All in Northern CA

  1. woman biking bolinas ridge trail bay area

    Ridgeline Trails With Hints of Spring

    Crisp skylines and the chance of early wildflowers festooning trails … yep, it’s a good time to do a ridge ramble in the Bay Area. Here are some hikes and bike rides featuring ridgelines for positive perspectives and hints of spring!

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  2. Hill Yeah!

    The Bay Area hills are alive with winter greenery, stellar scenery, and seasonally favorable temperatures for conquering peaks. These hikes (some with bike options) feature vistas, peak bagging, and prime picnic spots. Head for the hills!

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  3. Dates Outdoors

    In this season of love and romance, there's one companion who never disappoints: the outdoors! Grab your favorite person or people and head out on some hikes and bike rides that are oh so sweet right now.

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  4. Sponsored
    2025-03-20

    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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  5. Look on the Bright Side

    Winter sunsets get a glowing review in California, whether you're watching one from a sand dune surrounded by mountains or pedaling your bike down by the sea. Here are some of the best hikes, bike rides, and viewpoints for catching one of nature's best light shows.

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  6. woman hiking Channel Islands

    California's Most Sea-nic National Park

    Blissful beaches, panoramic hikes, craft beer, and one of California’s wildest national parks—Ventura County Coast has the Southern California climate with its own distinct laid-back vibe. Here are five ideas for your adventure getaway.

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  7. Peak-a-View!

    Who's ready for a fresh perspective? There’s a peak hike for that. Make that three peak hikes. Test your mettle on the Bay Area’s toughest hike (any guesses?), enjoy a more moderate Diablo adventure, or relax with a sunset hike on Tam.

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  8. Woman sitting at the picnic table at Lawson picnic area in Hood Mountain Regional Park

    Panoramic Picnic Spots

    Ready to raise your picnic game? These hike-in spots offer incredible vistas to go along with your PB&J. From a brand-new trail to a less-traveled classic, here are three hike-in picnics where you’ll ascend to deliriously good views.

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  9. Woman at Cascade Falls in Mill Valley

    Waterfall Start to the New Year

    Want a waterfall way to kick off the new year? These three flows are all set within residential areas, making for easy access and nice strolls to oases buttressed by recent rains and other splashy features.

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  10. Top 10 Outdoor Adventures of 2021

    Waterfalls, epic national park hikes, camping, and hidden backcountry are just a few of the adventures we loved this year! Here's our list of the year's 10 best outdoor adventures in California and the West. See you on the trails in 2022!

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

    Outdoors After Rain and Snow

    Wishing you a safe and healthy holiday. While the weather outside has at times been a bit frightful, the outdoors is still delightful, so if you're wondering where to go, here are some adventures that are good after rain or snow.

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  12. Two hikers making their way to the hike-in Secret Beach on the Oregon Coast

    Sand, Sea, Waterfalls: Get Coasting

    From the coast to the waterfalls, Southern Oregon is a road-trip-ready adventure. Hike to inspiring overlooks, adventure along miles of wide-open sand dunes that inspired Frank Herbert’s Dune, and see the Highway of Waterfalls.

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  13. woman hiking Shell Ridge Open Space in the East Bay

    Holiday Hiking Date

    Whether you like your hiking views to be merry and bright or prefer to play a little misty with a waterfall, these hikes offer just enough adventure to keep your spirits light.

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  14. Wild Open Spaces: Oregon

    Mountain, forest, sand, sea, waterfalls, wine ... Oregon's seven distinct regions offer up one wondrous opportunity for adventures to remember. Check out the following region-specific itineraries in Oregon, get ideas and inspiration ... then go!

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  15. Sponsored
    2025-03-20

    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.

    View
  16. Yule Tide Rambles

    With the holiday bustle in swing, you may want to find a hike that's like a yule log for your soul. Here are three South Bay options offering some comfort and joy to kids from 1 to 92.

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  17. Hike the Oursan Trail at Briones Reservoir

    A Cornucopia of Adventure

    Get ready for a different type of feast: a cornucopia of outdoor adventures! These local hikes and bike rides are more fun than your uncle on his third eggnog.

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  18. Peak Condition

    When the rain has scrubbed the sky clean, it's time to head for the hills. In fact, it's time to head for local peaks! These summit hikes deliver with rolling hill scenery, plenty of greenery, a splash of fall color, and of course grand views.

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  19. Marsh Mellow

    Add some wingspan to your next adventure. Go on a waterside hike or bike ride at these restored and resplendent Bay Area wetland preserves offering tranquil outdoors and the company of feathered friends.

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  20. Coastal Camping and Hiking for Fall

    Rugged headlands, sandy beaches, sensational ocean sunsets ... camp, hike, and relax at these beautiful spots with classic coastal scenery.

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  21. Fall Hikes with a Hint of Haunted

    It’s Halloween weekend, so scare up some outdoor adventures that are ‘fall’ of charm with just a hint of haunted...

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  22. Woman hiking with her dog amid a forest of second growth redwoods and ferns

    Out You H2-Go!

    Okay, who did the rain dance?! Bring it on! Getting some much needed rain doesn't have to dampen your outdoors spirit. From waterfalls to redwoods here are five autumn adventures where it's okay to get a bit wet. All you have to do is find your rain boots!

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  1. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

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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. 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.

    View
  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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