All Stories from Northern CA

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  Meiss Around

  Escape the snow-loving crowds on a moderately challenging 6-mile (round-trip) ski near Carson Pass Summit. You’ll actually have bragging rights for doing part of the Pacific Crest

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  Secret Snow-white Beach

  Ready to hit the snow and the beach? An easy kick-and-glide from Emerald Bay Road to Kiva Beach leads through a snow-white postcard to the vast blue of Lake Tahoe. For novice cross

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  Winter Views of Big Blue

  When you’re ready to move up from gentle gliding to steeper climbs and descents, this 4-mile (round-trip) ski via High Meadows Road is an ideal place to practice your skills. This

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  Ain't It Waterfall?!

  2017 is the year of the waterfall. And in April, there’s only one place that’s “best in flow.” Redding and its surrounding areas pack a powerful punch of watery wonders—there are a

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  Cog Wild

  Quickly escape the rush of car traffic to find tranquility on a 2.75-mile (round-trip) wander around Cogswell Marsh in the East Bay's Hayward Regional Shoreline .

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  A Real Flockbuster

  Some real movers and shakers have swooped in on San Francisco's southern industrial-chic waterfront thanks to the creative work and advocacy of the Golden Gate Audubon Society and

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  California's Serengeti

  When people talk about our great golden state, rarely included in that conversation is the Central Valley’s Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, or, as we call it: California’s Serengeti. It’s home to some of the most spectacular concentrations of waterfowl in the entire continent, and fall and winter are prime times for viewing action.

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  The Carson Show

  Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike.

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  From Town to Falls

  Mount Tam’s Cascade Falls is a bit under the radar, tucked back off a residential area in Mill Valley. Some people drive up to the tiny parking lot nearest to the falls. Do an easy 3-mile (round-trip) hike right from downtown Mill Valley, weaving through quiet streets and secret trails.

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  Get Coasting

  Rain or shine, there’s one getaway that’s good all the time. San Luis Obispo (SLO) is just a few hours from both San Francisco and Los Angeles, and it’s the liveliest hub for easy

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  What a Rush!

  Mount Tam’s Cataract Falls is the bobsled course of waterfalls: over a mile of twisting, turning, tumbling water—gushing, rushing, and making a splash! The real joy is hiking right

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  Bend In

  Have you heard? Bend is in. From carving powdery turns all the way down a volcano or snow-biking to a roaring waterfall, to snowshoeing with epic views and enjoying some craft brew

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  Sun Tam

  If you’ve ever driven Mount Tam’s West Ridgecrest Boulevard, then you know how dramatic it is, with its sweeping coastal scenery, edged by rolling headlands and hulking cliffs, wit

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  Sunset in a Pinch

  Sometimes you’ve only got minutes to get to a high point in time for sunset. So keep it simple on a short hike that delivers a sunset punch within twenty minutes. The East Bay’s Cl

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  Sunset Gone Wilder

  So you’re sort of snobby about your sunsets? You like a brilliant technicolor all across the sky as the sun sets on the horizon? Great! Go Wilder! Wilder Ranch State Park’s Old Cov

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  Romancing the Snow

  We know a dozen roses is romantic. But to really impress? Uncork a weekend escape with some serious champagne powder! North Lake Tahoe is experiencing record-breaking snowfall this

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  Romancing the Redwoods

  This Valentine’s Day, instead of a dozen red roses, give your better half the gift of thousands of redwoods. Just a few hours from the Bay Area, magical Humboldt County is home to

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  Four-Legged Falls

  Love your dog? Love waterfalls? Get the best of both on this easygoing hike hidden in Novato. Indian Valley Open Space Preserve is tucked behind the College of Marin campus, and those who discover it are in for a treat.

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  Viva Las Trampas

  A clear winter day calls for a long hike to savor some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful scenery, including some flowing cascades after rain. Hike this nearly 7-mile loop in Las Trampas Regional Wilderness.

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  Bello from the Hills

  Vast rolling hills, serene forest, breathtaking vistas, and hardly any people … it’s not hermit-ville, it’s hiker-ville! Monte Bello Open Space Preserve in the South Bay spans 3,43

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