay and Peninsula hikes with lesser-known waterfalls and beautiful scenery to boot!

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  18. Break for It

    2017 might be off to a wet and wild start, but don’t let rainy weather dampen your adventurous spirit. From giving meditation a try in a lush coastal setting, to bagging a less-known peak when the sun pokes through, here are three North Bay outings ready for you!

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  19. Adventure Around the Bend

    Bend, Oregon, is having more than a moment. It’s having a ball as the West’s best adventure land, less traveled! This friendly and hip Central Oregon destination is crafting up some of the best beers in the world, is super dog-friendly, and has an awesome downtown. And with more snow than they’ve had since 1924, the winter adventures are absolutely glorious.

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  20. 2016's Best Adventures

    2016 has been a year of many ... surprises. And adventures! From going on a hike in the High Sierra to discovering waterfalls close to home, here's to what we loved about 2016. In 2017 let's log on, and get out!

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  21. Look on the Bright Side

    As the shortest day of the year approaches, look on the bright side! From a peak hike in the middle of the bay to an urban art walk and a lighthouse for spying gray whales, here are three ways to find some good light. Happy holidays, everyone!

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  22. Redwood Walks

    It can be hard to find peace on earth at the local mall during the holidays. But a walk in a cathedral of coastal redwoods … now that brings a little joy to the world! Here are three redwood walks in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Be merry!

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  1. Can't Top This

    San Francisco’s Presidio was already a fantastic place to hang out for the afternoon, a beautiful site within the largest urban national park in the United States (the Golden Gate National Recreation Area). And Presidio Tunnel Tops is like a cherry on top. Make that two cherries on top, with the newly opened (July 2025) Outpost Meadow, a 1.5-acre green space located at Old Mason Street across from the Crissy Field Marsh in the Presidio.

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  2. This Is Paradise

    Granite mountain-scape, superb sunset views, crystal lakes, and shoreline campsites … the trip to Paradise Lake in Tahoe National Forest lives up to its idyllic name.

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  3. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

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  4. Sequoia Re-opens Crystal Cave

    Step inside Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park's hidden world by visiting the newly re-opened Crystal Cave—the only cave in the parks open to the public. Closed for four years, this rare marble karst cavern is welcoming visitors once again, but only through the summer season!

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Trending Stories SoCal

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  1. Hot As (Bumpass) Hell

    So you like going to all the hot spots when you visit places? Well, in Lassen Volcanic National Park there’s a place so hot it gets downright steamy. Bumpass Hell is the largest hydrothermal area in the park, with sputtering mud pots, sulfur vents, and boiling pools. It’s California’s Yellowstone. But it only opens in summer through fall.

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  2. Underground Garden

    Looking to escape the summer heat? Head to Fresno and discover its cool secret: the Forestiere Underground Gardens–an enchanting garden and architecture oasis like no other.

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  3. Oh Ryan

    Sure, it’s those whimsical trees that give Joshua Tree National Park its marquee billing; but this beautiful landscape also has surrounding mountains and its night sky—one of the darkest in Southern California and designated an International Dark Sky Park. Joshua Tree has four allowable stargazing parking lots, and a newly opened haven for spending the night nearby...

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  4. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

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